title: Some viral microRNAs were up-regulated in megakaryocytes incubated with immune thrombocytopenia plasma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in hematopoiesis, such as megakaryocytopoiesis. Although immature megakaryocytes in bone marrow are one of the most typical characteristics of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) which is often preceded by viral infection, there has been so far no report on the relationship between viral miRNAs, maturity of megakaryocytes, and ITP. This study aims to investigate whether viral miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of ITP, for example, by modulating the production of megakaryocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma samples from adult patients with acute ITP or healthy volunteers were added to the culture system wherein umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were proliferating into megakaryocytes. Flow cytometry and electron microscope were used to identify the differences between the two groups of megakaryocytes. Microarray analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to quantify the expression levels of viral miRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis of the microarray results was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The yield and maturity of megakaryocytes were significantly repressed in the presence of ITP plasma compared with the control: (11.89 ± 1.62)% vs. (33.61 ± 3.24)% (P < 0.001). The expression levels of 14 viral miRNAs were significantly up-regulated in the ITP group, five of which were further verified using qRT-PCR (P < 0.05). Bioinformatics analysis to the 14 up-regulated viral miRNAs indicated that most of the predicted target genes of viral miRNAs were related to cell development, metabolic process, and biosynthesis, which might be related to mechanism of maturation defect of megakaryocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression levels of certain viral miRNAs can be up-regulated by the treatment with plasma from ITP patients, indicating viral mRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of ITP, possibly by regulating megakaryocytopoiesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chaoyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Meixia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019295:Computational Biology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D034061:Thrombopoiesis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral