miR-15a and miR-16-1 down-regulation in pituitary adenomas.

Authors: Bottoni A; Piccin D; Tagliati F; Luchin A; Zatelli MC; degli Uberti EC

Abstract: Micro RNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNAs, functioning as antisense regulators of other RNAs. miR-15a and miR-16-1 genes are located at chromosome 13q14, a region which is frequently deleted in pituitary tumors. An inverse correlation has been shown in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) between miR-15a and miR-16-1 expression and the expression levels of arginyl-tRNA synthetase (RARS), an enzyme which associates with the cofactor p43 in the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex. When secreted, p43 regulates local inflammatory response and macrophage chemotaxis, and seems to have anti-neoplastic properties in mice. We explored miR-15a and miR-16-1 expression in 10 GH-secreting and in 10 PRL-secreting pituitary macroadenomas by Northern blot, and investigated the possible correlation with in vivo and in vitro characteristics. We found that miR-15a and miR-16-1 are expressed at lower levels in pituitary adenomas as compared to normal pituitary tissue. Moreover, their expression inversely correlates with tumor diameter and with RARS expression (P < 0.05), but directly correlates with p43 secretion (P < 0.02). Therefore, miR15 and miR16 down-regulation in pituitary adenomas correlates with a greater tumor diameter and a lower p43 secretion, suggesting that these genes may, at least in part, influence tumor growth.

Keywords: Adenoma/*genetics/physiopathology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, Neoplasm; Arginine-tRNA Ligase/genetics; Down-Regulation; Female; Gene Deletion; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/*physiology; Humans; Male; MicroRNAs/*physiology; Middle Aged; Mitochondrial Proteins; Peptide Elongation Factor Tu/secretion; Pituitary Gland/*physiology; Pituitary Neoplasms/*genetics/physiopathology
Journal: Journal of cellular physiology
Volume: 204
Issue: 1
Pages: 280-5
Date: Jan. 14, 2005
PMID: 15648093
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Citation:

Bottoni A, Piccin D, Tagliati F, Luchin A, Zatelli MC, degli Uberti EC (2005) miR-15a and miR-16-1 down-regulation in pituitary adenomas. Journal of cellular physiology 204: 280-5.


Lifespan Factors:
  • MIR15A microRNA 15a
  • MIR16-1 microRNA16-1


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