RNA sequencing identifies specific PIWI-interacting small non-coding RNA expression patterns in breast cancer.

Abstract

PIWI-interacting small non-coding RNAs (piRNAs) are genetic and epigenetic regulatory factors in germline cells, where they maintain genome stability, are involved in RNA silencing and regulate gene expression. We found that the piRNA biogenesis and effector pathway are present in human breast cancer (BC) cells and, analyzing smallRNA-Seq data generated from BC cell lines and tumor biopsies, we identified >100 BC piRNAs, including some very abundant and/or differentially expressed in mammary epithelial compared to BC cells, where this was influenced by estrogen or estrogen receptor β, and in cancer respect to normal breast tissues. A search for mRNAs targeted by the BC piRNome revealed that eight piRNAs showing a specific expression pattern in breast tumors target key cancer cell pathways. Evidence of an active piRNA pathway in BC suggests that these small non-coding RNAs do exert transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulatory actions also in cancer cells.

• Authors: Adnan Hashim, Francesca Rizzo, Giovanna Marchese, Maria Ravo, Roberta Tarallo, Giovanni Nassa, Giorgio Giurato, Gianluca Santamaria, Angela Cordella, Concita Cantarella, Alessandro Weisz
• Journal: Oncotarget (Oncotarget) Vol. 5 Issue 20 Pg. 9901-10 (Oct 30 2014) ISSN: 1949-2553 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25313140 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Argonaute Proteins
• Estrogen Receptor beta
• Estrogens
• PIWIL1 protein, human
• RNA, Small Interfering
• RNA, Small Untranslated

Topics

• Argonaute Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Base Sequence
• Breast Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Growth Processes (physiology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Estrogen Receptor beta (metabolism)
• Estrogens (deficiency)
• Female
• Humans
• MCF-7 Cells
• Molecular Sequence Data
• RNA, Small Interfering (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Small Untranslated (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Sequence Analysis, RNA
• Transfection