Low-density Taqman miRNA array reveals miRNAs differentially expressed in prostatic stem cells and luminal cells.
BACKGROUND
miRNAs are a class of naturally occurring small RNAs that generally repress gene expression. They have been shown to actively control diverse biological processes including stem cell differentiation and lineage commitment.


METHODS
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting was utilized to isolate murine prostate stem cells and differentiated luminal cells. The expression levels of Drosha and Dicer1, the two key RNAseIII enzymes for miRNA maturation, were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. Low-density Taqman miRNA array analyses were also performed to identify miRNAs that are differentially expressed in individual lineages.


RESULTS
Drosha and Dicer1 are expressed at comparable transcriptional levels in murine prostate stem cells and differentiated luminal cells. Twenty-nine miRNAs were discovered to be differentially expressed in prostate stem cells and luminal cells. Many of these miRNAs are coded in clusters, suggesting a cell-specific transcriptional regulation. Some of these differentially expressed miRNAs have been reported to regulate genes relevant to the molecular and phenotypic features of each lineage.


CONCLUSIONS
miRNAs may play a potentially critical role in fine regulation of prostatic lineage identity.
Zhang
Li
L
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Zhao
Wenping
W
Valdez
Joseph M
JM
Creighton
Chad J
CJ
Xin
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002469:Cell Separation; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D035683:MicroRNAs; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C509781:Dicer1 protein, mouse; C513400:Drosha protein, mouse; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases