title: Deep sequencing of short RNAs reveals novel microRNAs in minor salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sjögren's syndrome is a complex autoimmune disease of the salivary gland with an unknown etiology, so a thorough characterization of the transcriptome would facilitate our understanding of the disease. We use ultradeep sequencing of small RNAs from patients with Sjögren's syndrome and healthy volunteers, primarily to identify and discover novel miRNA sequences that may play a role in the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total RNA was isolated from minor salivary glands of healthy volunteers and patients with either high or low salivary flow and sequenced on the SOLiD platform. Prediction of mature miRNAs from the sequenced reads was carried out using miRanalyzer, and expression was validated using Taqman qPCR assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We validated the presence of six previously unidentified miRNA sequences in patient samples and in several cell lines. One of the validated novel miRNAs shows promise as a biomarker for salivary function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sequencing small RNAs in the salivary gland is largely unprecedented, but here, we show the feasibility of discovering novel miRNAs and disease biomarkers by sequencing the transcriptome.
authors: Sjögren's Syndrome Clinic, Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tandon
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gallo
authors: S-I
authors: SI
authors: Jang
authors: G G
authors: GG
authors: Illei
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Alevizos
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000737:chemistry*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs