The function of microRNA cluster on 14 chromosome of synovium

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K20038
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research (2018); Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2016-2017)
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Yoko 公益財団法人がん研究会, がん研究所 細胞老化プロジェクト, 研究員 (40647434)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis / synovium / microRNA / A-to-I RNA editing / NGS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to clarify how miRNAs play in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MicroRNA is a small untranslated RNA around 20 base pairs that binds target mRNAs and suppress translation into protein. Although miRNAs expressed in immune cells and synoviocytes in RA have been examined, their detailed function have not been fully elucidated. We focused on miRNAs expressed in synoviocytes, which are the main player of RA pathogenesis. Next-generation sequencing was used to detect miRNAs that are down-regulated in synovium, and their functions were elucidated using synoviocytes derived from patients with RA and animal models.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

次世代シーケンシングをという方法を用いることによって、網羅的にmiRNA発現を調べることができ、塩基変換や付加についても同時に調べることができた。関節リウマチ滑膜において発現が下がっているmiRNAのうち、miR-381は塩基変換を受けており、総量の20％ほどのmiRNAにA-to-I RNA editingが誘導されていることが明らかとなった。これらのmiRNAの機能を解析することにより、RA滑膜細胞におけるmiRNAの機能を明らかにすることに貢献した。