title: MicroRNA-126 expression is decreased in cultured primary chicken hepatocytes and targets the sprouty-related EVH1 domain containing 1 mRNA.
abstract: The microRNA-126 (miR-126) is a miRNA expressed in highly vascularized tissues, and it is believed to play a role in angiogenesis by repressing sprouty-related EVH1 domain containing 1 (Spred1). In the current study, we determined the expression pattern of chicken miR-126 (gga-miR-126) and predicted and validated its target genes. The quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT) PCR analysis showed that miR-126 was expressed in various chicken tissues with the highest level in lung. In liver, the expression level of miR-126 increased from 0 to 7 wk of age. The expression of miR-126 in primary chicken hepatocytes decreased with culturing. A miR-126 binding site was predicted in the 3' UTR (untranslated region) of chicken Spred1. Dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that miR-126 could bind to the predicted site to repress the expression of Spred1. These data validate Spred1 as a target gene of chicken miR-126. These results will help further understand the function and regulation of miR-126 and Spred1 in chickens.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xing-Guo
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Hui-Juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Dao-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Zhi-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger