MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed 20 -24 nucleotide RNAs thought to repress protein translation through binding to a target mRNA (1-3). Only a few of the more than 250 predicted human miRNAs have been assigned any biological function. In an effort to uncover miRNAs important during adipocyte differentiation, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting 86 human miRNAs were transfected into cultured human pre-adipocytes, and their ability to modulate adipocyte differentiation was evaluated. Expression of 254 miRNAs in differentiating adipocytes was also examined on a miRNA microarray. Here we report that the combination of expression data and functional assay results identified a role for miR-143 in adipocyte differentiation. miR-143 levels increased in differentiating adipocytes, and inhibition of miR-143 effectively inhibited adipocyte differentiation. In addition, protein levels of the proposed miR-143 target ERK5 (4) were higher in ASO-treated adipocytes. These results demonstrate that miR-143 is involved in adipocyte differentiation and may act through target gene ERK5.The first miRNA 1 was identified in Caenorhabditis elegans as a gene important for timing of larval development (5). miRNAs have since been implicated in many processes in invertebrates, including cell proliferation and apoptosis (6, 7), fat metabolism (6), and neuronal patterning (8). As many miRNAs are conserved across species (9 -11), they are likely to be involved in developmental processes in all animals. Only a few mammalian miRNAs have been assigned any function, and at least two of these are involved in developmental processes: miR-181 promotes B cell development in mice (12) and miR196a regulates several Hox genes (13), which code for a family of transcription factors involved in various developmental programs in animals (14).We hypothesized that miRNAs may play a role in maturation of human adipocytes. Understanding the molecular events involved in adipocyte differentiation is of interest for development of therapeutics for metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. In vitro cell culture systems, such as human primary subcutaneous pre-adipocytes, have been crucial in uncovering signaling pathways important for adipocyte differentiation (15). These cells can be cultured with differentiation-promoting hormonal stimuli, causing them to develop into cells that morphologically and functionally resemble mature adipocytes. In this study we have inhibited a panel of miRNAs in pre-adipocytes using antisense oligonucleotides and evaluated the effect on adipocyte differentiation. Combined with expression analysis of miRNAs in differentiating adipocytes by microarray, one miRNA, miR-143, was identified which normally promotes adipocyte differentiation. These results indicate that miRNAs do play a role in adipocyte differentiation and are potential therapeutic targets for obesity and metabolic diseases. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESOligonucleotide Synthesis-Oligonucleotides were prepared using conventional phosphoramidite chemistry and...
RNA interference can be considered as an antisense mechanism of action that utilizes a double-stranded RNase to promote hydrolysis of the target RNA. We have performed a comparative study of optimized antisense oligonucleotides designed to work by an RNA interference mechanism to oligonucleotides designed to work by an RNase H-dependent mechanism in human cells. The potency, maximal effectiveness, duration of action, and sequence specificity of optimized RNase H-dependent oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide duplexes were evaluated and found to be comparable. Effects of base mismatches on activity were determined to be position-dependent for both siRNA oligonucleotides and RNase H-dependent oligonucleotides. In addition, we determined that the activity of both siRNA oligonucleotides and RNase H-dependent oligonucleotides is affected by the secondary structure of the target mRNA. To determine whether positions on target RNA identified as being susceptible for RNase H-mediated degradation would be coincident with siRNA target sites, we evaluated the effectiveness of siRNAs designed to bind the same position on the target mRNA as RNase H-dependent oligonucleotides. Examination of 80 siRNA oligonucleotide duplexes designed to bind to RNA from four distinct human genes revealed that, in general, activity correlated with the activity to RNase H-dependent oligonucleotides designed to the same site, although some exceptions were noted. The one major difference between the two strategies is that RNase H-dependent oligonucleotides were determined to be active when directed against targets in the pre-mRNA, whereas siRNAs were not. These results demonstrate that siRNA oligonucleotide-and RNase Hdependent antisense strategies are both valid strategies for evaluating function of genes in cell-based assays.
PCA3 is independent of prostate volume, serum prostate specific antigen level and the number of prior biopsies. The quantitative PCA3 score correlated with the probability of positive biopsy. Logistic regression results suggest that the PCA3 score could be incorporated into a nomogram for improved prediction of biopsy outcome. The results of this study provide further evidence that PCA3 is a useful adjunct to current methods for prostate cancer diagnosis.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are believed to play important roles in developmental and other cellular processes by hybridizing to complementary target mRNA transcripts. This results in either cleavage of the hybridized transcript or negative regulation of translation. Little is known about the regulation or pattern of miRNA expression. The predicted presence of numerous miRNA sequences in higher eukaryotes makes it highly likely that the expression levels of individual miRNA molecules themselves should play an important role in regulating multiple cellular processes. Therefore, determining the pattern of global miRNA expression levels in mammals and other higher eukaryotes is essential to help understand both the mechanism of miRNA transcriptional regulation as well as to help identify miRNA regulated gene expression. Here, we describe a novel method to detect global processed miRNA expression levels in higher eukaryotes, including human, mouse and rats, by using a high-density oligonucleotide array. Array results have been validated by subsequent confirmation of mir expression using northern-blot analysis. Major differences in mir expression have been detected in samples from diverse sources, suggesting highly regulated mir expression, and specific gene regulatory functions for individual miRNA transcripts. For example, five different miRNAs were found to be preferentially expressed in human kidney compared with other human tissues. Comparative analysis of surrounding genomic sequences of the kidney-specific miRNA clusters revealed the occurrence of specific transcription factor binding sites located in conserved phylogenetic foot prints, suggesting that these may be involved in regulating mir expression in kidney.
High levels of plasma apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100), the principal apolipoprotein of LDL, are associated with cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that suppression of apoB-100 mRNA by an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) would reduce LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Because most of the plasma apoB is made in the liver, and antisense drugs distribute to that organ, we tested the effects of a mouse-specific apoB-100 ASO in several mouse models of hyperlipidemia, including C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet, Apoe -deficient mice, and Ldlr -deficient mice. The lead apoB-100 antisense compound, ISIS 147764, reduced apoB-100 mRNA levels in the liver and serum apoB-100 levels in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Consistent with those findings, total cholesterol and LDL-C decreased by 25-55% and 40-88%, respectively.Unlike small-molecule inhibitors of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, ISIS 147764 did not produce hepatic or intestinal steatosis and did not affect dietary fat absorption or elevate plasma transaminase levels. These findings, as well as those derived from interim phase I data with a human apoB-100 antisense drug, suggest that antisense inhibition of this target may be a safe and effective approach for the treatment of humans with hyperlipidemia.
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