A New Model of The Mechanism Underlying Lead Poisoning: SNPs in miRNA tArget Region Influence The δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Expression Level

Abstract

Aim: To determine if SNPs located within the 3′-UTR of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) can alter the risk of lead poisoning and the ALAD gene expression. Materials & methods: A case–control study was carried out to find the SNPs in miRNA target region. Luciferase reporter gene assay, qRT-PCR and Western blot was used to determine the relationship between miRNA and SNPs. Results: We found a significant association between rs818708 and the risk of lead poisoning. miR-545–5p was influenced by rs818708 variant and might result in a significant change in ALAD expression. Conclusion: rs818708 T > C can weaken the binding capability between miR-545–5p and 3′-UTR of ALAD and thus may alter the risk of lead poisoning.

Keywords::

• 3′-UTR
• ALAD
• lead poisoning
• miRNA
• SNPs

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81302409) and (81602833) and Nature Science Funds of Jiangsu Province (BK20130112). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81302409) and (81602833) and Nature Science Funds of Jiangsu Province (BK20130112). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.