title: Embryonic ectoderm development protein is regulated by microRNAs in human neural tube defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to investigate the expression and regulation of polycomb group (PcG) proteins in human neural tube defects (NTDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  PcG proteins in human NTD fetuses and age-matched controls were detected by Western blot. The relation between PcG proteins and microribonucleic acids was predicted and confirmed by the bioinformatics method, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), dual-luciferase activity assay, and Western blot. The trimethyl condition of histone H3 Lys27 (H3K27) was detected by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Embryonic ectoderm development protein (EED) was differentially detected in placenta, cerebral cortex, and spinal cord from NTDs and age-matched controls. MiR-30b can interact with 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of Eed and regulate endogenous EED expression in neural tissues. In addition, we found an inverse relationship between the miR-30b expression and the amount of trimethyl H3K27.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differential expression of EED exists in the nerves system in human NTDs and that is regulated by miR-30b.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Pei-Pei
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mu-Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Hong-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000235:genetics*; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C491488:EED protein, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2