MiRNA profiling of Macaca mulatta colonic epithelium samples from chronic SIV infected rhesus macaques
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ABSTRACT: The study describes miRNA expression in colonic epithelium of chronic SIV-infected rhesus macaques. We profiled and characterized miRNA/mRNA expression exclusively in colonic epithelium (CE) of 12 chronically SIV-infected and 8 control rhesus macaques (RMs). About 46 miRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) (20-up and 26-down) in CE during chronic SIV infection. Using TargetScan, we bioinformatically crossed the predicted targets of DE miRNAs to genome-wide transcriptomic data and identified several critical miRNA-mRNA pairings that suggested miRNA-mediated regulation of aberrant epithelial gene expression in CE. Immunofluorescence, luciferase reporter and miRNA overexpression studies confirmed the ability of miR-130a and miR-212 to bind the 3’ UTR and downregulate protein expression of occludin (OCLN) and peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma (PPAR), respectively, two proteins with pivotal roles in epithelial barrier function. MiR-130a and miR-212 overexpression in Caco-2 cells significantly reduced transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Interestingly, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC) treatment restored TEER to levels observed with control miRNA mimic. Finally, ex-vivo 9-THC treatment of colon tissue from chronically SIV-infected RMs significantly increased PPAR gene expression. Our findings suggest that dysregulated miR-130a and miR-212 expression in CE during chronic HIV/SIV infection can facilitate epithelial barrier disruption by downregulating OCLN and PPAR protein expression. Most importantly, our results highlight the beneficial effects of cannabinoids on epithelial barrier function in not just HIV/SIV but potentially other chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens Macaca mulatta
PROVIDER: GSE104767 | GEO | 2018/02/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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