Project description:The role of lncRNA in uveal melanoma (UM) is not well studied. We used microarrays to identify the downstream targets of MAT1 lncRNA to invesitgate the mechanism of lncRNA in UM oncogenesis
Project description:LncRNAs are key regulators of chromatin structure, however the mechanism of RNA-chromatin interactions are largely unclarified. Here we performed Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification (ChIRP), using tiling oligonucleotides retrieve MAT1 lncRNA and bound DNA sequences are examined by high-throughout sequencing. ChIRP-seq enables the study of RNA regulation of chromatin and gene expression.
Project description:The function and mechanism of lncRNA in human uveal melanoma (UM) is not clearly studied. We used microarrays to identify the downstream target genes of CANT1 lncRNA in UM cells to explain the mechanism of lncRNA in UM tumorigenesis
Project description:Predicting disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains challenging particularly in patients with Rai Stage 0/I disease that have an unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (UM IGHV). Even though patients with UM IGHV have a poor prognosis and generally require earlier treatment, not all UM IGHV patients experience more rapid disease progression with some remaining treatment free for many years. This observation suggests biologic characteristics other than known prognostic factors influence disease progression. Alterations in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression levels have been implicated in diagnosis and prognosis of various cancers, however, their role in disease progression of early Rai stage UM CLL is unknown. Here we use microarray analysis to compare lncRNA and mRNA profiles of Rai 0/I UM IGHV patients who progressed in <2 years relative to patients who had not progressed for >5 years. Over 1300 lncRNAs and 940 mRNAs were differentially expressed (fold change ≥ 2.0; p-value ≤ 0.05). Of interest, the differentially expressed lncRNAs G047155, TCAM1P, and uc.436, have known associated genes that have been linked to CLL. Thus, our study reveals differentially expressed lncRNAs in progressive early stage CLL requiring therapy versus indolent early Rai stage UM CLL. These lncRNAs have the potential to impact relevant biological processes and pathways that influence clinical outcome in CLL.
Project description:Once thought to be transcriptional noise, large non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been demonstrated to be functional molecules. Cell type-specific expression patterns of lncRNAs suggest that their transcription may be regulated epigenetically. Using a custom-designed microarray, here we examine the expression profile of lncRNAs in embryonic stem (ES) cells, lineage-restricted neuronal progenitor cells (NPC), and terminally differentiated fibroblasts. In addition, we also analyze the relationship between their expression and their promoter H3K4 and H3K27 methylation patterns. We find that numerous lncRNAs in these cell types undergo changes in the levels of expression and promoter H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. Interestingly, lncRNAs that are expressed at lower levels in ES cells exhibit higher levels of H3K27me3 at their promoters. Consistent with this result, knockdown of the H3K27me3 methyltransferase Ezh2 results in derepression of these lncRNAs in ES cells. Thus, our results establish a role for Ezh2-mediated H3K27 methylation in lncRNA silencing in ES cells and reveal that lncRNAs are subject to epigenetic regulation in a similar manner to that of protein-coding genes. lncRNA expression analysis was performed in 5 different cell types: (1) ES cells, (2) neuroprogenitors, (3) tail tip fibroblasts, (4) Ezh2 knockdown #1 ES cells, and (5) Ezh2 knockdown #2 ES cells. Total RNA was extracted and RNA quality was assessed via Agilent Bioanlayzer. mRNA was amplified using the Low RNA Linear Amplification Kit (Agilent Technologies) by standard manufacturer's protocol. Hybridization of experimental RNA labeled with Cy5 and Cy3-labeled Universal Reference RNA (Ambion) was carried out by standard protocol on a custom-designed array manufactured by Agilent Technologies. Briefly, three unique 60nt probes were designed for each entry in the Fantom3 database and were synthesized along with lineage marker control probes on a 2x105K format array. Upon array scanning, data was quality filtered, normalized by the Lowess method, and all probes corresponding to a given lncRNA were averaged using the UNC Microarray Database (UNCMD). Intraclass correlation analysis was carried out in the UNCMD.
Project description:Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can exhibit cell-type or even cancer-type specific expression profiles, making them highly attractive as therapeutic targets. PAN cancer RNA sequencing data revealed sustained expression of the SAMMSON lncRNA in uveal melanoma (UM), the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Currently, there are no effective treatments for UM patients with metastatic disease, resulting in a median survival time of 6-12 months. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of SAMMSON inhibition in UM.