Abstract

Licorice has previously been shown to affect gene expression in cells; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. We analyzed the microRNA expression profile of serum from mice treated by gavage with licorice decoction, and obtained 11 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs). We also screened differentially expressed genes (DEgenes) based on RNA-Seq data, and 271 common genes were identified by intersection analysis of the predicted target genes of 11 DEmiRNAs and the DEgenes. The miRNA–gene network showed that most of the hub genes were immune-related. KEGG enrichment analysis of the 271 genes identified three significant pathways, and the 21 genes involved in these three pathways, and the 11 DEmiRNAs, were constructed into a miRNA pathway–target gene network, in whichmmu-miR-27a-3pstood out. Compared to ImmPort, there were 13 immune genes within the above group of 21 genes, and three intersected with themmu-miR-27a-3ppredicted target genes,Cd28,Grap2andCxcl12, of which the expression ofCd28changed most significantly. We confirmed the regulation ofCd28bymmu-miR-27a-3pusing a dual-luciferase assay, and further confirmed that overexpression ofmmu-miR-27a-3pcould significantly downregulate the expression ofCd28in lymphocytes. These results indicate thatmmu-miR-27a-3pcould be involved in the licorice-mediated regulation of the expression ofCd28in mice.Keywords:licorice;gene expression;regulation;miRNA;Cd28;mmu-miR-27a-3p