Probing the complexity of miRNA expression across hematopoiesis

MicroRNA-23a/27a/24-2 cluster promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation synergistically

Previous studies have indicated that certain microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes in human cancer. The present study identified the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster, containing miR-23, miR-27a and miR-24, as an oncogene in gastric cancer. The expression of the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster was upregulated in clinical gastric cancer tissues. Transfection with inhibitors of miR-23a, miR-27a, or miR-24, either independently or together, repressed in vitro colony formation and in vivo tumor formation. The miR23a/27a/24-2 cluster inhibitors repressed the growth of gastric cancer cells in a synergistic manner. In addition, treatment with lower doses of the miRNA inhibitor mixture induced the formation of apoptotic bodies. According to computational predictions using TargetScan, suppressor of cytokine-induced signaling 6 (SOCS6) was identified as one of the downstream target genes of the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster. The expression of SOCS6 was significantly lower in tumor tissues than in matched normal tissues (P<0.01) and was associated with poor survival (P<0.00001). Taken together, these results strongly suggested that the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster may mediate the progression of gastric cancer through the suppression of SOCS6 expression. The present study also provides a novel molecular target for the development of an anti-gastric cancer agent.

Intraindividual Temporal miRNA Variability in Serum, Plasma, and White Blood Cell Subpopulations

Blood microRNAs (miRNAs) are ideal biomarkers, and blood derivatives are often collected in the scope of miRNA research projects. However, knowledge of temporal variations of miRNAs in healthy individuals is lacking. In this study, miRNA variability was measured over a 1-year period in different blood derivatives, collected every 2-3 months from two healthy donors. There is a continuum of intraindividual temporal variability, with particularly stable (coefficient of variation [CV] <20%-30%) and particularly unstable (CV >100%-130%) miRNAs in serum, plasma, and specific white blood cell subpopulations. The temporal intraindividual variability of miRNAs should be taken into consideration in experimental design of biospecimen collections and validation of diagnostic biomarkers.

MicroRNA-223 dose levels fine tune proliferation and differentiation in human cord blood progenitors and acute myeloid leukemia

A precise understanding of the role of miR-223 in human hematopoiesis and in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is still lacking. By measuring miR-223 expression in blasts from 115 AML patients, we found significantly higher miR-223 levels in patients with favorable prognosis, whereas patients with low miR-223 expression levels were associated with worse outcome. Furthermore, miR-223 was hierarchically expressed in AML subpopulations, with lower expression in leukemic stem cell-containing fractions. Genetic depletion of miR-223 decreased the leukemia initiating cell (LIC) frequency in a myelomonocytic AML mouse model, but it was not mandatory for rapid-onset AML. To relate these observations to physiologic myeloid differentiation, we knocked down or ectopically expressed miR-223 in cord-blood CD34⁺ cells using lentiviral vectors. Although miR-223 knockdown delayed myeloerythroid precursor differentiation in vitro, it increased myeloid progenitors in vivo following serial xenotransplantation. Ectopic miR-223 expression increased erythropoiesis, T lymphopoiesis, and early B lymphopoiesis in vivo. These findings broaden the role of miR-223 as a regulator of the expansion/differentiation equilibrium in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells where its impact is dose- and differentiation-stage-dependent. This also explains the complex yet minor role of miR-223 in AML, a heterogeneous disease with variable degree of myeloid differentiation.

Targeted therapies through microRNAs: pulp or fiction?

With the discovery of post-transcriptional silencing, the idea of targeted therapies became an approachable goal. The widespread involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) was thought to be the magic bullet against multiple diseases. However, several hurdles, ranging from targeted delivery to side effects still have to be resolved. In this review, we discuss recent progress on delivery as well as current applications for miRNAs as therapeutic agents.

Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers - True Blood?

MicroRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators that are involved in many physiological and pathophysiological conditions. A recent study compared the expression profiles of hundreds of blood-borne microRNAs across a variety of nonmalignant and malignant diseases to identify disease-specific expression patterns. The resulting microRNA expression data could be used to discriminate disease samples with a high level of accuracy, demonstrating the potential for using microRNA signatures for the blood-based diagnosis of disease.

Toward the blood-borne miRNome of human diseases

In a multicenter study, we determined the expression profiles of 863 microRNAs by array analysis of 454 blood samples from human individuals with different cancers or noncancer diseases, and validated this 'miRNome' by quantitative real-time PCR. We detected consistently deregulated profiles for all tested diseases; pathway analysis confirmed disease association of the respective microRNAs. We observed significant correlations (P = 0.004) between the genomic location of disease-associated genetic variants and deregulated microRNAs.