Regulation of microRNAs in the Amygdala by the Gut Microbiota: Implications for Brain and Behaviour

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Regulation of microRNAs in the Amygdala by the Gut Microbiota: Implications for Brain and Behaviour Alan E. Hoban1* 1 Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre/Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience University College Cork, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience University College Cork, Ireland Background: The ability of the gut microbiota to influence brain and behaviour is a relatively new area of research. One of the most consistent findings is in relation to anxiety-like behaviours and the stress response. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning this remains poorly understood but may well be due to alterations in gene expression. It is unknown if the gut microbiota also recruits microRNA machinery to wield this influence. The aim of this experiment was to establish if germ-free animals have altered microRNA expression patterns in the amygdala, a key brain region for anxiety and fear. Methods: Using Next Generation Sequencing, we assessed alterations in microRNA expression in the amygdala of conventional, germ-free and colonized germ-free mice. Results: The microbiota-deficient germ-free animals display altered expression of 54 miRNAs in the amygdala compared to conventional animals. However, colonisation of the germ-free animals post weaning normalises the expression of 6 miRNAs, suggesting partial reversibility of the cumulative molecular changes. Within these, miR-182 and mir-183 have been previously linked to amygdala-dependent stress-related outputs in preclinical models Conclusion: This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration that the gut microbiota can regulate miRNA expression in the amygdala. Further studies are required to verify the exact contribution of these miRNAs to amygdala-dependent anxiety-related behaviours. The results from this study will be essential in increasing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the impact of microbiota-gut-brain axis communication on both brain and behaviour. Further analysis of mRNA targets may reveal important molecular pathways for microbiota-gut-brain axis signalling. Acknowledgements The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre is a research centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), through the Irish Government’s National Development Plan. The authors and their work were supported by SFI (grant numbers SFI/12/RC/2273, 02/CE/B124 and 07/CE/B1368) and by the Health Research Board (HRB) through Health Research Awards (grant no HRA_POR/2011/23; TGD, JFC and GC and HRA_POR/2012/32; JFC, TGD). JFC is also funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (grant no.: FP7/2007–2013, grant agreement 201 714). The Centre was previously funded by GlaxoSmithKline. GC is supported by a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (Grant Number 20771). The authors report no conflict of interest. Keywords: Anxiety, MicroRNAs, Amygdala, germ-free, microbiota–gut–brain axis Conference: Neuroscience Ireland Young Neuroscientists Symposium 2014 , Dublin, Ireland, 20 Sep - 20 Sep, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Early Career Neuroscience Citation: Hoban AE (2014). Regulation of microRNAs in the Amygdala by the Gut Microbiota: Implications for Brain and Behaviour. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: Neuroscience Ireland Young Neuroscientists Symposium 2014 . doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2014.87.00023 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Sep 2014; Published Online: 14 Sep 2014. * Correspondence: Mr. Alan E Hoban, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre/Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience University College Cork, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, alanhoban@live.ie Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Alan E Hoban Google Alan E Hoban Google Scholar Alan E Hoban PubMed Alan E Hoban Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.