Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31843527

Life Sci. 2020 Jan 15;241:117166. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117166. Epub 2019 Dec 13.
MiR-130a-5p/Foxa2 axis modulates fetal lung development in congenital diaphragmatic hernia by activating the Shh/Gli1 signaling pathway.
Li X1, Liu H1, Lv Y1, Yu W1, Liu X1, Liu C2.
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Abstract
AIMS:
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a lethal birth defect characterized by congenital lung malformation, and the severity of pulmonary hypoplasia directly affects the prognosis of infants with CDH. Using a nitrofen-induced CDH rat model, we previously reported that Foxa2 expression was downregulated in CDH lungs by proteomics analysis. Here, we investigate the role of miR-130a-5p/Foxa2 axis in lung development of the nitrofen-induced CDH and evaluate its potential role in vivo prenatal therapy.

MAIN METHODS:
Nitrofen was orally administrated on embryonic day (E) 8.5 to establish a rat CDH model, and fetal lungs were collected on E13.5, E15.5, E17.5, E19.5 and E21.5. The binding sites of miR-130a-5p on Foxa2 mRNA were identified using bioinformatics prediction software and were validated via luciferase assay. The expression levels of miR-130a-5p and Foxa2 were detected using qRT-PCR, ISH, IHC and western blotting. The role of miR-130a-5p/Foxa2 axis in CDH-associated lung development was investigated in ex vivo lung explants.

KEY FINDINGS:
We found that Foxa2 was downregulated in CDH lung tissues, and Foxa2 upregulating improved CDH branching morphogenesis in ex vivo lung explants. Meanwhile, we also showed that miR-130a-5p was significantly upregulated in CDH lungs and thus inversely correlated with Foxa2. Increasing miR-130a-5p abundance with mimics decreases Foxa2-driven Shh/Gli1 signaling and inhibits branching morphogenesis in ex vivo lung explants.

SIGNIFICANCE:
This study was the first to show that the miR-130a-5p/Foxa2 axis played a crucial role in CDH-associated pulmonary hypoplasia. These findings may provide relevant insights into the prenatal diagnosis and prenatal therapy of CDH.

Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:
Branching morphogenesis; Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; Foxa2; Pulmonary hypoplasia; miRNAs

PMID: 31843527 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117166
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