E. Labourier, J. Shingara, J. Shelton, P. Powers, I. Wolf, K. Jeffers, R. Conrad and D. Brown

Summary

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, siRNA-like molecules encoded in the genomes of plants and animals that regulate the expression of genes by binding and modulating the translation of specific mRNAs. Several published reports have shown that the expression levels of some miRNAs are reduced in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, colonic adenocarcinoma, and Burkitt’s lymphoma samples providing possible links between miRNAs and cancer.

We developed methods for isolating and quantifying all of the known miRNAs in tissue samples. We have used these procedures to analyze 25 normal human tissues, and 20 tumor and normal adjacent tissues from patients with lung, colon, breast, bladder or thyroid cancer. Each tumor type can be readily distinguished from the accompanying normal samples based on the expression levels of 3-10 miRNAs. While each different tumor type is characterized by its own unique miRNA profile, it is interesting to note that several miRNAs appear to be up- or down-regulated in almost all tumor samples relative to normal adjacent tissue. This suggests that specific miRNAs might play roles in tumor suppression. Putative mRNA targets for a number of these miRNAs are known oncogenes providing a potential link with oncogenesis.

Procedure Overview

  • Fractions containing RNA species smaller than 30 nt are isolated from FirstChoice® total RNA samples by a rapid, column gel-electrophoresis method.
  • microRNAs are 3’ labeled with poly(A) polymerase (PAP), amino-allyl UTP and Cy-3 or Cy-5 dyes.
  • Labeled microRNAs are hybridized on glass-slide microarrays carrying DNA oligonucleotides probes specific for each known microRNA.



Array Reproducibility

  • microRNA profiles in human colon vs prostate were compared in 6 independent array experiments.
  • Standard deviation of Log Ratio between 6 replicates was determined for each microRNA (left graph, below). Average correlation was 98%.
  • Distribution of Log Ratio for the 6 replicates was centered and normal-like (right graph, below).

Human Normal Tissue Analysis

  • microRNA fractions were isolated from 25 different human tissues or from a pool sample containing equal amount of total RNA from each tissue.
  • microRNA profile in each tissue was compared to the pool microRNA population.
  • Tissue and microRNA profiles were sorted based on microRNA expression levels across all tissues using hierarchical clustering (figure at left).



Data Validation

Variations of microRNA expression levels in 10 randomly picked total RNA samples were confirmed by independent detection methods (see below). Expression profiles similar to the array results were obtained by Northern blot or solution hybridization with the mirVana™ miRNA Detection Kit. 5.8 and 5S rRNAs were used as loading controls.


microRNAs Expressed in Specific Tissues

The table below presents examples of miRNAs whose expression is higher than the pool sample in specific tissues, and their potential target mRNAs according to Lewis et al. (Cell 2003, 115:787-798). Genes with a known function associated with the corresponding tissue(s) are in red.

MiRNA Tissue Where Up Proposed Target Genes
miR-124BrainAnglopolten-1 Precursor (ANG-1), Phox1, Lipin1, TNF-a factor
miR-9BrainMAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 3, LDL Receptor Adaptor protein
miR-131BrainZinc Finger Protein 292
miR-138BrainGPCR kinase Interactor-1, Forkhead-Related TX Factor 3
miR-7Brain, Adrenal GlandSpermatogenesis-Assoc'd Factor 2, Kruppel-Like Factor 4
miR-128Brain, Sk, MuscleRetinally Abundant GPCR, Garab-Related GPCR
miR-206Sk, MuscleCartilage Homeoprotein, Gap-Junction Alpha1 (Heart Protein)
miR 1-2Heart*, Sk, MuscleG6PD
miR-133Heart, Sk, MuscleSer/Thre Phosphatase 2A
miR-134Heart, Sk, MuscleND
miR-122LiverSodium Channel Subunit 3
miR-152colon, LiverND
miR-215Colon, Sm, Intestine,IleumND
miR-341Ileum, Sm Intestine, Prox, colonND
miR-321Colon, Sm Intestine, ProstateND
miR-143Prostate, ColonATP-sensitive potassium channel protein, MAPK 7
miR-143Prostate, ColonPlelomorphic adenoma-like protein 2, FLI-1 proto-oncogene
miR-145Prostate, ColonND
miR-17Colon, StomachND
miR-24StomachG-Protein 1, syntaxin 5
miR-191 PlacentaND
miR-224PlacentaND
miR137Placenta, BrainTyrosine Kinase Receptor EHK-3
miR-98Cervix, Uterus, BrainND
miR-130Cervix, UterusMECP2, LDL Receptor
miR-99Cervix, UterusND
miR-195Cervix, UterusRho GTPase Activating Protein 9
miR-26aCervix, UterusKRUPPEL_LIKE ZINC FINGER PROTEIN GLIS2
miR-320Cervix, UterusND
miR-28Cervix, UterusND
miR-142Lymph NodeRCAS1
miR-34Lymph NodeNotch-1
miR-216PancreasPotassium Inwardly rectifying channel J14, Shank-2
miR-217PancreasND
miR-30aKidney, PlacentaRAR-Gamma-1, Homeobox Lim-1

Human Tumor/NAT Analysis

  • microRNA fractions were isolated from 20 different human tumors and from their corresponding normal adjacent tissues (NAT)
  • microRNA expression profiles were determined for each Tumor/NAT pair
  • microRNAs were sorted based on similar expression level across Tumor/NAT pairs using hierarchical clustering (below left)

Data Validation

Variation of specific microRNA expression levels in tumor samples was confirmed by independent detection methods. Variations similar to the array results were obtained by Northern blot (let-7) or solution hybridization (miR-16, 21, 143 and 145) (upper middle and right panels below). 5S rRNA was used as a loading control.

Conclusion

  • DNA oligonucleotides arrays allow for high throughput microRNA expression profiling.
  • Many microRNAs exhibit organ-enriched or organ-specific expression in normal human tissues.
  • Human tumor tissues are characterized by unique microRNA expression profiles.
  • Specific microRNAs are up- or down-regulated in solid tumors relative to normal adjacent tissues.
  • These results suggest a function for microRNAs in developmental and physiological pathways within normal tissues and in oncogenesis.