The independent contribution of miRNAs to the missing heritability in CYP3A4/5 functionality and the metabolism of atorvastatin

Sci Rep. 2016 May 23:6:26544. doi: 10.1038/srep26544.

Abstract

To evaluate the independent contribution of miRNAs to the missing heritability in CYP3A4/5 functionality and atorvastatin metabolism, the relationships among three levels of factors, namely (1) clinical characteristics, CYP3A4/5 genotypes, and miRNAs, (2) CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 mRNAs, and (3) CYP3A activity, as well as their individual impacts on atorvastatin metabolism, were assessed in 55 human liver tissues. MiR-27b, miR-206, and CYP3A4 mRNA respectively accounted for 20.0%, 5.8%, and 9.5% of the interindividual variations in CYP3A activity. MiR-142 was an independent contributor to the expressions of CYP3A4 mRNA (partial R(2) = 0.12, P = 0.002) and CYP3A5 mRNA (partial R(2) = 0.09, P = 0.005) but not CYP3A activity or atorvastatin metabolism. CYP3A activity was a unique independent predictor of variability of atorvastatin metabolism, explaining the majority of the variance in reduction of atorvastatin (60.0%) and formation of ortho-hydroxy atorvastatin (78.8%) and para-hydroxy atorvastatin (83.9%). MiR-27b and miR-206 were found to repress CYP3A4 gene expression and CYP3A activity by directly binding to CYP3A4 3'-UTR, while miR-142 was found to indirectly repress CYP3A activity. Our study indicates that miRNAs play significant roles in bridging the gap between epigenetic effects and missing heritability in CYP3A functionality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Atorvastatin / metabolism*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / genetics*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • MIRN142 microRNA, human
  • MIRN206 microRNA, human
  • MIRN27 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Atorvastatin
  • CYP3A5 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • CYP3A4 protein, human