Noncanonical microRNAs and endogenous siRNAs in normal and psoriatic human skin

Hum Mol Genet. 2013 Feb 15;22(4):737-48. doi: 10.1093/hmg/dds481. Epub 2012 Nov 21.

Abstract

Noncanonical microRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) are key gene regulators in eukaryotes. Noncanonical miRNAs, which bypass part of the canonical miRNA biogenesis pathway, can originate from a variety of genomic loci, which include small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and introns, whereas endo-siRNAs can arise from repetitive elements, some of which are transposable. The roles of noncanonical miRNAs and endo-siRNAs in complex diseases have yet to be characterized. To investigate their potential expression and function in psoriasis, we carried out a comprehensive, genome-wide search for noncanonical miRNAs and endo-siRNAs in small RNA deep-sequencing data sets from normal and psoriatic human skin. By analyzing more than 670 million qualified reads from 67 small RNA libraries, we identified 21 novel, noncanonical miRNAs (3 snoRNA-derived and 2 tRNA-derived miRNAs and 16 miRtrons) and 39 novel endo-siRNAs that were expressed in skin. The expression of four novel small RNAs was validated by qRT-PCR in human skin, and their Argonaute association was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation of ectopic small RNAs in HEK293 cells. Fifteen noncanonical miRNAs or endo-siRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in psoriatic-involved versus normal skin, including an Alu-short interspersed element-derived siRNA which was 17-fold up-regulated in psoriatic-involved skin. These and other differentially expressed small noncoding RNAs may function as regulators of gene expression in skin and potentially play a role in psoriasis pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • Conserved Sequence
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Introns
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Psoriasis / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GON4L protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • Transcription Factors
  • RNA, Transfer