title: Differentially expressed wound healing-related microRNAs in the human diabetic cornea.
abstract: MicroRNAs are powerful gene expression regulators, but their corneal repertoire and potential changes in corneal diseases remain unknown. Our purpose was to identify miRNAs altered in the human diabetic cornea by microarray analysis, and to examine their effects on wound healing in cultured telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro. Total RNA was extracted from age-matched human autopsy normal (n=6) and diabetic (n=6) central corneas, Flash Tag end-labeled, and hybridized to Affymetrix® GeneChip® miRNA Arrays. Select miRNAs associated with diabetic cornea were validated by quantitative RT-PCR (Q-PCR) and by in situ hybridization (ISH) in independent samples. HCEC were transfected with human pre-miR™miRNA precursors (h-miR) or their inhibitors (antagomirs) using Lipofectamine 2000. Confluent transfected cultures were scratch-wounded with P200 pipette tip. Wound closure was monitored by digital photography. Expression of signaling proteins was detected by immunostaining and Western blot. Using microarrays, 29 miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed in diabetic samples. Two miRNA candidates showing the highest fold increased in expression in the diabetic cornea were confirmed by Q-PCR and further characterized. HCEC transfection with h-miR-146a or h-miR-424 significantly retarded wound closure, but their respective antagomirs significantly enhanced wound healing vs. controls. Cells treated with h-miR-146a or h-miR-424 had decreased p-p38 and p-EGFR staining, but these increased over control levels close to the wound edge upon antagomir treatment. In conclusion, several miRNAs with increased expression in human diabetic central corneas were found. Two such miRNAs inhibited cultured corneal epithelial cell wound healing. Dysregulation of miRNA expression in human diabetic cornea may be an important mediator of abnormal wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Genomics Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America ; University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Funari
authors.affiliation: Eye Program, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Genomics Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Physiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Slobodan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Dimitrijevich
authors.affiliation: University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America ; Eye Program, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ljubimov
authors.affiliation: Eye Program, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mehrnoosh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saghizadeh
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs