title: Microarray-based analysis of microRNA expression in breast cancer stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the miRNA profile in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and to explore the functions of characteristic BCSC miRNAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We isolated ESA+CD44+CD24-/low BCSCs from MCF-7 cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). A human breast cancer xenograft assay was performed to validate the stem cell properties of the isolated cells, and microarray analysis was performed to screen for BCSC-related miRNAs. These BCSC-related miRNAs were selected for bioinformatic analysis and target prediction using online software programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ESA+CD44+CD24-/low cells had up to 100- to 1000-fold greater tumor-initiating capability than the MCF-7 cells. Tumors initiated from the ESA+CD44+CD24-/low cells were included of luminal epithelial and myoepithelial cells, indicating stem cell properties. We also obtained miRNA profiles of ESA+CD44+CD24-/low BCSCs. Most of the possible targets of potential tumorigenesis-related miRNAs were oncogenes, anti-oncogenes or regulatory genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified a subset of miRNAs that were differentially expressed in BCSCs, providing a starting point to explore the functions of these miRNAs. Evaluating characteristic BCSC miRNAs represents a new method for studying breast cancer-initiating cells and developing therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating the tumorigenic subpopulation of cells in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Jian-guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Rong-xia
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Jun-yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xin-xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Fang-lin
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Qi-chao
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhi-xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zheng-tang
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shao-xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs