Preliminary investigation of the effect of ferulic acid on miRNAs and LncRNAs in Mongolian horse skeletal muscle satellite cells.
Abstract: Ferulic acid (FA), a natural antioxidant, has attracted considerable attention for its regulatory potential in skeletal muscle development, energy metabolism, and muscle fiber type transformation. Unassigned: This study established a research system based on Mongolian horse skeletal muscle satellite cells to elucidate the molecular basis by which ferulic acid regulates muscle fiber type transformation through a non-coding RNA interaction network. Unassigned: A total of 18 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIRs) and 128 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were identified through transcriptome sequencing of the ferulic acid-treated (FA) group and the control group (NC). The target genes of non-coding RNAs are enriched in processes such as positive regulation of TOR signaling, cell migration, and positive regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation, where they play important roles in cell growth and proliferation. Dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed that LncRNA competitively binds to , thereby relieving its inhibitory effect on and forming a biologically functional regulatory axis. Unassigned: This study reveals that ferulic acid can regulate muscle fiber proliferation and type transformation through the interaction network of non-coding RNAs and target genes, providing potential targets for optimizing the athletic performance and muscle function of equids.
Copyright © 2025 Gong, Ding, Bou, Shi, Lin, Shi, Li, Wu, Dugarjaviin and Bai.
Publication Date: 2025-07-18 PubMed ID: 40756204PubMed Central: PMC12314428DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1630614Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper explored the effect of a natural antioxidant, ferulic acid, on the regulation of muscle development and transformation in Mongolian horse skeletal muscle cells, through the interaction networks of non-coding RNAs and their target genes.
Methodolgy and Findings
- The researchers setup a system leveraging Mongolian horse’s skeletal muscle satellite cells, to understand the molecular processes by which ferulic acid modulates muscle fiber transformations via a network of non-coding RNAs.
- They conducted transcriptome sequencing of both the ferulic acid-treated group and the non-treated control group.
- Following this process, they detected a total of 18 differentially expressed micro RNAs (miRNAs) and 128 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).
The Role and Influence of Non-Coding RNAs
- The researchers discovered that the target genes of these non-coding RNAs are generally involved in processes such as boosting TOR signaling, aiding cell migration, and promoting vascular endothelial cell proliferation, where they have key roles in cell growth and multiplication.
- The study also confirmed through dual luciferase reporter assays that long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) binds competitively with specific miRNA, which attenuates its inhibition on certain genes, thereby creating a biologically functional regulatory axis.
Conclusions and Implications
- The study concludes that ferulic acid could regulate muscle fiber multiplication and transformation through the coordination of non-coding RNAs and their target genes
- This understanding could offer potential targets for improving the athletic performance and muscle function of equids, a group of mammals which includes horses and zebras.
Cite This Article
APA
Gong W, Ding W, Bou T, Shi L, Lin Y, Shi X, Li Z, Wu H, Dugarjaviin M, Bai D.
(2025).
Preliminary investigation of the effect of ferulic acid on miRNAs and LncRNAs in Mongolian horse skeletal muscle satellite cells.
Front Genet, 16, 1630614.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2025.1630614 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Equus Research Center, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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