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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome
Published on: June 15, 2016
Gene regulation by dietary microRNAs
Janos Zempleni1, Scott R Baier1, Katherine M Howard1
1a Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 316C Leverton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) silence genes through destabilizing mRNA or preventing translation of mRNA, thereby playing an essential role in gene silencing. Traditionally, miRNAs have been considered endogenous regulators of genes, i.e., miRNAs synthesized by an organism regulate the genes in that organism. Recently, that dogma has been challenged in studies suggesting that food-borne miRNAs are bioavailable and affect gene expression in mice and humans. While the evidence in support of this theory may be considered weak for miRNAs that originate in plants, there is compelling evidence to suggest that humans use bovine miRNAs in cow's milk and avian miRNAs in chicken eggs for gene regulation. Importantly, evidence also suggests that mice fed a miRNA-depleted diet cannot compensate for dietary depletion by increased endogenous synthesis. Bioinformatics predictions implicate bovine miRNAs in the regulation of genes that play roles in human health and development. Current challenges in this area of research include that some miRNAs are unable to establish a cause-and-effect between miRNA depletion and disease in miRNA knockout mice, and sequence similarities and identities for bovine and human miRNAs render it difficult to distinguish between exogenous and endogenous miRNAs. Based on what is currently known about dietary miRNAs, the body of evidence appears to be sufficient to consider milk miRNA bioactive compounds in foods, and to increase research activities in this field.
Insights
Dietary microRNAs (miRNAs) from food, like cow's milk, are bioavailable and can regulate human gene expression. This challenges the traditional view of miRNAs as solely endogenous regulators, suggesting new research avenues for bioactive food compounds.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene silencing, traditionally viewed as endogenous molecules.
- Recent research suggests food-borne miRNAs are bioavailable and can impact gene expression in consumers.
- Evidence points to bovine and avian miRNAs from milk and eggs potentially regulating human genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for the bioavailability and bioactivity of dietary microRNAs (miRNAs).
- To discuss the implications of food-borne miRNAs challenging the endogenous-only dogma.
- To highlight current research challenges and future directions in dietary miRNA research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating dietary miRNA bioavailability and effects.
- Analysis of bioinformatics predictions for bovine miRNA targets in human health.
- Discussion of experimental challenges, including miRNA knockout models and sequence similarity.
Main Results:
- Compelling evidence suggests humans utilize bovine miRNAs from milk and avian miRNAs from eggs for gene regulation.
- Mice on miRNA-depleted diets show inability to compensate via increased endogenous synthesis.
- Bioinformatics implicates dietary miRNAs in regulating genes crucial for human health and development.
Conclusions:
- Dietary miRNAs, particularly from milk, should be considered bioactive compounds in food.
- Further research is warranted to fully understand the role and impact of dietary miRNAs.
- Distinguishing exogenous from endogenous miRNAs remains a significant challenge in the field.
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Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...