Daily variations in the expression of miR-16 and miR-181a in human leukocytes

• Published in: Blood cells, molecules, & diseases Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 364 - 368
• Main Authors: de Siqueira Figueredo, Diego, Gitaí, Daniel Leite Góes, de Andrade, Tiago Gomes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Circadian; Circadian Rhythm - genetics; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Essential; Hematopoiesis; Housekeeping genes; Human leukocytes; Humans; Leukocytes - cytology; Leukocytes - metabolism; Male; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miR; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - standards; Reference Standards; Ribonucleoproteins - genetics; Ribonucleoproteins - metabolism; RNA, Small Nucleolar - genetics; RNA, Small Nucleolar - metabolism; Young Adult; Housekeeping genes; Circadian; Human leukocytes; Hematopoiesis; miR
• ISSN: 1079-9796; 1096-0961; 1096-0961
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2015.01.004

Circadian rhythms are controlled by a molecular mechanism that is organized in transcriptional and translational feedback loops of gene expression. Recent studies have been demonstrating the involvement of microRNAs (miRs) in post-transcriptional/translational control of circadian rhythms. In the present study we aimed to analyze the daily variations of miR-16 and miR-181a expression in human leukocytes. These miRs were independently associated with hematopoiesis and circadian rhythms in previous studies using experimental models. Peripheral blood from 6 subjects was sampled in a 24hour period for expression analysis using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Initially, we evaluated the expression stability of RNU6-2, RNU1A-1, RNU5A-1, SNORD-25, SCARNA-17 and SNORA-73A as candidate genes for normalization of RT-qPCR data. The combination of the four most stable genes (SNORA-73A/SCARNA-17/SNORD-25/RNU6-2) was indicated to provide a better normalization of miRs expressions. The results show a daily variation of miR-181a and miR-16 expression in human leukocytes, suggesting a potential participation of these genes in the modulation of the circadian rhythms present in blood cells.