title: Overlapping expression of microRNAs in human embryonic colon and colorectal cancer.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for regulating cell differentiation and maintaining the pluripotent state of stem cells. Although dysregulation of specific miRNAs has been associated with certain types of cancer, to date no evidence has linked miRNA expression in embryonic and tumor tissues. We assessed the expression of mature miRNAs in human embryonic colon tissue, and in colorectal cancer and paired normal colon tissue. Overlapping miRNA expression was detected between embryonic colonic mucosa and colorectal cancer. We have found that the miR-17-92 cluster and its target, E2F1, exhibit a similar pattern of expression in human colon development and colonic carcinogenesis, regulating cell proliferation in both cases. In situ hybridization confirmed the high level of expression of miR-17-5p in the crypt progenitor compartment. We conclude that miRNA pathways play a major role in both embryonic development and neoplastic transformation of the colonic epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. mmonzo@ub.edu
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monzo
authors.forename: Alfons
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bandres
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Artells
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Bernat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gel
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ibeas
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Balagué
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Foncillas
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; D035683:MicroRNAs