Abstract
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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 922-926 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
Volume | 366 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 22 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- MicroRNA microarrays
- MicroRNAs
- Pancreatic islets
- q-RT-PCR
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology