title: Microarray-based approach identifies microRNAs and their target functional patterns in polycystic kidney disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in mammalian gene expression and several cellular processes, including differentiation, development, apoptosis and cancer pathomechanisms. Recently the biological importance of primary cilia has been recognized in a number of human genetic diseases. Numerous disorders are related to cilia dysfunction, including polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Although involvement of certain genes and transcriptional networks in PKD development has been shown, not much is known how they are regulated molecularly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Given the emerging role of miRNAs in gene expression, we explored the possibilities of miRNA-based regulations in PKD. Here, we analyzed the simultaneous expression changes of miRNAs and mRNAs by microarrays. 935 genes, classified into 24 functional categories, were differentially regulated between PKD and control animals. In parallel, 30 miRNAs were differentially regulated in PKD rats: our results suggest that several miRNAs might be involved in regulating genetic switches in PKD. Furthermore, we describe some newly detected miRNAs, miR-31 and miR-217, in the kidney which have not been reported previously. We determine functionally related gene sets, or pathways to reveal the functional correlation between differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We find that the functional patterns of predicted miRNA targets and differentially expressed mRNAs are similar. Our results suggest an important role of miRNAs in specific pathways underlying PKD.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. priyankashahi2001@gmail.com
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brors
authors.forename: Prashant K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bott
authors.forename: Susanne N E
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Boehn
authors.forename: Herrmann-Josef
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Groene
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gretz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D023421:Models, Animal; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D055647:Rats, Transgenic
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger