Identification of differentially expressed microRNAs by microarray: a possible role for microRNA genes in pituitary adenomas.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by targeting mRNA. It has been demonstrated that miRNA expression is altered in many human cancers, suggesting that they may play a role in human neoplasia. To determine whether miRNA expression is altered in pituitary adenomas, we analyzed the entire miRNAome in 32 pituitary adenomas and in 6 normal pituitary samples by microarray and by Real-Time PCR. Here, we show that 30 miRNAs are differentially expressed between normal pituitary and pituitary adenomas. Moreover, 24 miRNAs were identified as a predictive signature of pituitary adenoma and 29 miRNAs were able to predict pituitary adenoma histotype. miRNA expression could differentiate micro- from macro-adenomas and treated from non-treated patient samples. Several of the identified miRNAs are involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis, suggesting that their deregulated expression may be involved in pituitary tumorigenesis. Predictive miRNAs could be potentially useful diagnostic markers, improving the classification of pituitary adenomas.
Bottoni
Arianna
A
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, Section of Endocrinology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Zatelli
Maria Chiara
MC
Ferracin
Manuela
M
Tagliati
Federico
F
Piccin
Daniela
D
Vignali
Cristina
C
Calin
George A
GA
Negrini
Massimo
M
Croce
Carlo M
CM
Degli Uberti
Ettore C
EC
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger