Mir‐548n Expression in HEPG2 and HEP2 cells Is Affected By The Culture Medium Zinc Concentration

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the impact of zinc depletion / supplementation on plasma microRNAs, which may be then used as biomarkers for zinc status. Clinical data from plasma from adolescent females on zinc supplementation (9 mg elemental Zn / wk for 4 weeks) exhibited changes in exosomal microRNAs of which mir-548n, showed a 57% increase. Hepatocyte (HEPG2) and lung epithelium (HEp2) cells were grown in normal (15μM), zinc depleted (Chelex-100 treated) or zinc supplemented (50μM) media for 48 hr to validate the clinical data. HEPG2 cells grown in 15 μM Zn vs. 0 μM Zn showed a 10-fold increase in miR-548n and remained at that level in cells grown in 50 μM Zn. In the HEp2 cells, mir-548n expression decreased 3-fold in cells grown in 15 μM Zn vs. 0 μM Zn, and increased 7-fold in cells grown in 50 μM Zn vs. 15 μM Zn. These data indicate that mir-548n expression is regulated by Zn. Its secretion into plasma exosomes isolated from human subjects may be indicative of its increased expression in tissues in response to Zn supplementation