Zhai Bo, Zhang Lichun, Wang Chunxin, Zhao Zhuo, Zhang Mingxin, Li Xu
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Science, Branch of Animal Husbandry, Gongzhuling, China.
PeerJ. 2019 Jun 27;7:e7167. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7167. eCollection 2019.
The target molecule regulatory function of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in multiple signalling pathways has become a main focus of genetic and pharmacological regulatory studies of various diseases. The identification of target genes for miRNA-21 in the development of hair follicles can provide new research pathways for the regulation of cell development.
In the present study, eight six-month-old ewes from Super Merino (SM) and Small Tailed Han (STH) sheep breeds were selected. Target prediction and dual-luciferase wild-type and mutant vectors were used to identify the target genes of miR-21. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the effects of miR-21.
The results show that the expressions of , and were downregulated by miRNA-21 at rates of 36%, 26% and 48%, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between the expression of miR-21 and the three target genes in sheep with two extreme phenotypes. The expression of microRNA-21in October was significantly lower than that in January and February; while the expression of , and in October was higher than that in January and February. Conclusions: These results suggest that , and are three newly discovered target genes of miR-21 and might be involved in the effects of miR-21 on hair follicle development.
微小RNA-21（miR-21）在多种信号通路中的靶分子调控功能已成为各种疾病遗传和药理调控研究的主要焦点。鉴定miR-21在毛囊发育中的靶基因可为细胞发育调控提供新的研究途径。
在本研究中，选取了8只6月龄的超级美利奴（SM）羊和小尾寒羊（STH）母羊。使用靶标预测以及双荧光素酶野生型和突变型载体来鉴定miR-21的靶基因。进行定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）和生物信息学分析以分析miR-21的作用。
结果表明，miRNA-21使 、 和 的表达分别下调了36%、26%和48%。此外，在具有两种极端表型的绵羊中，miR-21的表达与这三个靶基因之间存在显著的负相关。10月时微小RNA-21的表达显著低于1月和2月；而10月时 和 的表达高于1月和2月。结论：这些结果表明， 、 和 是miR-21新发现的三个靶基因，可能参与了miR-21对毛囊发育的影响。
