Insight into the molecular mechanism of miR-192 regulating resistance in piglets.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have important roles in many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, growth and development, and disease control. Previous study demonstrated that the expression of two highly homologous miRNAs (miR-192 and miR-215) was up-regulated in weaned piglets with F18 infection. However, the potential molecular mechanism of miR-192 in regulating infection remains unclear in pigs. In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between level of miR-192 and degree of resistance using transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), bacterial adhesion assays, and target genes research. A TALEN expression vector that specifically recognizes the pig miR-192 was constructed and then monoclonal epithelial cells defective in miR-192 were established. We found that miR-192 knockout led to enhance the adhesion ability of the strains F18ab, F18ac and K88ac, meanwhile increase the expression of target genes ( and ) by qPCR and Western blotting analysis. The results suggested that miR-192 and its key target genes ( and ) could have a key role in infection. Based on our findings, we propose that further investigation of miR-192 function is likely to lead to insights into the molecular mechanisms of infection.