title: Characterization of microRNA expression profiling in peripheral blood lymphocytes in rats with experimental autoimmune uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the alterations of microRNA (miRNA) genomics in peripheral blood lymphocytes in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) rats versus control samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six Lewis rats received interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) emulsion to induce EAU. On day 12, peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated, and total RNAs were extracted. Using microarray analysis, we analyzed the aberrant miRNAs, validated the relevant expression of differentially expressed miRNAs, and predicted the possible miRNA targets and signaling pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that 36 miRNAs were upregulated and 31 miRNAs were downregulated in EAU rats versus normal samples. Real-time quantitative PCR substantiated a high degree of confidence for the differentially expressed miRNAs, and miRNA analyses showed the differentially expressed miRNA targets were involved not only in the multicellular organismal process and developmental process, but also in T cell receptor signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway and so on.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that the differentially expressed miRNAs in EAU rats were closely associated with immune signaling pathways and may be applied in early prevention, prognosis and possible therapy in uveitis, indicating that miRNAs play an important role in the development of uveitis.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Therapy of Ocular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Therapy of Ocular Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Eye Institute of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250002, China.
authors.forename: Dadong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Huixin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hongsheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005123:Eye / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D063990:Gene Ontology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; C084432:immunodominant R16 protein, rat