Abstract
Purpose :
This study aimed to investigate the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) responsible for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Methods :
miRNA expression profiling in the aqueous humor (AH) of POAG patients and controls was performed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) using the Bayes moderated t-test. Subsequently, DEmiRNA target genes were predicted based on miRNA databases, followed by Gene Ontology analysis and pathway analysis using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Furthermore, OAG-related gene analysis for target genes was performed using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Finally, verification of DEmiRNA expression levels was performed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results :
A total of 40 significant DEmiRNAs (24 upregulated and 16 downregulated) were identified between the control and POAG groups. Upregulated hsa-miR-206, as well as downregulated hsa-miR-34c-5p and hsa-miR-184, targeted multiple validated and predicted genes. A set of genes associated with cell proliferation (e.g., BCL2, JUN and CCND1) was targeted by hsa-miR-206 and hsa-miR-34c-5p. CCND1 was also targeted by hsa-miR-184. Furthermore, hsa-miR-206 regulated multiple long non-coding (lnc)RNAs (e.g., MALAT1), and hsa-miR-34c-5p also modulated certain lncRNAs, such as DCP1A. Additionally, a set of target genes of DEmiRNAs (e.g., hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-34c-5p, hsa-miR-20b-3p and hsa-miR-7-2-3p) were identified as POAG-related genes. Ultimately, RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that increased mRNA levels of hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-7-2-3p and hsa-miR-20b-3p, as well as decreased mRNA levels of hsa-miR-184 and hsa-miR-34c-5p, were validated in POAG (P<0.05).
Conclusions :
Several DEmiRNAs, such as hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-34c-5p, hsa-miR-7-2-3p and hsa-miR-20b-3p, may play potentially significant roles in the progression of POAG, which may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of POAG.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.