Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia.
School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia.
Genes (Basel). 2024 Aug 3;15(8):1023. doi: 10.3390/genes15081023.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory RNA that are generated via core protein machinery. The miRNAs direct gene-silencing mechanisms to mediate an essential role in gene expression regulation. In mollusks, miRNAs have been demonstrated to be required to regulate gene expression in various biological processes, including normal development, immune responses, reproduction, and stress adaptation. In this study, we aimed to establishment the requirement of the miRNA pathway as part of the molecular response of exposure of (snail host) to (trematode parasite). Initially, the core pieces of miRNA pathway protein machinery, i.e., Drosha, DGCR8, Exportin-5, Ran, and Dicer, together with the central RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) effector protein Argonaute2 (Ago2) were elucidated from the genome. Following exposure of to miracidia, we identified significant expression up-regulation of all identified pieces of miRNA pathway protein machinery, except for Exportin-5, at 16 h post exposure. For Ago2, we went on to show that the -Ago2 protein was localized to regions surrounding the sporocysts in the digestive gland of infected snails 20 days post parasite exposure. In addition to documenting elevated miRNA pathway protein machinery expression at the early post-exposure time point, a total of 13 known miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed. Of these thirteen miRNAs responsive to miracidia exposure, five were significantly reduced in their abundance, and correspondingly, these five miRNAs were determined to putatively target six genes with significantly elevated expression and that have been previously associated with immune responses in other animal species, including humans. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the central importance of a functional miRNA pathway in snails, which potentially forms a critical component of the immune response of snails to parasite exposure. Further, the data reported in this study provide additional evidence of the complexity of the molecular response of to infection: a molecular response that could be targeted in the future to overcome parasite infection and, in turn, human schistosomiasis.
微小 RNA（miRNAs）是一类通过核心蛋白机制产生的小调控 RNA。miRNAs 指导基因沉默机制，在基因表达调控中发挥重要作用。在软体动物中，已经证明 miRNAs 参与调节各种生物学过程中的基因表达，包括正常发育、免疫反应、繁殖和应激适应。在这项研究中，我们旨在确定 miRNA 途径作为暴露于 （蜗牛宿主）的分子反应的一部分的要求 （吸虫寄生虫）。最初，从 基因组中阐明了 miRNA 途径核心蛋白机制，即 Drosha、DGCR8、Exportin-5、Ran 和 Dicer，以及中央 RNA 诱导沉默复合物（RISC）效应蛋白 Argonaute2（Ago2）。在 暴露于 miracidia 后，我们发现除了 Exportin-5 之外，所有鉴定的 miRNA 途径蛋白机制都在暴露后 16 小时显着上调。对于 Ago2，我们继续表明-Ago2 蛋白定位于感染蜗牛消化腺中孢子囊周围的区域 20 天寄生虫暴露后。除了记录早期暴露后时间点升高的 miRNA 途径蛋白机制表达外，还鉴定了总共 13 种显着差异表达的已知 miRNAs。在对 miracidia 暴露有反应的这 13 种 miRNAs 中，有 5 种丰度显着降低，相应地，这 5 种 miRNAs 被认为靶向了 6 个基因，这些基因的表达显着升高，并且已经在其他动物物种（包括人类）的免疫反应中被确定。总之，这项研究表明功能性 miRNA 途径在蜗牛中的重要性，这可能是蜗牛对寄生虫暴露的免疫反应的关键组成部分。此外，本研究报告的数据提供了更多证据表明 对 感染的分子反应的复杂性：未来可以针对该分子反应来克服寄生虫感染，并反过来克服人类血吸虫病。
