MiR-181a-5p inhibits goose granulosa cell viability by targeting SIRT1

ABSTRACT

1. Granulosa cells (GCs) are involved in folliculogenesis, follicular development, and atresia. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-181a-5p (miR-181a-5p) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) are involved in GC proliferation and apoptosis, and SIRT1 has been predicted as one target of miR-181a-5p. However, there are few studies with poultry.

2. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression level of miR-181a-5p in granulosa layers during geese ovarian follicular development. A methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to assess the viability of geese granulosa cells treated with miR-181a-5p mimic or inhibitor. The binding sites between the SIRT1 3′-UTR region and miR-181a-5p were evaluated using a luciferase reporter assay system. SIRT1 mRNA levels were detected using qRT-PCR after transfection with miR-181a-5p mimic and inhibitor.

3. The miR-181a-5p suppressed geese GC viability and regulated the mRNA expression of viability-related genes in geese GCs. SIRT1 was a target gene of miR-181a-5p and miR-181a-5p suppressed its mRNA expression.

4. The miR-181a-5p may target and inhibit SIRT1 expression, thus suppressing GC viability by regulating viability-related key genes.

KEYWORDS:

• Granulosa cells
• miR-181a-5p
• SIRT1
• cell viability
• geese

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31672424, 31802064 and 31972567), China Agricultural Research System (No. CARS-42-4) and Project of National Science and Technology Plan for the Rural Development in China (No. 2015BAD03B06).