MicroRNA-155-5p inhibition alleviates irritable bowel syndrome by increasing claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disease. Emerging studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are commonly dysregulated in patients with IBS, and aberrant miRNAs are implicated in IBS occurrence. Although miR-155-5p participates in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal barrier dysfunction, the role of miR-155-5p in IBS is unclear. METHODS: In the present study, colon samples were obtained from IBS patients and IBS mice induced by trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), and the levels of miR-155-5p, claudin-1 (CLDN1), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis. The regulatory role of miR-155-5p in CLDN1 and ZO-1 expression was validated using dual luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: We found that miR-155-5p levels were upregulated in colon samples of IBS patients and mice compared with healthy subjects and normal mice, respectively. Meanwhile, the levels of CLDN1 and ZO-1 were decreased in colon samples of IBS patients and mice. Importantly, forced expression of miR-155-5p inhibited CLDN1 and ZO-1 expression. In IBS mice, intraperitoneal injection with miR-155-5p inhibitor increased CLDN1 and ZO-1 expression in intestinal mucosal epithelium, enhanced visceral response thresholds, and decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these results suggested that miR-155-5p participated in the pathogenesis of IBS, at least in part by inhibiting CLDN1 and ZO-1 expression, indicating that miR-155-5p may be a potential therapeutic target for IBS.