Light/Dark Environmental Cycle Imposes a Daily Profile in the Expression of microRNAs in Rat CD133(+) Cells

The phenotype of primary cells in culture varies according to the donor environmental condition. We recently showed that the time of the day imposes a molecular program linked to the inflammatory response that is heritable in culture. Here we investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs) would show differential expression according to the time when cells were obtained, namely daytime or nighttime. Cells obtained from explants of cremaster muscle and cultivated until confluence (∼20 days) presented high CD133 expression. Global miRNA expression analysis was performed through deep sequencing in order to compare both cultured cells. A total of 504 mature miRNAs were identified, with a specific miRNA signature being associated to the light versus dark phase of a circadian cycle. miR-1249 and miR-129-2-3p were highly expressed in daytime cells, while miR-182, miR-96-5p, miR-146a-3p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-223-3p were highly expressed in nighttime cells. Nighttime cells are regulated for programs involved in cell processes and development, as well as in the inflammation, cell differentiation and maturation; while daytime cells express miRNAs that control stemness and cytoskeleton remodeling. In summary, the time of the day imposes a differential profile regarding to miRNA signature on CD133(+) cells in culture. Understanding this daily profile in the phenotype of cultured cells is highly relevant for clinical outputs, including cellular therapy approaches. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1953-1963, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.