Mitochondrial microRNAs (mitomiRs) are endogenous small, single-stranded molecules of noncoding RNA (19–23 nucleotides) present in mitochondria that represent a new level of control of gene expression. These sequences can be either encoded in the nuclei - however the importing mechanism is still not fully established - or may be originated straight inside mitochondria, from mitochondrial genome-derived mRNA. Undeniably, mitomiRs typically act by regulating gene expression inside mitochondria at the post-transcriptional level with a significant role both in physiology and in pathology. Unveiling mitochondrial microRNAs biological function and their targets will propel the development of innovative therapeutic and diagnostic tools.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small, single-stranded molecules of noncoding RNA (19–23 nucleotides) that represent a new level of control of gene expression. miRNAs act at the post-transcriptional level to modulate protein-coding genes, either by blocking the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) or by actively encouraging its degradation, and it is well reported that each miRNA can target multiple genes [1]. Given that miRNAs are now postulated as master regulators and fine tuners of gene expression, these molecules might enclose relevant diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications.
miRNAs are currently documented as relevant players in almost every biological process, from cell proliferation to differentiation, apoptosis and organogenesis [1][2]. The finding and the study of miRNAs has noticeably changed the classical understanding of gene expression and our comprehension of the biogenesis and function of miRNAs has markedly grown in recent years. Some associations between miRNA deregulation and human disease have been reported in different medical fields [3]. The research in this new ‘arena’ has exposed the enormous potential of miRNAs as tools for diagnostics or therapeutics. More specifically, several studies have already explored the modulation of mitochondrial DNA genetics by miRNAs [4]. Mitochondria, besides chloroplasts in plants, are the only organelles that possess a separate genome, the so-called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mutations in this DNA molecule have been shown to be involved in an assortment of both physiological (e.g., heat production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, cellular differentiation and aging) and pathological traits, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cancers [5][6]. Additionally, there is a plethora of crosstalk signals that allow the communication between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. This mechanism of regulation is vital for the activity of the whole cellular machinery, basically by modulating mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism [7] through reciprocal mitochondrial-to-nucleus communication [8][9].
The most famous role of mitochondria is to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation fueled by a chain of four protein complexes, the electron transport chain (ETC). An impressive number of more than 1000 mitochondrial proteins have been discovered [10]. Mitochondrial proteins can have a distinct genetic origin. It is predicted that ~99% of these proteins are nuclear-encoded and are synthesized in the cytoplasmatic compartment, being further imported through mitochondrial membrane transporters. The lasting 1% of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the mitochondrial genome and the mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) is responsible for the translation of these mRNAs. Moreover, the mitochondrion has its own protein synthesis machinery. As a result, an appropriate regulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis is absolutely required to achieve and maintain normal mitochondrial function.
Regarding miRNAs in mitochondria, it is well-recognized nowadays that several cellular mechanisms involving mitochondria are regulated by many genetic players that originate from either nuclear- or mitochondrial-encoded small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs). Growing evidence collected from whole genome and transcriptome sequencing highlight the role of distinct members of this class, from short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to miRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) [11]. Some of the mechanisms that have been shown to be modulated are the expression of mitochondrial proteins itself, as well as the more complex coordination of mitochondrial structure and dynamics with its function [12][13][14]. The mechanisms involved in mitochondrial miRNAs transport are now being increasingly exposed and therefore more and more light is being shed upon mitochondrial miRNAs’ targets to determine their role in this unmapped cellular context [11][15]. Indeed, several studies have already disclosed the presence of miRNAs in mitochondria [13]. However, the mechanism by which the nuclear-encoded miRNAs are imported into mitochondria is still not fully established (see Reference [15] for a follow-up). On the other hand, numerous mitomiRs may be originated straight inside mitochondria, from mitochondrial genome-derived mRNA. Undeniably, mitomiRs typically act by regulating gene expression inside mitochondria at the post-transcriptional level [16]. Further than that, some of the mitomiRs may also target nuclear-encoded mRNAs localized on the mitochondrial surface [11]. Taken all together, these discoveries clearly reveal the significant role of mitomiRs in regulating mitochondrial gene expression and mitochondrial functions in both physiology and pathology [17], as summarized in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Modulation of physiologic and/or pathologic mechanisms by mitochondrial miRNAs. Several mechanisms that contribute to physiopathology require some biological functions that are modulated by different mitochondrial microRNAs.
Tissue repair and regeneration depends on miRNA regulation as these small molecular silencers play a fundamental part in post-transcriptional gene silencing. Multiple key biological processes important for regeneration such as cell growth and proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, as well as mitochondrial function, are tightly controlled by them [18][19]. Regulation of miRNA expression levels is crucial as small changes in basal conditions are sequentially propagated and amplified throughout different biological pathways, ultimately leading to changes in cell phenotypes [20]. Therefore, a plethora of aspects in tissue regeneration could potentially be controlled by the manipulation of miRNAs.
Currently, different evidence shows that both nuclear-encoded miRNAs imported to mitochondria and mitochondrial genome-derived miRNA, both defined as mitomiRs, may influence mitochondrial dynamics, a fundamental process for tissue homeostasis (Table 1) [21][22]. In fact, regulation of how and how much energy cells require strongly impacts stem cells’ fate, controlling the ability of stem cells to decide when to exit from their quiescent state.
Table 1. Summary of mitomiRs function and its known targets.
miR | Target genes | Function | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
miR-1 | ↑ protein synthesis ↑ATP production |
[23] | |
EIF4E, Mef2a, Gata4, HDAC6 | Regulation of cardiac hypertrophy | [24][25] | |
FABP3 | Heart enlargement and hypertrophy | [26] | |
Fibulin-2 | ↓ TGFβ signaling ↓ extracellular matrix remodeling |
[27] | |
miR1/miR-133a | ↑ number of mitochondrial genesInfluence on mitochondria morphology | [28] | |
↑ cardiac stem cell differentiation | [29] | ||
Let-7b | IGF-2 | ↓cell proliferation ↑ cell cycle arrest ↑ myofibroblast proliferation |
[30] |
Hmga2 | ↑ cell senescence | [31] | |
miR-127 | S1P3 | ↑ cell differentiation | [32] |
ATP5B | Control of bioenergetic cell pattern | [33] | |
miR-125b | IGF-2 | ↓ stem cell differentiation | [34] |
miR-128 | Sp1 | ↓ stem cell differentiation | [35] |
miR-181c | COX1 | Altered mitochondrial metabolism and ROS generation | [36][37] |
miR-181a | ↑ cell senescence | [38] | |
miR-338 | Modulate COX-IV and subunits of the ATP synthase complex | [39][40] | |
miR-378 | ATP6 | ↓ ATP synthase activity | [41] |
IGF receptor 1 | ↑ apoptosis ↓ signaling in Akt cascade ↑ ROS generation |
[42] | |
miR-146-5p | ND1, ND2, ND4, ND5, ND6, ATP8, SOD3, Bcl-2 | ↑ ROS generation ↑ cell senescence |
[43][44][45] |
miR-762 | ND2 | ↓ intracellular ATP levels ↑ increased ROS production ↓ mitochondrial complex I enzyme activity |
[46] |
miR-19b, miR-20a, miR-17, miR-106 | Bcl-2 | ↑ permeability transition pore opening ↑ caspase-1 and 3 ↑ apoptosis |
[47][48] |
miR-133 | type 1 angiotensin II receptor, Cdc42, Rho-A and Nelf-A/WHSC2 | ↓ cardiac remodeling | [49][50] |
miR-212/132 | Foxo3 | ↑ cardiac remodeling | [51] |
miR-23a | Foxo3 | ↑ cardiac remodeling | [52] |
miR-29a-3p | NFATc4 | ↓ hypertrophic response | [53] |
miR-101 | TGFβRI and c-Fos | ↓ Extracellular matrix production ↓ fibroblast proliferation |
[54][55] |
miR-24 | furin | ↓ differentiation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts via TGFβ-smad2/3 | [56] |
miR-29 family | Antifibrotic role | [56][57][58][59] | |
miR-1224-3p | BECN1 | ↑ EMT ↓ gene expression of extracellular matrix-related genes |
[60] |
miR-21 | Smad7 | Pro-fibrotic effect | [61] |
Spry1 | Pro-fibrotic effect | [62] | |
miR-27a | TGFb | Pro-fibrotic effect | [16][17] |
Some mitochondrial miRNAs were shown to modulate the differentiation of muscle stem cell into functional muscle cells by regulating mitochondria biogenesis (Table 1). By itself, miR-1 expression increases protein synthesis, and ATP production essential for optimal cell differentiation [35]. However, when miR-1 is simultaneously silenced with miR-133a in adult muscle stem cells in vitro, the expression of some mitochondrial genes was reduced, and atypical mitochondria were formed. Furthermore, a parallel in vivo experiment in a miR-1/133a double-knockout mouse model confirmed compromised muscle performance, as a consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired metabolic maturation [63]. let-7b, which has a dual role both on mitochondrial dynamics as well as on differentiation and maintenance of adult muscle cells [64], inhibited skeletal muscle growth by blocking cell proliferation and promoted cell cycle arrest and myofibroblast proliferation via the IGF-2 signaling pathway in vitro [36]. miR-127 was shown to mediate muscle stem cell differentiation through direct targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1P3). Forced expression of miR-127 powered cell differentiation into skeletal cells both in vitro and in vivo. In a miR-127 transgenic mouse suffering Duchenne muscular dystrophy, administration of this biomolecule induced skeletal muscle regeneration and improved muscular dystrophy through stem cell differentiation [37]. Overexpression of other mitochondrial miRNAs, such as miR-125b and miR-128, was also correlated with inhibition of muscle stem cell differentiation and consequently impaired muscle regeneration [65]. Of note, miR-125b contributes to this inhibition through insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) targeting [39], while miR-128 suppresses specificity protein-1 (Sp1) [40]. In contrast, inhibition of miR-128 overexpresses Sp1 protein levels, abolishing proliferation and increasing differentiation [40]. The differential expression of mitomiRs that impact adult skeletal muscle cell differentiation and maintenance are depicted in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Differential expression of mitochondrial miRNAs impact adult skeletal muscle cell differentiation and maintenance. By modulating energy supply through mitochondria, these mitomiRs are able to promote the full differentiation of muscle fibers. Increased expression of the mitochondrial gene is needed to promote an adequate mitochondrial performance and to allow more rapid responses to physiological needs, namely tissue regeneration.
Tissue regeneration after injury is a complex and a highly metabolically demanding process [41]. Thus, regulation of the mitochondrial genome by mitomiRs may impact the expression of key components driving ATP synthesis, consequently influencing regenerative mechanisms (Table 1). Mitochondrial miR-181c, miR-1, miR-338 and miR-210 have been shown to target multiple proteins that modulate the mitochondrial electron transport chain [18][66], as depicted in Figure 3. The impact of miR-181c was demonstrated both in vitro [29] and in vivo [42] and mechanistically described by binding to 3’UTR mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit (COX)-1, which affects the function of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex IV. While forced overexpression of miR-181c altered mitochondrial metabolism and ROS generation, contributing to heart failure, its inhibition may be enough to balance mitochondrial bioenergetics, potentiating cardiac remodeling or at least controlling cardiac damages. Recently, Banavath et al. showed that the loss of miR-181c, through MICU1 upregulation, a specific promoter of Sp1, may protect the heart from injury [67]. Mitochondrial miR-338-5p in neural cell culture systems was demonstrated to modulate the expression of COX-IV and subunits of the ATP synthase complex [33][68]. When anti-miR-338 was transfected into axons, the metabolic oxygen consumption was increased by about 50% when compared with the nontargeting cells, potentiating cell survival. Furthermore, miR-378 was shown to have an important role in cardiac remodeling. This miRNA is highly expressed in diabetic cardiac mitochondria and it reduces ATP synthase activity by decreasing mitochondrial ATP6 expression. This effect was further tested in vitro by overexpression of mitomiR-378 in HL-1 cells [69]. Consistently, in vivo delivery of miR-378-3p antagomir preserved ATP6 protein levels which balance the bioenergetic deficits, contributing to an adequate cardiac pump function [69].
Figure 3. Mitochondrial miRNAs modulate metabolic processes. Mitochondrial miRNAs have been shown to regulate the mitochondrial electron transport chain by targeting multiple proteins. By impacting mitochondrial metabolism, ROS generation and ATP production, mitomiRs are important contributors for tissue regeneration.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/biology9120486