MiR-15a and miR-16-1 cluster functions in human leukemia

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Apr 1;105(13):5166-71. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800121105. Epub 2008 Mar 24.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs regulating gene expression that play roles in human diseases, including cancer. Each miRNA is predicted to regulate hundreds of transcripts, but only few have experimental validation. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common adult human leukemia, miR-15a and miR-16-1 are lost or down-regulated in the majority of cases. After our previous work indicating a tumor suppressor function of miR-15a/16-1 by targeting the BCL2 oncogene, here, we produced a high-throughput profiling of genes modulated by miR-15a/16-1 in a leukemic cell line model (MEG-01) and in primary CLL samples. By combining experimental and bioinformatics data, we identified a miR-15a/16-1-gene signature in leukemic cells. Among the components of the miR-15a/16-1 signature, we observed a statistically significant enrichment in AU-rich elements (AREs). By examining the Gene Ontology (GO) database, a significant enrichment in cancer genes (such as MCL1, BCL2, ETS1, or JUN) that directly or indirectly affect apoptosis and cell cycle was found.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / genetics*
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Multigene Family / genetics*
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Proteomics
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • MIRN15 microRNA, human
  • MIRN16 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proteome