RNA helicase DExD/H-box 5 modulates intestinal microbiota in mice

Liyuan Liu; Silan Zhang; Feijie Zhi; Yinjuan Song; Bin Li; Pengchen Gao; Ying Zhang; Ke Ma; Jian Xu; Bo Jiang; Yuefeng Chu; Yongqing Li; Jianhua Qin

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106265

RNA helicase DExD/H-box 5 modulates intestinal microbiota in mice

Microb Pathog. 2023 Sep:182:106265. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106265. Epub 2023 Jul 22.

Authors

Liyuan Liu¹, Silan Zhang², Feijie Zhi³, Yinjuan Song³, Bin Li⁴, Pengchen Gao³, Ying Zhang³, Ke Ma³, Jian Xu⁴, Bo Jiang⁵, Yuefeng Chu⁴, Yongqing Li⁵, Jianhua Qin⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei Province, 071001, China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, China.
² College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, 830091, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, 830091, China.
⁵ Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
⁶ College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei Province, 071001, China. Electronic address: qjhqqq@126.com.

PMID: 37482112
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106265

Abstract

The RNA helicase DExD/H-box (DDX) family of proteins plays a central role in host cellular RNA metabolism, including mRNA regulation, microRNA biogenesis, and ribosomal processing. DDX5, also known as p68, promotes viral replication and tumorigenesis. However, there have been no studies on the regulation of the intestinal microbiota by DDX family proteins. We constructed DDX5 knockout mice (Ddx5^+/-) using CRISPR/CAS9 technology. Subsequently, DDX5 knockout mice were analyzed for PCR products, mRNA levels, protein expression, immunohistochemistry, and histopathological lesions. Fecal (n = 12) and ileum (n = 12) samples were collected from the Ddx5^+/- and wild-type (Ddx5^+/+) mice. The diversity, richness, and structural separation of the intestinal microbiota of the Ddx5^+/- and Ddx5^+/+ mice were determined by 16S rRNA sequencing and analysis. Ddx5^+/- mice were successfully established, and the ileum had normal morphology, a clear layer of tissue structures, and neatly arranged cupped cells. DDX5 knockout mice did not exhibit adverse effects on the ileal tissue. Microbial diversity and abundance were not significantly different, but the microbial structure of the intestinal microbiota was clustered separately between Ddx5^+/+ and Ddx5^+/- mice. Furthermore, we found that the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 in the Ddx5^+/- mice was significantly lower than in the Ddx5^+/+ mice. These analyses indicated specific interactions between the intestinal microbiota and DDX5 protein. Our results indicate that DDX5 has a significant effect on the composition of the intestinal microbiota in mice, suggesting its potential as a promising novel target for the treatment of inflammation and tumorigenesis in the intestine.

Keywords: Akkermansia; Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1; Intestinal microbiota; Mice; RNA helicase DExD/H-box 5.