Project description:Comparison of endogenous gene expression differences between pterygium and conjunctiva tissues RNA from donor-matched pterygium and conjunctiva tissues obtained from four patients were evaluated for differences in gene expression
Project description:To identify dysregulated molecules between pterygium tissues and uninvolved conjunctiva tissues from the same eye, we performed whole genome microarray expression profiling. Total RNA from four pairs of pterygium and uninvolved conjunctiva tissues from the same eye was extracted and used for microarray experiments.
Project description:To identify dysregulated molecules between pterygium tissues and uninvolved conjunctiva tissues from the same eye, we performed whole genome microarray expression profiling.
Project description:Pterygium is an ocular surface disease that can cause visual impairment if it progressively invades the cornea. Although many pieces of research showed that ultraviolet radiation triggers pterygium pathological progress, the underlying mechanism in pterygium remains indistinct. In this study, we used microarray to evaluate the changes of transcripts between primary pterygium and adjacent normal conjunctiva samples in China, hoping to find underlying pathways involved in pterygium progression.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:Pterygium is a relatively common human ocular surface fibroproliferative disease that affects vision. Endogenously produced microRNA (miRNA) regulates gene expression in various ocular surface diseases and possibly pterygium. We aimed to investigate the role of miRNA in pterygium. Paired human pterygium and conjunctival tissues were obtained from patients diagnosed with primary pterygium. miRNA microarray profiling identified statistically significant miRNA changes which were matched to reciprocal significant changes in their target transcripts. We employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and found that hsa-miR-766 was up-regulated (2.57-fold) whilst hsa-miR-215 was down-regulated (0.49-fold) in pterygium compared to conjunctival control. Localization of miRNA was performed using in-situ hybridization. Transcript levels of predicted hsa-miR-766 targets, nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 1 and epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1, were down-regulated in pterygium compared to conjunctiva by 0.53- and 0.64-fold, respectively. Collagens type 3, alpha 1 and type 4, alpha 2, both targets of hsa-miR-215, were up-regulated in pterygium by 3.01- and 3.11-fold, respectively. These changes were confirmed in the protein levels using immunofluorescent staining. Derangement of hsa-miR-766 and hsa-miR-215 may cause dysregulation of matrix rearrangement, cell proliferation and adhesion proteins, resulting in pterygium formation. Targeting miRNA may be a possible therapeutic approach in this disease.