RNA interference mediated by microRNA (miRNA) molecules has been shown as an important mechanism for modulation of gene expression. MicroRNAs are evolutionary conserved, genomically encoded small RNAs that regulate gene expression by translational repression and ⁄ or mRNA degradation (1). Hundreds of miRNAs have been identified in nematodes, plants, and animals through computational searches and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-mediated cloning (2, 3). Although the exact functional consequences of particular miRNA expression are largely unknown, recent studies have clearly demonstrated the importance of individual miRNAs in diverse physiological processes (4, 5), and their aberrant expression is a significant feature of malignancies (6, 7). It has been reported that the expression of miRNAs is regulated during hematopoietic differentiation, suggesting miRNA involvement in this process (7-12). To understand the role of miRNAs in normal and abnormal hematopoiesis, a systematic screening of miRNAs expressed in individual cell types is an essential starting point. Chen et al. (8) cloned approximately 150 miRNAs from murine bone marrow and found that miR-181a, miR-223 and miR-142 were preferentially expressed in hematopoietic tissues. Ectopic expression of miR-181a has been shown to positively regulate T-and B-cell development from mouse hematopoietic progenitors (8). Ramkisson et al. (9) examined expression levels of miR-142, miR-155, miR-181, and miR-223 in human AbstractObjectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in a wide variety of normal and pathological cellular processes. A number of studies identified hematopoietic-specific miRNAs that are necessary for correct function of blood cells. Out of our microarray data, we chose 13 miRNAs that showed differential expression in peripheral blood cells (miR-15b, miR-16, miR-24, miR-30c, miR-106b, miR-142-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-150, miR-155, miR-181, miR-223, miR-342, and miR-451) and examined their expression in separated hematopoietic cell lineages. Methods: Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we measured relative expression of the miRNAs in fractions of reticulocytes, platelets, granulocytes, monocytes, B-and T-lymphocytes as well as in several hematopoietic cell lines. Results: We observed that miR-16 and miR-142-3p were highly expressed in all native cell lineages, miR-451 reached the maximal expression in reticulocytes, miR-223 in platelets, granulocytes and monocytes, and miR-150 in B-and T-lymphocytes. Hierarchical clustering analysis grouped the lineage samples according to their origin based on the expression of these miRNAs. To validate discrimination power of the miRNAs, we quantified expression of the 13 miRNAs in several immortalized cell lines. Although the cell lines showed miRNA expression patterns considerably different from those of native cell lineages, clustering analysis distinguished between myeloid, lymphoid and non-hematopoietic cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, the study reports the expression levels of 13 m...

SummaryThe idea that stem cells oscillate between a state of activity and dormancy, thereby giving rise to differentiating progeny either randomly or in orderly clonal succession, has important implications for understanding normal hematopoiesis and blood cell dyscrasias. The degree of clonal stability in individuals also has practical implications for the evaluation of clonal lymphomyeloproliferative diseases. To evaluate the clonality pattern of the different types of blood cells as a function of time we have validated the applicability, sensitivity, and reproducibility of a thermostable ligase reaction to detect transcripts of the G6PD allele on the active X-chromosome in normal heterozygous females. While the ratio of the two X-chromosome-derived allelic transcripts varied widely among hemopoietic and nonhemopoietic tissues in a given individual, this allelic ratio was virtually identical in all types of mature myeloid and lymphoid cells. Longitudinal studies indicated constancy of the G6PD allelic ratio in blood cells over a 912-d period of observation in healthy females. The individual variability observed in this allelic ratio suggests that the progeny of a relatively small number of original embryonic hemopoietic stem cells, approximately eight, contribute to the sustained production of all types of blood cells in healthy individuals.

BackgroundMyelodysplastic syndrome with isolated chromosome 5q deletion (5q- syndrome) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of hematopoiesis and their aberrant expression was detected in some clonal hematopoietic disorders. We thus analyzed miRNA expressions in bone marrow CD34+ cells of 5q- syndrome patients. Further, we studied gene expressions of miR-143, miR-145, miR-378 and miR-146a mapped within the 5q deletion.ResultsUsing microarrays we identified 21 differently expressed miRNAs in 5q- patients compared to controls. Especially, miR-34a was markedly overexpressed in 5q- patients, suggesting its role in an increased apoptosis of bone marrow progenitors. Out of four miRNAs at del(5q), only miR-378 and miR-146a showed reduced gene expression in the patients. An integrative analysis of mRNA profiles and predicted putative targets defined potential downstream targets of the deregulated miRNAs. The list of targets included several genes that play an important role in the regulation of hematopoiesis (e.g. KLF4, LEF1, SPI1).ConclusionsThe study demonstrates global overexpression of miRNAs is associated with 5q- phenotype. Identification of hematopoiesis-relevant target genes indicates that the deregulated miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of 5q- syndrome by a modulation of these targets. The expression data on miRNAs at del(5q) suggest the presence of mechanisms for compensation of a gene dosage.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), important regulators of cellular processes, show specific expression signatures in different blood cell lineages and stages of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation, indicating their role in the control of hematopoiesis. Because neonatal blood displays various features of immaturity, we might expect differential miRNA regulation. Herein, we determined miRNA expression profiles of umbilical cord blood (UCB) cell lineages and compared them to those of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) cell counterparts. Further, we determined mRNA expression profiles using whole-genome microarrays. An approach combining bioinformatic prediction of miRNA targets with mRNA expression profiling was used to search for putative targets of miRNAs with potential functions in UCB. We pointed out several differentially expressed miRNAs and associated their expression with the target transcript levels. miR-148a expression was suppressed in HSCs and its level inversely correlated with the previously verified target, DNA methyltransferase 3B, suggesting dependence of de novo DNA methylation in HSCs on miR-148a. Prolonged cell survival of UCB HSCs may be associated with low expression of miR-143 and miR-145 and up-regulation of their downstream targets (high expression of c-MYC and miR-17-92 and following repression of TGFBR2). In HSCs, we monitored significant up-regulation of eight miRNAs, which were previously verified as regulators of HOX genes. Further, miR-146b may be associated with immaturity of neonatal immune system because it is strongly up-regulated in UCB granulocytes and T lymphocytes compared to PB cell counterparts. Comparative analysis revealed 13 miRNAs significantly altered between UCB and BM CD34(+) cells. In UCB CD34(+) cells, we monitored up-regulation of miR-520h, promoting differentiation of HSCs into progenitor cells, and reduction of miR-214, whose expression might support HSC survival. In conclusion, UCB cells show specific miRNA expression patterns, indicating different regulation in these cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs functioning as regulators of hematopoiesis. Their differential expression patterns have been linked with various pathological processes originating from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, limited information is available regarding the role of miRNAs in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Using miRNA arrays, we measured expression of 1,145 miRNAs in CD34+ bone marrow cells obtained from 39 MDS and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) evolved from MDS patients, and compared them with those of six healthy donors. Differential miRNA expression was analyzed and a panel of upregulated (n¼13) and downregulated (n¼9) miRNAs were found (Po0.001) in MDS/AML patients. An increased expression of a large miRNA cluster mapped within the 14q32 locus was detected. Differences in miRNA expression of MDS subtypes showed a distinction between early and advanced MDS; an apparent dissimilarity was observed between RAEB-1 and RAEB-2 subtypes. In early MDS, we monitored upregulation of proapoptotic miR-34a, which may contribute to the increased apoptosis of HSCs. Patients with 5q deletion were characterized by decreased levels of miR-143* and miR-378 mapped within the commonly deleted region at 5q32. This is an early report describing differential expression in MDS CD34+ cells, likely reflecting their disease-specific regulation.