PUBLICATION

Role of morphine, miR-212/132 and mu opioid receptor in the regulation of bdnf in zebrafish embryos

Authors
Jimenez-Gonzalez, A., García-Concejo, A., López-Benito, S., Gonzalez-Nunez, V., Arévalo, J.C., Rodriguez, R.E.
ID
ZDB-PUB-160308-9
Date
2016
Source
Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects   1860(6): 1308-16 (Journal)
Registered Authors
González Nuñez, Veronica, Rodriguez, Raquel E.
Keywords
Bdnf, Danio rerio, Morphine, miR-132, miR-212
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/analysis*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs/physiology*
  • Morphine/pharmacology*
  • Receptor, trkB/analysis
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu/physiology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
PubMed
26947007 Full text @ BBA General Subjects
Abstract
Morphine is one of the first-line therapies for the treatment of pain despite its secondary effects. It modifies the expression of epigenetic factors like miRNAs. In the present study, we analyzed miR-212 and miR-132 and their implication in morphine effects in the zebrafish Central Nervous System (CNS) through the regulation of Bdnf expression.
We used control and knock-down zebrafish embryos to assess the effects of morphine in miRNAs 212/132 and mitotic or apoptotic cells by qPCR, immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay, respectively. Bdnf and TrkB were studied by western blot and through a primary neuron culture. A luciferase assay was performed to confirm the binding of miRNAs 212/132 to mecp2.
Morphine exposure decreases miR-212 but upregulates miR-132, as wells as Bdnf and TrkB, and changes the localization of proliferative cells. However, Bdnf expression was downregulated when miRNAs 212/132 and oprm1 were knocked-down. Furthermore, we proved that these miRNAs inhibit mecp2 expression by binding to its mRNA sequence. The described effects were corroborated in a primary neuron culture from zebrafish embryos.
We propose a mechanism in which morphine alters the levels of miRNAs 212/132 increasing Bdnf expression through mecp2 inhibition. oprm1 is also directly involved in this regulation. The present work confirms a relationship between the opioid system and neurotrophins and shows a key role of miR-212 and miR-132 on morphine effects through the regulation of Bdnf pathway.
miRNAs 212/132 are novel regulators of morphine effects on CNS. Oprm1 controls the normal expression of Bdnf.
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Mapping