TY - JOUR

T1 - Uncovering the gastrointestinal passage, intestinal epithelial cellular uptake, and AGO2 loading of milk miRNAs in neonates using xenomiRs as tracers

AU - Weil, Patrick Philipp

AU - Reincke, Susanna

AU - Hirsch, Christian Alexander

AU - Giachero, Federica

AU - Aydin, Malik

AU - Scholz, Jonas

AU - Jönsson, Franziska

AU - Hagedorn, Claudia

AU - Nguyen, Duc Ninh

AU - Thymann, Thomas

AU - Pembaur, Anton

AU - Orth, Valerie

AU - Wünsche, Victoria

AU - Jiang, Ping Ping

AU - Wirth, Stefan

AU - Jenke, Andreas C.W.

AU - Sangild, Per Torp

AU - Kreppel, Florian

AU - Postberg, Jan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background: Human breast milk has a high microRNA (miRNA) content. It remains unknown whether and how milk miRNAs might affect intestinal gene regulation and homeostasis of the developing microbiome after initiating enteral nutrition. However, this requires that relevant milk miRNA amounts survive the gastrointestinal (GI) passage, are taken up by cells, and become available to the RNA interference machinery. It seems important to dissect the fate of these miRNAs after oral ingestion and GI passage. Objectives: Our goal was to analyze the potential transmissibility of milk miRNAs via the gastrointestinal system in neonate humans and a porcine model in vivo to contribute to the discussion of whether milk miRNAs could influence gene regulation in neonates and thus might vertically transmit developmental relevant signals. Methods: We performed cross-species profiling of miRNAs via deep sequencing and utilized dietary xenobiotic taxon-specific milk miRNA (xenomiRs) as tracers in human and porcine neonates, followed by functional studies in primary human fetal intestinal epithelial cells using adenovirus-type 5-mediated miRNA gene transfer. Results: Mammals share many milk miRNAs yet exhibit taxon-specific miRNA fingerprints. We traced bovine-specific miRNAs from formula nutrition in human preterm stool and 9 d after the onset of enteral feeding in intestinal cells (ICs) of preterm piglets. Thereafter, several xenomiRs accumulated in the ICs. Moreover, a few hours after introducing enteral feeding in preterm piglets with supplemented reporter miRNAs (cel-miR-39-5p/-3p), we observed their enrichment in blood serum and in argonaute RISC catalytic component 2 (AGO2)-immunocomplexes from intestinal biopsies. Conclusions: Milk-derived miRNAs survived GI passage in human and porcine neonates. Bovine-specific miRNAs accumulated in ICs of preterm piglets after enteral feeding with bovine colostrum/formula. In piglets, colostrum supplementation with cel-miR-39-5p/-3p resulted in increased blood concentrations of cel-miR-39-3p and argonaute RISC catalytic component 2 (AGO2) loading in ICs. This suggests the possibility of vertical transmission of miRNA signaling from milk through the neonatal digestive tract. Am J Clin Nutr 2023;xx:xx–xx.

AB - Background: Human breast milk has a high microRNA (miRNA) content. It remains unknown whether and how milk miRNAs might affect intestinal gene regulation and homeostasis of the developing microbiome after initiating enteral nutrition. However, this requires that relevant milk miRNA amounts survive the gastrointestinal (GI) passage, are taken up by cells, and become available to the RNA interference machinery. It seems important to dissect the fate of these miRNAs after oral ingestion and GI passage. Objectives: Our goal was to analyze the potential transmissibility of milk miRNAs via the gastrointestinal system in neonate humans and a porcine model in vivo to contribute to the discussion of whether milk miRNAs could influence gene regulation in neonates and thus might vertically transmit developmental relevant signals. Methods: We performed cross-species profiling of miRNAs via deep sequencing and utilized dietary xenobiotic taxon-specific milk miRNA (xenomiRs) as tracers in human and porcine neonates, followed by functional studies in primary human fetal intestinal epithelial cells using adenovirus-type 5-mediated miRNA gene transfer. Results: Mammals share many milk miRNAs yet exhibit taxon-specific miRNA fingerprints. We traced bovine-specific miRNAs from formula nutrition in human preterm stool and 9 d after the onset of enteral feeding in intestinal cells (ICs) of preterm piglets. Thereafter, several xenomiRs accumulated in the ICs. Moreover, a few hours after introducing enteral feeding in preterm piglets with supplemented reporter miRNAs (cel-miR-39-5p/-3p), we observed their enrichment in blood serum and in argonaute RISC catalytic component 2 (AGO2)-immunocomplexes from intestinal biopsies. Conclusions: Milk-derived miRNAs survived GI passage in human and porcine neonates. Bovine-specific miRNAs accumulated in ICs of preterm piglets after enteral feeding with bovine colostrum/formula. In piglets, colostrum supplementation with cel-miR-39-5p/-3p resulted in increased blood concentrations of cel-miR-39-3p and argonaute RISC catalytic component 2 (AGO2) loading in ICs. This suggests the possibility of vertical transmission of miRNA signaling from milk through the neonatal digestive tract. Am J Clin Nutr 2023;xx:xx–xx.

KW - enteral feeding

KW - fetal human intestinal epithelial cells

KW - intestinal maturation

KW - miRNA target

KW - necrotizing enterocolitis

KW - preterm delivery

KW - preterm piglet

U2 - 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.03.016

DO - 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.03.016

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36963568

AN - SCOPUS:85152458853

VL - 117

SP - 1195

EP - 1210

JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

SN - 0002-9165

IS - 6

ER -