Overexpression of miR-124-3p affects zebrafish inner ear development and hearing function via downregulation of EYA1 gene expression

Ruizhi Zhang; Yanhe Sun; Qi Zhang; Jia Lin; Yinglan Zhang; Xudong Chen; Ting Liu; Qiang Li

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137172

Overexpression of miR-124-3p affects zebrafish inner ear development and hearing function via downregulation of EYA1 gene expression

Neurosci Lett. 2023 Apr 1:802:137172. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137172. Epub 2023 Mar 8.

Authors

Ruizhi Zhang¹, Yanhe Sun¹, Qi Zhang¹, Jia Lin¹, Yinglan Zhang¹, Xudong Chen¹, Ting Liu¹, Qiang Li²

Affiliations

¹ Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases (Fudan University), Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China.
² Translational Medical Center for Development and Disease, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Control, NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases (Fudan University), Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: liq@fudan.edu.cn.

PMID: 36898654
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137172

Abstract

The EYA1 gene is essential for normal inner ear development and affects the development and function of the inner ear in a dose-dependent manner. However, the mechanisms regulating EYA1 gene expression are not well understood. Recently, miRNAs have become recognized as important regulators of gene expression. In this study, we identified miR-124-3p through a microRNA (miRNA) target prediction website and found that miR-124-3p and its target site in the EYA1 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) are conserved in most vertebrates. Both in vivo and in vitro, the interaction of miR-124-3p with the EYA1 3'UTR exerts a negative regulatory effect. Microinjection of agomiR-124-3p into zebrafish embryos resulted in a phenotype of reduced auricular area, suggesting inner ear dysplasia. In addition, injection of agomiR-124-3p or antagomiR-124-3p caused abnormal hearing function in zebrafish. In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-124-3p can affect inner ear development and hearing function in zebrafish by regulating EYA1.

Keywords: EYA1; Hearing; Inner ear development; MiR-124-3p; Zebrafish.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

3' Untranslated Regions
Animals
Down-Regulation
Ear, Inner* / metabolism
Gene Expression
Hearing
MicroRNAs* / genetics
MicroRNAs* / metabolism
Zebrafish / metabolism

Substances

3' Untranslated Regions
MicroRNAs