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Functional single nucleotide polymorphism in IL −17 A 3′ untranslated region is targeted by mi R ‐4480 in vitro and may be associated with age‐related macular degeneration
Author(s) -
Popp Nicholas A.,
Yu Dianke,
Green Bridgett,
Chew Emily Y.,
Ning Baitang,
Chan ChiChao,
Tuo Jingsheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.21982
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , untranslated region , snp , biology , microrna , pathogenesis , three prime untranslated region , genetics , snp genotyping , allele , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genotype , messenger rna , immunology
Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in the elderly. Genetic factors contributing to AMD include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune‐related genes including CFH, C2, CFI, C9 , and C3 , thus implicating these pathways in AMD pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are powerful regulators of gene expression and execute this function by binding to the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of target mRNAs, leading to mRNA degradation. In this study, we searched for the possible association of SNPs in the 3′UTR region of IL‐17A , a gene implicated in AMD pathogenesis without any previous SNP association with AMD. Using two independent sample cohorts of Caucasian subjects, six SNPs in the IL‐17A 3′‐UTR were selected for genotyping based on bioinformatic predictions of the SNP effect on microRNA binding. The SNP rs7747909 was found to be associated with AMD ( P < 0.05) in the NEI cohort, using a dominant model logistic regression. Luciferase reporter gene assays and RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed using ARPE‐19 cells to confirm the preferential binding of microRNAs to the major allele of the SNP. Our findings support the hypothesis that microRNA‐mediated gene dysregulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:58–64, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.