A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that influence gene-expression via post-transcriptional regulation of target protein-coding RNAs. With literature reports indicating survival of diet-derived miRNAs following their ingestion, it is important to study their stability and concentration during gas...

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Main Authors: Miguel Cifuentes Acebal, Yvan Devaux, Torsten Bohn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000061
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author Miguel Cifuentes Acebal
Yvan Devaux
Torsten Bohn
author_facet Miguel Cifuentes Acebal
Yvan Devaux
Torsten Bohn
author_sort Miguel Cifuentes Acebal
collection DOAJ
description MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that influence gene-expression via post-transcriptional regulation of target protein-coding RNAs. With literature reports indicating survival of diet-derived miRNAs following their ingestion, it is important to study their stability and concentration during gastrointestinal digestion. The unique combination of chemicals and elevated RNAse content present in the gastrointestinal matrix may be a limiting factor for studying diet-derived miRNAs. First, chemical cross-reactivity with matrix constituents (e.g. bile salts) may interfere with the salt bridge interactions typically present during RNA extraction, reducing the efficiency of the column. Second, high RNAse content may not be fully inhibited during extraction and could continue degrading the miRNAs, as is observed for other tissues with high RNAse content. These combined issues may result in a reduced efficiency in yield and purity of RNA extracts, further limiting the study of diet-derived miRNAs (i.e. in downstream metabolism). In the present manuscript, we display a method based on silica column purification to extract and quantify diet-derived miRNAs from the bioaccessible phase of the gastrointestinal digesta. The proposed protocol provides a simple, quick (less than 2 h), reliable, and systematic method for miRNA purification from gastrointestinal digesta. The optimization showcased that the challenges caused by high RNAse activity, plant bioactive substances and bile-salt content within the gastrointestinal digesta have been overcome and the study of the miRNA fraction in a body fluid so far neglected is now available to researchers, allowing the use of miRNA as biomarkers of intake and potentially biomarkers of biological changes.
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spelling doaj-art-55acb43ebcac4860afeb88f8a27da50c2025-08-20T03:21:01ZengElsevierFood Chemistry: Molecular Sciences2666-56622025-06-011010024510.1016/j.fochms.2025.100245A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digestaMiguel Cifuentes Acebal0Yvan Devaux1Torsten Bohn2Nutrition and Health Research Group, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg; Doctoral School in Science and Engineering, University of Luxembourg, 2, Avenue de l'Université, 4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgCardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, LuxembourgNutrition and Health Research Group, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg; Corresponding author.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that influence gene-expression via post-transcriptional regulation of target protein-coding RNAs. With literature reports indicating survival of diet-derived miRNAs following their ingestion, it is important to study their stability and concentration during gastrointestinal digestion. The unique combination of chemicals and elevated RNAse content present in the gastrointestinal matrix may be a limiting factor for studying diet-derived miRNAs. First, chemical cross-reactivity with matrix constituents (e.g. bile salts) may interfere with the salt bridge interactions typically present during RNA extraction, reducing the efficiency of the column. Second, high RNAse content may not be fully inhibited during extraction and could continue degrading the miRNAs, as is observed for other tissues with high RNAse content. These combined issues may result in a reduced efficiency in yield and purity of RNA extracts, further limiting the study of diet-derived miRNAs (i.e. in downstream metabolism). In the present manuscript, we display a method based on silica column purification to extract and quantify diet-derived miRNAs from the bioaccessible phase of the gastrointestinal digesta. The proposed protocol provides a simple, quick (less than 2 h), reliable, and systematic method for miRNA purification from gastrointestinal digesta. The optimization showcased that the challenges caused by high RNAse activity, plant bioactive substances and bile-salt content within the gastrointestinal digesta have been overcome and the study of the miRNA fraction in a body fluid so far neglected is now available to researchers, allowing the use of miRNA as biomarkers of intake and potentially biomarkers of biological changes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000061In vitro digestionINFOGESTDigestive enzymesIntestineNucleotidesXenomiR
spellingShingle Miguel Cifuentes Acebal
Yvan Devaux
Torsten Bohn
A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
In vitro digestion
INFOGEST
Digestive enzymes
Intestine
Nucleotides
XenomiR
title A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
title_full A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
title_fullStr A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
title_full_unstemmed A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
title_short A protocol for microRNA extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
title_sort protocol for microrna extraction from gastrointestinal digesta
topic In vitro digestion
INFOGEST
Digestive enzymes
Intestine
Nucleotides
XenomiR
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000061
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