Alterations in microRNA expression in a murine model of diet-induced vasculogenic erectile dysfunction

Carlos E. Barbery, Frank A. Celigoj, Stephen D. Turner, Ryan P. Smith, Parviz K. Kavoussi, Brian H. Annex, Jeffrey J. Lysiak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRs) are noncoding, endogenous RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and play roles in response to vascular injury. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify miRs expressed in corporal tissue (CT) and to determine whether miRs demonstrate differential expression in a mouse model of diet-induced erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: RNA was isolated from the CT from control mice and mice with diet-induced ED. A quantifiable miR profiling technique (NanoString) was used to determine the expression of over 600miRs. Main Outcome Measures: Differential expression analysis was performed using a negative binomial regression model for count-based data. Mean expression levels, fold change, and false discovery-corrected P values were determined. Candidate miRs were validated via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Results: In control mice, NanoString analysis revealed that 181miRs were expressed above background levels and 5miRs were expressed at high levels. Diet-induced ED resulted in the up-regulation of 6miRs and the down-regulation of 65miRs in the CT compared with mice on control diet. Focusing on the upregulated miRs, we chose five for Q-PCR validation. Of these five, two (miR-151-5p and miR-1937c) demonstrated significance via Q-PCR, whereas the other three (miR-720, miR-1937a, miR-205) trended in the correct direction. Conclusions: MiRs may play a significant role in mRNA regulation in CT and specific miRs may be involved in diet-induced vasculogenic ED. Future studies are aimed at determining the mRNA targets of these miRs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)621-630
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Sexual Medicine
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Diet-Induced ED
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • NanoString
  • microRNA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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