Quantitative differential expression analysis reveals miR-7 as major islet microRNA

V Bravo-Egana, S Rosero, RD Molano, A Pileggi… - Biochemical and …, 2008 - Elsevier
V Bravo-Egana, S Rosero, RD Molano, A Pileggi, C Ricordi, J Domínguez-Bendala
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2008Elsevier
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding gene products that regulate gene expression through
specific binding to target mRNAs. Cell-specific patterns of miRNAs are associated with the
acquisition and maintenance of a given phenotype, such as endocrine pancreas (islets). We
hypothesized that a subset of miRNAs could be differentially expressed in the islets. Using
miRNA microarray technology and quantitative RT-PCR we identified a subset of miRNAs
that are the most differentially expressed islet miRNAs (ratio islet/acinar> 150-fold), miR-7 …
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding gene products that regulate gene expression through specific binding to target mRNAs. Cell-specific patterns of miRNAs are associated with the acquisition and maintenance of a given phenotype, such as endocrine pancreas (islets). We hypothesized that a subset of miRNAs could be differentially expressed in the islets. Using miRNA microarray technology and quantitative RT-PCR we identified a subset of miRNAs that are the most differentially expressed islet miRNAs (ratio islet/acinar>150-fold), miR-7 being the most abundant. A similarly high ratio for miR-7 was observed in human islets. The ratio islet/acinar for miR-375, a previously described islet miRNA, was <10 and is 2.5× more abundant in the islets than miR-7. Therefore, we conclude that miR-7 is the most abundant endocrine miRNA in islets while miR-375 is the most abundant intra-islet miRNA. Our results may offer new insights into regulatory pathways of islet gene expression.
Elsevier