LncRNA H19 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate AQP3 expression by sponging miR-874 in the intestinal barrier.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a significant clinical problem, which develops in a variety of acute or chronic pathological conditions. In a previous study, we found that microRNA-874 (miR-874) suppresses aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression, which contributes significantly to intestinal barrier dysfunction. Recently, a new regulatory circuit was identified in which RNA can crosstalk with each other by competing for shared miRNA. Here, we show that the human long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 may function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate the expression of AQP3 through competition for miR-874, thus playing a significant role in maintaining intestinal barrier function.