Abstract
mir-33a and mir-33b are co-transcribed with the SREBF2 and SREBF1 transcription factors, respectively. The main role of SREBF1 is the regulation of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, while SREBF2 regulates genes participating in cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake. Our objective was to study the expression of both miR-33a and miR-33b, together with their host SREBF genes, in liver, adipose tissue and muscle to better understand the role of miR-33a/b in the lipid metabolism of pigs. In our study, the expression of miR-33a, miR-33b and SREBF2 in liver, adipose tissue, and muscle was studied in 42 BC1_LD (25% Iberian x 75% Landrace backcross) pigs by RT-qPCR. In addition, the expression of in-silico predicted target genes and fatty acid composition traits were correlated with the miR-33a/b expression. We observed different tissue expression patterns for both miRNAs. In adipose tissue and muscle a high correlation between miR-33a and miR-33b expression was found, whereas a lower correlation was observed in liver. The expression analysis of in-silico predicted target-lipid related genes showed negative correlations between miR-33b and CPT1A expression in liver. Conversely, positive correlations between miR-33a and PPARGC1A and USF1 gene expression in liver were observed. Lastly, positive and negative correlations between miR-33a/b expression and saturated fatty acid (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, respectively, were identified. Overall, our results suggested that both miRNAs are differentially regulated and have distinct functions in liver, in contrast to muscle and adipose tissue. Furthermore, the correlations between miR-33a/b expression both with the expression of in-silico predicted target-lipid related genes and with fatty acid composition, opens new avenues to explore the role of miR33a/b in the regulation of lipid metabolism.
Highlights
Pork is one of the most consumed meats in the world, being meat quality a relevant trait for both the meat industry and consumers
The aim of this work was to study the expression of miR-33a and miR-33b, together with their host SREBF genes, in the three main metabolic tissues, liver, adipose tissue and muscle, and the effect of both miR-33 genes on fatty acid (FA) composition measured in muscle and adipose tissue, to better understand their role in lipid metabolism in swine
MiRNAs were measured in liver and adipose tissue and FA composition was measured in backfat adipose tissue
Summary
Pork is one of the most consumed meats in the world, being meat quality a relevant trait for both the meat industry and consumers. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) composition determine meat flavour, tenderness, firmness and juiciness, and the healthiness of the product [1, 2]. Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle are the principal metabolic organs involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and, play an important role in the determination of IMF content and FA composition. Liver and adipose tissue are involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis [4], with a higher contribution from adipose tissue. Muscle is an important site for glucose uptake and storage, and a reservoir of amino acids, used for protein synthesis and energy production [7]. The lipid metabolism pathways are cross-regulated among liver, adipose tissue and muscle, and have been extensively studied
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