title: Integration of microRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the skin of systemic sclerosis patients.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the fibrosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, the underlying miRNA-mRNA regulatory network is not fully understood. A systemic investigation of the role of miRNAs would be very valuable for increasing our knowledge of the pathogenesis of SSc. Here, we combined miRNA and mRNA expression profiles and bioinformatics analyses and then performed validation experiments. we identified 21 miRNAs and 2698 mRNAs that were differentially expressed in SSc. Among these, 17 miRNAs and their 33 target mRNAs (55 miRNA-mRNA pairs) were involved in Toll-like receptor, transforming growth factor β and Wnt signalling pathways. Validation experiments revealed that miR-146b, miR-130b, miR-21, miR-31 and miR-34a levels were higher whereas miR-145 levels were lower in SSc skin tissues and fibroblasts, normal fibroblasts and endothelial cells that were stimulated with SSc serum. ACVR2B, FZD2, FZD5 and SOX2 levels were increased in SSc skin fibroblasts, normal fibroblasts and endothelial cells that were stimulated with SSc serum. We did not identify any negative correlations among these miRNA-mRNA pairs. miR-21 was specifically expressed at higher levels in SSc serum. Six miRNAs and 4 mRNAs appear to play important roles in the pathogenesis of SSc are worth investigating in future functional studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi Sha
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Si Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger