Niemann–Pick type C fibroblasts have a distinct microRNA profile related to lipid metabolism and certain cellular components

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNA expression may lead to severe pathophysiologies in human cells. Niemann–Pick type C (NPC) disease is a complex lipid storage disease characterized by late endosomal–lysosomal accumulation of multiple lipid molecules. Our aim was to characterize the miRNA profile in NPC fibroblasts as they may play an active role in the NPC disease associated changes in the cellular physiology.To investigate the miRNA expression, total RNAs were isolated from cultured human NPC fibroblasts and healthy fibroblasts and then, TaqMan Low-Density Array system containing 365 mature human miRNAs was used. Expression differences between the healthy and NPC cells were detected according to the relative quantification values. Target genes were predicted by using three different algorithms and classified regarding NPC related biological processes and cellular components.We found that three miRNAs, miR-196a, miR-196b and miR-296 were up-regulated (>3.5-fold increase, p < 0.05) whereas 38 miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in NPC cells (>3.5-fold decrease, p < 0.05). Among these non-coding RNAs, miR-98 was the most down-regulated (−33.3-fold) miRNA and miR-143, the lipid biosynthesis associated miRNA, had a 20-fold decreased expression in the NPC cells. Additionally, gene ontology analyses of the target genes suggested a distinct role for each miRNA.Our results show that NPC fibroblasts have an altered miRNA expression profile and certain miRNAs have importance in disease pathogenesis as well as the therapeutic capacity to correct lipid related pathophysiologies in the NPC cells.

Research highlights
► Differential expression emphasizes a possible role for miRNAs in NPC pathogenesis.
► Predicted target genes of certain miRNAs are related to lipid associated mechanisms.
► miR-196a, miR-98 and miR-143 are the most potent miRNAs for therapeutic approach.