Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Rates of IBD have increased drastically over the past decade, greatest in children, asserting a role for the environment in disease pathogenesis. Emerging evidence has shown that vitamin D deficiency can affect the autophagy pathway and disrupt intestinal homeostasis, contributing to IBD. Epigenetic regulation through miRNAs may be a mechanism connecting vitamin D deficiency to dysregulated autophagy in IBD. Our study characterizes in the intestine the effect of vitamin D deficiency on autophagy via regulation by the miRNA, miR-142-3p. This research builds on data indicating miR-142-3p regulation of autophagy gene ATG16L1 and miR-142-3p overexpression in the intestine of IBD patients. Here, we demonstrate that vitamin D deficiency causes decreased ATG16L1 protein expression in the intestine. This poses a potential mechanism by which the environment interacts with genetics leading to IBD.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Adam H. Hsieh
Language: English
Topic: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2601805807