miR-16 and miR-103 impact 5-HT4 receptor signalling and correlate with symptom profile in irritable bowel syndrome

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 31;7(1):14680. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13982-0.

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gut-brain disorder involving alterations in intestinal sensitivity and motility. Serotonin 5-HT4 receptors are promising candidates in IBS pathophysiology since they regulate gut motor function and stool consistency, and targeted 5-HT4R selective drug intervention has been proven beneficial in subgroups of patients. We identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs201253747) c.*61 T > C within the 5-HT4 receptor gene HTR4 to be predominantly present in diarrhoea-IBS patients (IBS-D). It affects a binding site for the miR-16 family and miR-103/miR-107 within the isoforms HTR4b/i and putatively impairs HTR4 expression. Subsequent miRNA-profiling revealed downregulation of miR-16 and miR-103 in the jejunum of IBS-D patients correlating with symptoms. In vitro assays confirmed expression regulation via three 3'UTR binding sites. The novel isoform HTR4b_2 lacking two of the three miRNA binding sites escapes miR-16/103/107 regulation in SNP carriers. We provide the first evidence that HTR4 expression is fine-tuned by miRNAs, and that this regulation is impaired either by the SNP c.*61 T > C or by diminished levels of miR-16 and miR-103 suggesting that HTR4 might be involved in the development of IBS-D.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diarrhea
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Humans
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / genetics*
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / metabolism
  • Jejunum / metabolism*
  • Jejunum / pathology
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Quality of Life
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / genetics*
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Work Performance

Substances

  • MIRN103 microRNA, human
  • MIRN107 microRNA, human
  • MIRN16 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4