Dietary RNAs: New Stories Regarding Oral Delivery.
microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small RNAs, are important regulators of various developmental processes in both plants and animals. Several years ago, a report showed the detection of diet-derived plant miRNAs in mammalian tissues and their regulation of mammalian genes, challenging the traditional functions of plant miRNAs. Subsequently, multiple efforts have attempted to replicate these findings, with the results arguing against the uptake of plant dietary miRNAs in healthy consumers. Moreover, several reports suggest the potential for "false positive" detection of plant miRNAs in human tissues. Meanwhile, some research continues to suggest both the presence and function of dietary miRNAs in mammalian tissues. Here we review the recent literature and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of emerging work that suggests the feasibility of dietary delivery of miRNAs. We also discuss future experimental approaches to address this controversial topic.
United States Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jiany@bcm.edu.
Jian
J
Yang
United States Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. kendah@bcm.edu.|Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA. kendah@bcm.edu.
Kendal D
KD
Hirschi
United States Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. lmfarmer@bcm.edu.
Lisa M
LM
Farmer
D000284:Administration, Oral; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant