Abstract
Purpose: :
To start to understand the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the retina and RPE/choroid tissues in human.
Methods: :
We isolated total RNA samples from the neuroretinas (including the macular region and peripheral retina, separately) and RPE/choroid tissues of normal human donor eyes and performed miRNA expression profiling by miRNA microarray hybridization.
Results: :
Approximately 90 miRNAs are expressed in the neuroretina, with 54 and 73 miRNAs in the peripheral and macular regions of the retina, respectively; while 134 miRNAs are expressed in the RPE/choroid. Although the transcriptomes of the macular and peripheral regions of the neuroretina have significant overlap, 16 of the miRNAs expressed in the neuroretina may be differentially expressed in the two regions of the neuroretina and may have region-specific functions. 71 miRNAs are differentially expressed in the neuroretina and the RPE/choroid and may have unique roles speficifying different functions of neuroretina or RPE/choroid. Functional studies on the roles of these miRNAs in different regions of the human retina are ongoing.
Conclusions: :
miRNAs are expressed in human retina and RPE/choroid tissues. Although the transcriptomes of different regions of the neuroretina and RPE/choroid overlap, many miRNAs are differentially expressed in different regions and may play unique roles in the normal functions of the retina.
Keywords: retinal development • gene/expression • gene screening