Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in endometriosis, uterine leiomyoma and endometrium adenocarcinoma type I

• Grant number: 10/51756-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Ismael Dale Cotrim Guerreiro da Silva
• Grantee: Ismael Dale Cotrim Guerreiro da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a new class of endogenous RNAs of ~22 nucleotides,which act as post-transcriptional silencers by inhibiting translation of target messenger RNAs. Discovered just over a decade in Caenorhabditis elegans, miRNAs are now recognized as key regulators of gene expression in plants and animaIs. So far, there are 462 miRNA genes identified in the human genome and it is estimated that this number exceeds 1000 different miRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that a single miRNA acts on several rnRNAs, influencing multiple signaling pathways simultaneously, thus presenting enormous regulatory potential. Although the biology of miRNAs is still poorly understood, these molecules have been linked to several biological processes. Furthermore, aberrant expression of these sma1l RNAs has been linked to human disease, including those related to estrogen-dependent gynecological disorders and cancer. (AU)