Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON), a frequent mycotoxin worldwide, impairs human and animal health. The response of microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs, to DON has been scarcely investigated, but holds remarkable potential for biomarker applications. Hence, we aimed to investigate DON-induced changes in the microRNA expression in porcine liver, jejunum and serum by combining targeted and untargeted analyses. Piglets received uncontaminated feed or feed containing 900 µg/kg and 2500 µg/kg DON for four weeks, followed by a wash-out period. In tissue, only slight changes in microRNA expression were detected, with ssc-miR-10b being downregulated in liver of DON-exposed piglets. In serum, several microRNAs were differentially expressed upon DON exposure, four of which were validated by qPCR (ssc-miR-16, ssc-miR-128, ssc-miR-451, ssc-miR-205). The serum microRNA response to DON increased over time and declined after removal of contaminated diets. Receiver operating curve analyses for individual microRNAs were significant, and a combination of the four microRNAs increased the predictive capacity for DON exposure. Predicted microRNA target genes showed enrichment of several pathways including PIK3-AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, and adherens junctions. This study gives, for the first time, a comprehensive view of the porcine microRNA response to DON, providing a basis for future research on microRNAs as biomarkers for mycotoxins.
Highlights
Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, are frequent contaminants of food and feed that impair human and animal health
MicroRNAs have highly conserved sequences and share target genes even between distant species, indicating that similar pathways and biological processes may be regulated by the same microRNAs [9,18]
In this study, we investigated the impact of dietary DON exposure on the microRNA expression profiles in porcine jejunum, liver, and serum
Summary
Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, are frequent contaminants of food and feed that impair human and animal health. DON reduces the feed intake of pigs and causes feed refusal and vomiting at high concentrations [3]. Despite its relevance for animal production, diagnosis of DON-induced disorders in pigs is still challenging. This is mainly due to the absence of appropriate biomarkers that are applicable in the field [4]. Further elucidation of the molecular mode of action of DON might facilitate the identification of new molecules that respond to this mycotoxin and allow non- or minimal-invasive sampling of animals
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