Differential expression of microRNA in paraffin-embedded tissue in patients with multiple and solitary gliomas: a preliminary study

Abstract

Objectives To compare the differences of microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of multiple and solitary gliomas in formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue and to preliminarily investigate the possible roles in glioma invasion and migration for the significantly different miRNA and its target genes. Methods FFPE specimens in patients with multiple glioma (n=6) and solitary glioma (n=6) were selected. The total RNA was extracted and detected; the gene chip technology was used to detect miRNA expression profile. The chip analysis software was used to analyze the data of the results. The miRNAs of significant expression differences of the multiple and solitary gliomas were screened. Then the biological information database was used to predict the target genes of miRNA of the most significant expression differences. Results The total RNA quality extracted from all the FFPE tissue specimens met the standard of quality control. There were significant differences in 128 different miRNAs in the multiple glioma compared with the solitary glioma (multiple >5 or 50), they were miR-21, miR-455, miR-199, miR-410, miR-148a, miR-335, miR-34b, miR-664a, miR-542, and miR-4453, respectively. Five miRNAs were significantly downregulated (multiple <0.05), they were miR-200a, miR-451, miR-29a, miR-101, and miR-96. Based on the most significant prediction results of the miR-21 and miR-200a target genes of upregulation and downregulation, their multiple target genes involved in tumor invasion and migration related biological function. Conclusions FFPE tissue may meet the subsequent experimental study, such as miRNA chip, etc. and thus provide rich resources for the research of the miRNA biological function and exploration. Multiple glioma has differential expression of miRNA compared with solitary glioma, in which miR-21and miR-200a may be closely associated with the invasion and migration of glioma. Key words: Glioma; MicroRNAs; Microchip analytical procedures; Neoplasm invasiveness; Cell migration