miR-122-5p is involved in posttranscriptional regulation of the mitochondrial thiamin pyrophosphate transporter () in pancreatic acinar cells.

Thiamin (vitamin B1) plays a vital role in cellular energy metabolism/ATP production. Pancreatic acinar cells (PACs) obtain thiamin from circulation and convert it to thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) in the cytoplasm. TPP is then taken up by the mitochondria via a carrier-mediated process that involves the mitochondrial TPP transporter (MTPPT; encoded by the gene ). We have previously characterized different aspects of the mitochondrial carrier-mediated TPP uptake process, but nothing is known about its possible regulation at the posttranscriptional level. We address this issue in the current investigations focusing on the role of miRNAs in this regulation. First, we subjected the human (and rat) 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the to three programs, and all have identified putative binding sites for miR-122-5p. Transfecting pmirGLO-h 3'-UTR into rat PAC AR42J resulted in a significant reduction in luciferase activity compared with cells transfected with pmirGLO-empty vector. Mutating as well as truncating the putative miR-122-5p binding sites in the h 3'-UTR led to abrogation of inhibition in luciferase activity in PAC AR42J. Furthermore, transfecting/transducing PAC AR42J and human primary PACs with mimic of miR-122-5p led to a significant inhibition in the level of expression of the MTPPT mRNA and protein as well as in mitochondrial carrier-mediated TPP uptake. Conversely, transfecting PAC AR42J with an inhibitor of miR-122-5p increased MTPPT expression and function. These findings show, for the first time, that expression and function of the MTPPT in PACs are subject to posttranscriptional regulation by miR-122-5p. This study shows that the expression and function of mitochondrial TPP transporter (MTPPT) are subject to posttranscriptional regulation by miRNA-122-5p in pancreatic acinar cells.