MicroRNAs和肾纤维化

MicroRNAs(miRs)是一类非编码单链RNA,可介导靶mRNA降解或抑制靶mRNA翻译,从而调节靶基因的表达,在生理和病理过程中发挥重要作用。目前miRs已被证实与肾脏及肾脏疾病密切相关,并参与了肾纤维化的发生、发展及预后,其中以miR-21、miR-192、miR-29、miR-200的研究最为深入。现就近年来miRs在肾纤维化中的功能研究进展做一综述,并为今后肾纤维化的诊断、治疗提供参考。     

miRNA-200 家族在卵巢癌中作用的研究进展

MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类非编码小分子RNA,参与基因转录后水平调控,与肿瘤的形成、侵袭及转移、治疗及预后过程密切相关。研究发现,miRNA-200家族包括miR-141、miR-200a、miR-200b、miR-200c和miR-429在卵巢癌中的表达改变明显,且参与卵巢癌的发生、侵袭转移、卵巢癌细胞对紫杉醇的敏感性及复发过程,可能是用于卵巢癌的早期诊断、治疗、预后预测的指标。本文主要对miRNA-200家族在卵巢癌中的研究进展进行综述。     

血浆microRNA与HIV感染及治疗关系的研究

本次研究分析了Ⅰ型艾滋病病毒(HIV-1)感染者血浆中miRNA表达特点,探讨了血浆miRNA作为HIV-1感染及治疗监测生物学标志物的潜在可行性。选取2017年7月-2018年7月期间在昆明市第三人民医院就诊的HIV-1感染未经抗病毒治疗患者50例作为未治疗组,HIV-1感染经抗病毒治疗患者50例作为治疗组,选取同期本院健康体检者50例作为对照组,应用qPCR技术检测三组对象血浆miR-29a、miR-122,miR-155的相对表达量。结果显示,与健康对照组相比HIV-1感染未经抗病毒治疗组血浆miR-29a、miR-155、miR-122表达均升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);未治疗组与治疗组相比较血浆miR-29a、miR-155和miR-122表达均升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对未治疗组的研究显示,血浆miR-29a、miR-155表达水平与HIV-1RNA病毒载量呈正相关(P<0.05),miR-122与HIV-1RNA病毒载量无显著相关(P>0.05),miR-29a、miR-155表达水平与CD4;T细胞计数呈负相关(P<0.05)。本研究提示HIV-1感染后血浆miRNA有变化,血浆miR-29a、miR-122,miR-155与HIV-1感染相关,可能是HIV-1感染的潜在生物学标志物。而抗病毒治疗可以诱导miR-29a、miR-155和miR-122表达降低,这些miRNA可能具有成为监测HIV-1感染抗病毒治疗效果观察指标的潜在价值。未治疗组血浆miR-29a、miR-155与HIV-1RNA呈正相关,表明其与HIV-1病毒复制相关。     

microRNA在胰腺癌中的研究进展

胰腺癌是预后很差的恶性肿瘤,其分子机制的研究是治愈胰腺癌的希望.microRNA(miRNA)是一类小分子非编码RNA,通过降解或抑制靶基因mRNA的翻译调节靶基因的功能.近年来,研究发现miRNA在胰腺癌中异常表达,有上调,也有下调.虽然很多miRNA异常表达的机制尚不清楚,但启动子CpG甲基化与在胰腺癌中某些miRNA的下调有关.研究发现miRNA表达谱可用于胰腺癌和单个miRNA表达如miR-21、miR-34、miR-10a、miR-155、miR-196a及miR-200和let-7家族成员等可作为肿瘤标志物用于胰腺癌与正常胰腺、慢性胰腺炎、胰腺内分泌肿瘤等的诊断和鉴别诊断,预测胰腺癌的预后等.研究发现miRNA在胰腺癌中上调或下调参与胰腺癌的增殖、凋亡、侵袭、转移以及对化疗药物的耐药.研究发现miR-34、miR-200c等与胰腺癌干细胞的自我更新有关.这些miRNA研究将为胰腺癌的早期诊断、分子靶向治疗打下坚实的基础.     

miR-29家族及其靶基因与恶性肿瘤关系的研究进展

微小RNA-29(microRNA-29,miR-29)家族成员包括miR-29a、miR-29b和miR-29c,是一类与器官纤维化密切相关的小分子RNA。近年研究发现,多种肿瘤组织中存在miR-29s的表达紊乱。miR-29家族不但具有抑癌作用,还有促癌作用,其有望成为肿瘤早期诊断、疗效检测或复发监测的重要新靶标。现就miR-29s及其靶基因在肿瘤细胞增殖、分化、凋亡、侵袭和转移中的作用及其研究进展进行综述。     

大鼠心肌梗塞后心室重构中miRNA的差异表达

目的：筛选大鼠急性心梗后的心室重构过程中差异表达的微小RNA（microRNA,miRNA）,为miRNA调控心室重构的机制研究提供靶标。方法：20只成年雄性Wistar大鼠,分组如下：心肌梗死组（MI组,n=10）和假手术组（Sham组,n=10）。通过结扎大鼠左冠状动脉前降支构建急性心梗模型建模。4周后对大鼠进行超声心动图检查和梗死边缘区心肌HE染色观察心室重构程度。利用miRNA芯片对心梗边缘区的miRNA进行差异表达检测,采用实时定量PCR验证芯片结果的可靠性。结果：心脏超声显示MI组大鼠左室重构明显,心梗边缘区心肌HE染色可见细胞间质大量胶原纤维沉积。miRNA芯片结果显示15个miRNA在心梗4周后呈差异表达,其中11个miRNA（miR-21、miR-23a、miR-125b、miR-132、miR-146b、miR-181b、miR-199a、miR-320、miR-324、miR-328和miR-499）表达上调,4个miRNA（miR-29、miR-30c、miR-133a和miR-208）表达下调。实时定量PCR验证结果与芯片结果一致。结论：这些差异表达的miRNA可能与心梗后心室重构相关,进一步深入研究特定miRNA的调控机制有望为基因治疗提供新靶点。     

大鼠心肌梗塞后心室重构中miRNA 的差异表达

目的：筛选大鼠急性心梗后的心室重构过程中差异表达的微小RNA(microRNA, miRNA),为miRNA 调控心室重构的机制 研究提供靶标。方法：20 只成年雄性Wistar 大鼠,分组如下：心肌梗死组(MI组,n=10)和假手术组(Sham 组,n=10)。通过结扎大鼠 左冠状动脉前降支构建急性心梗模型建模。4 周后对大鼠进行超声心动图检查和梗死边缘区心肌HE 染色观察心室重构程度。利 用miRNA芯片对心梗边缘区的miRNA进行差异表达检测,采用实时定量PCR验证芯片结果的可靠性。结果：心脏超声显示MI 组大鼠左室重构明显,心梗边缘区心肌HE染色可见细胞间质大量胶原纤维沉积。miRNA 芯片结果显示15 个miRNA在心梗4 周后呈差异表达,其中11 个miRNA(miR-21、miR-23a、miR-125b、miR-132、miR-146b、miR-181b、miR-199a、miR-320、miR-324、 miR-328 和miR-499)表达上调,4 个miRNA(miR-29、miR-30c、miR-133a 和miR-208)表达下调。实时定量PCR 验证结果与芯片结 果一致。结论：这些差异表达的miRNA 可能与心梗后心室重构相关,进一步深入研究特定miRNA 的调控机制有望为基因治疗提 供新靶点。     

miR-29b2c重组腺病毒的构建及对胃癌细胞增殖和迁移的影响

构建了miR-29b2c重组腺病毒Ad-miR-29b2c,考察了其对HGC-27、MGC-803胃癌细胞增殖及迁移的抑制作用。采用PCR从基因组扩增miR-29b2c片段,并克隆至腺病毒穿梭载体pAdTrack-CMV中,构建穿梭质粒pAdT-29b2c,经酶切及测序鉴定。穿梭质粒经PmeⅠ线性化后与腺病毒骨架载体共转化BJ5183感受态,产生重组腺病毒质粒Ad-miR-29b2c,再经PacⅠ线性化后转染293A细胞进行包装。重组腺病毒扩增后感染HGC-27细胞,通过MTT及细胞迁移实验观察Ad-miR-29b2c对HGC-27、MGC-803细胞增殖及迁移的影响。采用Western blotting检测Ad-miR-29b2c对HGC-27、MGC-803细胞δ-catenin蛋白表达的影响。酶切、测序及荧光定量PCR结果表明重组腺病毒构建成功,miR-29b及miR-29c在HGC-27细胞过表达。MTT实验表明Ad-miR-29b2c能显著抑制HGC-27、MGC-803细胞增殖。细胞迁移实验表明Ad-miR-29b2c能显著抑制HGC-27、MGC-803细胞迁移。此外,Ad-miR-29b2c能显著降低HGC-27、MGC-803细胞δ-catenin蛋白表达水平。综上所述,构建了miR-29b2c的重组腺病毒,并发现其可以抑制胃癌细胞HGC-27和MGC-803的增殖及迁移,该作用可能与miR-29抑制HGC-27、MGC-803细胞δ-catenin蛋白表达有关。     

大鼠肝纤维化相关microRNA及其候选靶基因的筛选

microRNAs (miRNAs)是一类功能性非编码RNA,在多种生物过程中具有重要作用.然而,miRNA的表达模式、调控网络以及参与肝纤维化的miRNA仍有待阐明.为了探讨与肝纤维化相关的miRNA及其靶基因的功能,为临床肝纤维化治疗提供理论依据,本研究前期已采用胆管结扎法(BDL)建立大鼠胆汁淤积性肝纤维化模型.从大鼠肝脏中提取总RNA,应用基因芯片技术对胆汁淤积性肝纤维化肝组织中miRNA和mRNA表达谱进行综合分析;结合生物信息方法分析在胆汁淤积性肝纤维化中差异表达miRNA可能的靶基因;实时荧光定量PCR技术检测TGF-β1处理人肝星状细胞LX-2细胞中miR-29a-3p、miR-194-5p和miR-22-3p相对表达水平.结果 表明,与正常肝组织相比,纤维化肝组织中有48个差异表达miRNA (FC＞2,P＜0.05),其中36个上调,12个下调;筛选出18个预测靶基因参与与纤维化相关的生物过程;TGF-β1处理LX-2细胞中miR-29a-3p、miR-194-5p和miR-22-3p相对表达水平显著下调(P＜0.05).本研究筛选的差异表达miRNAs通过调节靶基因的表达在肝纤维化中可能发挥重要作用,将为miRNA在肝纤维化中的作用提供新的见解.     

microRNAs与糖尿病肾病

microRNAs(miRNAs)是一类内源性非编码调控单链小RNA,通过与靶mRNA的3'端非翻译区(3'UTRs)序列相互识别而引起靶mRNA降解或蛋白翻译抑制,从而参与机体器官发育分化、细胞增殖凋亡、肿瘤发生等多种生理病理过程。目前研究表明,miRNAs在糖尿病肾病(DN)的发病进展中发挥重要作用,一些miRNAs的表达异常(如miR-192、miR-21、miR-29、miR-377、miR-93、miR-200家族、miR-451和miR-251等的上调或下调)与DN的发生、发展密切相关。近期发现miRNAs在血清、血浆和尿液等多种体液中稳定存在,并且在DN发病状态下,一些miRNAs会发生特异性改变,提示miRNAs可作为DN诊断性标志物。而且,随着对miRNAs调控机制的深入研究,特定的miRNAs有可能成为DN的治疗靶点,为疾病的预防和进展提供新的治疗策略。     

Isolation and Quantification of MicroRNAs from Urinary Exosomes/Microvesicles for Biomarker Discovery

Recent studies indicate that microRNA (miRNA) is contained within exosome. Here we sought to optimize the methodologies for the isolation and quantification of urinary exosomal microRNA as a prelude to biomarker discovery studies. Exosomes were isolated through ultracentrifugation and characterized by immunoelectron microscopy. To determine the RNA was confined inside exosomes, the pellet was treated with RNase before RNA isolation. The minimum urine volume, storage conditions for exosomes and exosomal miRNA was evaluated. The presence of miRNAs in patients with various kidney diseases was validated with real-time PCR. The result shows that miRNAs extracted from the exosomal fraction were resistant to RNase digestion and with high quality confirmed by agarose electrophoresis. 16ml of urine was sufficient for miRNA isolation by absolute quantification with 4.15×10⁵ copies/ul for miR-200c. Exosomes was stable at 4℃ 24h for shipping before stored at -80℃ and was stable in urine when stored at -80°C for 12months. Exosomal miRNA was detectable despite 5 repeat freeze-thaw cycles. The detection of miRNA by quantitative PCR showed high reproducibility (>94% for intra-assay and >76% for inter-assay), high sensitivity (positive call 100% for CKD patients), broad dynamic range (8-log wide) and good linearity for quantification (R²>0.99). miR-29c and miR-200c showed different expression in different types of kidney disease. In summary, the presence of urinary exosomal miRNA was confirmed for patients with a diversity of chronic kidney disease. The conditions of urine collection, storage and miRNA detection determined in this study may be useful for future biomarker discovery efforts.     

Identification of candidate microRNA biomarkers in renal fibrosis: a meta-analysis of profiling studies

Abstract

The prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic value of microRNA (miRNA) expression aberrations in renal fibrosis has been studied in recent years. However, the miRNA expression profiling efforts have led to inconsistent results between the studies. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis on the renal fibrosis miRNA expression profiling studies to identify candidate diagnostic biomarkers. We performed comprehensive literature searches in several databases to identify miRNA expression studies of renal fibrosis in animal models and humans. The miRNAs expression data were extracted from 20 included studies, and both miRNA vote-counting strategy and Robust Rank Aggregation method were utilized to identify significant miRNA meta-signatures. The predicted and validated targets of miRNA meta-signature were obtained by using MultiMiR package in 11 databases. Then a gene set enrichment analysis (KEGG, PANTHER pathways and GO processes) were carried out with GeneCodis web tool to recognize pathways that are most strongly influenced by modified expressions of these miRNAs. We recognized in both meta-analysis approaches a significant miRNA meta-signature of five up-regulated (miR-142-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-142-5p and miR-214-3p) and two down-regulated (miR-29c-3p and miR-200a-3p) miRNAs. Enrichment analysis confirmed that miRNA meta-signature cooperatively target functionally related genes in signalling and developmental pathways in renal fibrosis. This meta-analysis identified seven highly significant and consistently dysregulated miRNAs from 20 datasets, as the focus of future investigations to discover their potential influence to renal fibrosis and their clinical utility as biomarkers and/or as therapeutic mediators against chronic kidney disease..     

miR-200b precursor can ameliorate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis

Members of the miR-200 family of micro RNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT of tubular epithelial cells is the mechanism by which renal fibroblasts are generated. Here we show that miR-200 family members inhibit transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-induced EMT of tubular cells. Unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) is a common model of EMT of tubular cells and subsequent tubulointerstitial fibrosis. In order to examine the role of miR-200 family members in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, their expression was investigated in the kidneys of UUO mice. The expression of miR-200 family miRNAs was increased in a time-dependent manner, with induction of miR-200b most pronounced. To clarify the effect of miR-200b on tubulointerstitial fibrosis, we injected miR-200b precursor intravenously. A single injection of 0.5 nM miR-200b precursor was sufficient to inhibit the increase of collagen types I, III and fibronectin in obstructed kidneys, and amelioration of fibrosis was confirmed by observation of the kidneys with Azan staining. miR-200 family members have been previously shown to inhibit EMT by reducing the expression of ZEB-1 and ZEB-2 which are known repressors of E-cadherin. We demonstrated that expression of ZEB-1 and ZEB-2 was increased after ureter obstruction and that administration of the miR-200b precursor reversed this effect. In summary, these results indicate that miR-200 family is up-regulated after ureter obstruction, miR-200b being strongly induced, and that miR-200b ameliorates tubulointerstitial fibrosis in obstructed kidneys. We suggest that members of the miR-200 family, and miR-200b specifically, might constitute novel therapeutic targets in kidney disease.     

Small RNA deep sequencing reveals a distinct miRNA signature released in exosomes from prion-infected neuronal cells

Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders affecting both humans and animals. The cellular prion protein, PrP^C, and the abnormal infectious form, PrP^Sc, are found associated with exosomes, which are small 50–130 nm vesicles released from cells. Exosomes also contain microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNA, and have been utilized to identify miRNA signatures for diagnosis of disease. While some miRNAs are deregulated in prion-infected brain tissue, the role of miRNA in circulating exosomes released during prion disease is unknown. Here, we investigated the miRNA profile in exosomes released from prion-infected neuronal cells. We performed the first small RNA deep sequencing study of exosomes and demonstrated that neuronal exosomes contain a diverse range of RNA species including retroviral RNA repeat regions, messenger RNA fragments, transfer RNA fragments, non-coding RNA, small nuclear RNA, small nucleolar RNA, small cytoplasmic RNA, silencing RNA as well as known and novel candidate miRNA. Significantly, we show that exosomes released by prion-infected neuronal cells have increased let-7b, let-7i, miR-128a, miR-21, miR-222, miR-29b, miR-342-3p and miR-424 levels with decreased miR-146 a levels compared to non-infected exosomes. Overall, these results demonstrate that circulating exosomes released during prion infection have a distinct miRNA signature that can be utilized for diagnosis and understanding pathogenic mechanisms in prion disease.     

Identification of a microRNA signature in renal fibrosis: role of miR-21

Renal fibrosis is a final stage of many forms of kidney disease and leads to impairment of kidney function. The molecular pathogenesis of renal fibrosis is currently not well-understood. microRNAs (miRNAs) are important players in initiation and progression of many pathologic processes including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. However, the role of miRNAs in kidney injury and repair is not well-characterized. In the present study, we found a unique miRNA signature associated with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis. We found altered expression in UUO kidneys of miRNAs that have been shown to be responsive to stimulation by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 or TNF-α. Among these miRNAs, miR-21 demonstrated the greatest increase in UUO kidneys. The enhanced expression of miR-21 was located mainly in distal tubular epithelial cells. miR-21 expression was upregulated in response to treatment with TGF-β1 or TNF-α in human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, we found that blocking miR-21 in vivo attenuated UUO-induced renal fibrosis, presumably through diminishing the expression of profibrotic proteins and reducing infiltration of inflammatory macrophages in UUO kidneys. Our data suggest that targeting specific miRNAs could be a novel therapeutic approach to treat renal fibrosis.     

Age and sex differences in kidney microRNA expression during the life span of F344 rats

Background

Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation may play a role in susceptibilities to specific toxicities and adverse drug reactions. MiRNAs in particular have been shown to be important regulators in cancer and other diseases and show promise as predictive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we characterized the global kidney miRNA expression profile in untreated male and female F344 rats throughout the life span. These findings were correlated with sex-specific susceptibilities to adverse renal events, such as male-biased renal fibrosis and inflammation in old age.

Methods

Kidney miRNA expression was examined in F344 rats at 2, 5, 6, 8, 15, 21, 78, and 104 weeks of age in both sexes using Agilent miRNA microarrays. Differential expression was determined using filtering criteria of ≥1.5 fold change and ANOVA or pairwise t-test (FDR <5%) to determine significant age and sex effects, respectively. Pathway analysis software was used to investigate the possible roles of these target genes in age- and sex-specific differences.

Results

Three hundred eleven miRNAs were found to be expressed in at least one age and sex. Filtering criteria revealed 174 differentially expressed miRNAs in the kidney; 173 and 34 miRNAs exhibiting age and sex effects, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed age effects predominated over sex effects, with 2-week miRNA expression being much different from other ages. No significant sexually dimorphic miRNA expression was observed from 5 to 8 weeks, while the most differential expression (13 miRNAs) was observed at 21 weeks. Potential target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were identified.

Conclusions

The expression of 56% of detected renal miRNAs was found to vary significantly with age and/or sex during the life span of F344 rats. Pathway analysis suggested that 2-week-expressed miRNAs may be related to organ and cellular development and proliferation pathways. Male-biased miRNA expression at older ages correlated with male-biased renal fibrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration. These miRNAs showed high representation in renal inflammation and nephritis pathways, and included miR-214, miR-130b, miR-150, miR-223, miR-142-5p, miR-185, and miR-296*. Analysis of kidney miRNA expression throughout the rat life span will improve the use of current and future renal biomarkers and inform our assessments of kidney injury and disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13293-014-0019-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

MiRNA在特发性肺纤维化中的作用

近年来研究发现微RNA（microRNA,miRNA）与机体人部分生理、病理过程均有密切关系,如：组织的发育和分化、组织再生、病毒防御以及细胞增殖与凋亡等。miRNA在特发性肺纤维化（IPF）中的作用也日渐为研究者所重视,在IPF中有些miRNA上调（如miR-155、miR-21）,有些下调（如let-7、miR-29、miR-200）。这一发现为寻找IPF治疗方法提供了一个新的突破口。本文对近年来miRNA在IPF中作用的研究进展进行了综述,并对miRNA-21、let-7d、miRNA-155、miRNA-29以及miRNA-200在肺纤维化中的作用分别进行了阐述,为研究miRNA征IPF中的作用及机制提供一定参考。