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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305271
Title: Revisiting absorption of dietary plant-based miRNAs

Author
item WITWER, KENNETH - Johns Hopkins University
item YANG, JIAN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item FARMER, LISA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item MCALEXANDER, MELISSA - Johns Hopkins University
item BISSIG, KARL-DIMITER - Baylor College Of Medicine
item KONGCHAN, NATEE - Baylor College Of Medicine
item NEILSON, JOEL - Baylor College Of Medicine
item HIRSCHI, KENDAL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Keystone Symposia
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2013
Publication Date: 1/31/2014
Citation: Witwer, K.W., Yang, J., Farmer, L.M., Mcalexander, M.A., Bissig, K., Kongchan, N., Neilson, J., Hirschi, K.D. 2014. Revisiting absorption of dietary plant-based miRNAs [abstract]. The Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology: Accelerating Life Science Discovery; RNA Silencing, January 31-February 5, 2014, Seattle, Washington, 1066, p 62.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We are continuing to test the hypothesis that consumption of genetic information in plant-based foods can modulate animal metabolism. Several studies (1,2,3) have failed to replicate the finding (4) that a rice miRNA survives digestion, enters circulation in copy numbers rivaling endogenous RNAs, and modulates gene expression in the liver. While we have also failed to reproduce these findings, it remains possible that uptake and clearance of exogenous RNAs is modulated during certain medical conditions or by intake of substances including alcohol and traditional herbal remedies. Here, we describe a dietary regime that appears to allow some plant-based miRNAs to be detected in sera of the consuming mammals. We fed 8- to 10-week-old mice for multiple days a diet enriched with a specific herb and then gavage-fed these same mice a concentrated herbal tea extract. Using RT-qPCR, we demonstrated circulating herbal miRNA for several hours afer gavage feeding. Droplet digital PCR results suggested that this detection was specific. Finally, we described an adeno-based "sensor" system for in vivo testing of the action of the orally ingested RNA in the presence or absence of uptake- or clearance-modulating factors. This system involves non-invasive imaging of mice following dietary intake. To further assay phenotypes, we have made transgenic plants expressing validated siRNAs that target clotting factors V and VII, which are produced in hepatocytes and have a short half-life (3-12 hours) conducive to rapid response monitoring. These studies may establish a mechanism that could lead to tailored plant-based diets as economical and novel therapies.