MicroRNA sponge knockdowns miR-483-5p and upregulates serum ALT/AST in transgenic mice

MicroRNAs are involved in many biological processes. Studying microRNA function requires genetic strategies generating loss-of-function phenotypes, especially in vivo. However, few microRNA loss-of-function models have been reported in mice. Here, we generated several transgenic mouse lines to stably and specifically knockdown miR-483-5p by overexpressing microRNA sponges from CAG promoters. The different levels of expression of microRNA sponges resulted in different levels of mature miR-483-5p, which upregulated serum ALT/AST in these transgenic lines. These results indicate microRNA sponges are effective in mice in vivo, and they can be used in microRNA loss-of-function research.