Altered miRNA expression patterns in Tff2 knock-out mice correlate with cellular pathways of neoplastic development and caloric metabolism

Int J Mol Med. 2012 Apr;29(4):637-43. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2012.881. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

Abstract

The trefoil peptide family, consisting in mammals of three members namely TFF1, 2 and 3, plays a cytoprotective role in epithelial cells of various tissues, mainly in the digestive tract. Tff1, Tff2 or Tff3 knock-out mouse models developed various kinds of gastrointestinal impairment. microRNAs are known to be novel gene regulators. We aimed to investigate the physiological role of such miRNAs in Tff2 knock-out mice. Whole miRNome profiling and in silico analysis were performed for Tff2-KO and WT mice. Our latest data explored the role of miRNAs in the regulatory cascades and molecular processes of Tff2-/- mice. As much as 6% of the Tff2-KO mice miRNome was significantly dys-regulated. Further in silico analysis suggests that the respective dys-regulated part of the miRNome is involved in human pathological processes, including pancreatic, colorectal and basal cell cancer. Additionally, the dys-regulated miRNome targets pathways involved in carbohydrate metabolism and adipocytokine signaling. The latter links deficient caloric maintenance in Tff2 and previous observation in Tff3-KO mice with miRNAs. In summary, our proof-of-concept study indicates that miRNAs may play an important role in the regulatory processes of the trefoil peptide family, especially in the regulation of cancer-related cascades.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipokines / genetics
  • Adipokines / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, Regulator
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Mucins / genetics
  • Mucins / metabolism*
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Trefoil Factor-2

Substances

  • Adipokines
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mucins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Peptides
  • TFF2 protein, human
  • TFF2 protein, mouse
  • Trefoil Factor-2