Regulation of UGT1A expression by miR-298 in human livers from the Han Chinese population and in human cell lines

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the role of miRNAs in UGT1A regulation. MATERIALS & METHODS: Based on bioinformatic prediction results, luciferase reporter assay and cell-transfection experiments were performed to study effects of miR-298 on UGT1A expression. Correlation study was conducted in human livers. RESULTS: miR-298 overexpression reduced mRNA level of UGT1A1 and UGT1A4 in HepG2 and LS174T cells, and that of UGT1A3 and UGT1A9 in LS174T cells. miR-298 repression increased mRNA level of UGT1A4 in HepG2 and LS174T cells, and that of UGT1A1 and UGT1A3 in LS174T cells. Inverse correlations between miR-298, as well as miR-491-3p, and UGT1A3 and 1A4 mRNA levels were observed in livers. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that miR-298 and miR-491-3p downregulates UGT1A expression.