Children\u2019s screen time alters the expression of saliva extracellular miR-222 and miR-146a

Annette Vriens,Nelly D Saenen,Tim S Nawrot,Eline B Provost,Oliver De Wever,Michelle Plusquin,Patrick De Boever,Karen Vrijens

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26351-2

Annette Vriens, Nelly D Saenen + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26351-2

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Abstract

An imbalance between energy uptake and energy expenditure is the most important reason for increasing trends in obesity starting from early in life. Extracellular miRNAs are expressed in all bodily fluids and their expression is influenced by a broad range of stimuli. We examined whether screen time, physical activity and BMI are associated with children’s salivary extracellular miR-222 and miR-146a expression. In 80 children the extracellular fraction of saliva was obtained by means of differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. Expression levels of miR-222 and miR-146a were profiled by qPCR. We studied the association between children’s salivary extracellular miRNA expression and screen time, physical activity and BMI using mixed models, while accounting for potential confounders. We found that higher screen time was positively associated with salivary extracellular miR-222 and miR-146a levels. On average, one hour more screen time use per week was associated with a 3.44% higher miR-222 (95% CI: 1.34 to 5.58; p = 0.002) and 1.84% higher miR-146a (95% CI: −0.04 to 3.75; p = 0.055) level in saliva. BMI and physical activity of the child were not significantly associated with either miR-222 or miR-146a. A sedentary behaviour, represented by screen time use in children, is associated with discernible changes in salivary expression of miR-146a and or miR-222. These miRNA targets may emerge attractive candidates to explore the role of these exposures in developmental processes of children’s health.

Highlights

A rising prevalence in obesity, both in children and adults has emerged over the last decade[1]
We investigated whether miR-146a and miR-222 in the extracellular fraction of saliva are associated with screen time use, physical activity and body mass index (BMI) in children
We correlated the total screen time use with BMI (Fig. 1a) and we evaluated the associations of screen time, physical activity and the BMI of the child using linear regression models, taking into account children’s age and gender

Summary

Introduction

A rising prevalence in obesity, both in children and adults has emerged over the last decade[1]. Children spend a substantial amount of time in sedentary pursuits, such as watching television, using the computer and playing videogames This behaviour increases the risk to develop obesity, and increases the risk to develop metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease[6]. Studies focusing on differential miRNA expression patterns in patients with various cardiometabolic disorders compared with healthy subjects showed the importance of miR-222 and miR-146a In this regard, the inflammatory miR-146a is linked to metabolic and cardiovascular disease. The (extracellular) expression profiles of miRNAs in body fluids are suggested as potential biomarkers for cardiometabolic processes These studies either focus on subjects already having a specific metabolic or cardiovascular www.nature.com/scientificreports/. We investigated whether miR-146a and miR-222 in the extracellular fraction of saliva are associated with screen time use, physical activity and BMI in children

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