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MicroRNA-145 may play role in Barrett's esophagus
MicroRNA-145 indirectly targets BMP4 via GATA6 and potentially contributes to the development of Barrett’s esophagus, according to study results.
Researchers conducted the study to perform a tissue-specific MicroRNA (MiRNA) profile, which they then utilized to investigate the role of miRNA in the esophagus. Using data collected from endoscopies performed on 15 patients with known esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and another nine patients with BE, the investigators validated their analyses using real-time PCR samples. The miRNA data were used in examining the related conditions of BE, EAC, and squamous epithelium (SQ) of the esophagus.
The results showed three unique miRNA expression profiles in EAC, BE and SQ tissue. Upon comparison, the researchers found that miRNA-145 was upregulated in Barrett’s esophagus compared with EAC and SQ. The analyses also showed that three miRNAs were EAC-specific, two were BE-specific, and 11 were SQ-specific.
“We found … specific miRNAs being highly expressed in EAC, BE and SQ,” the researchers wrote. “The identification of miRNAs exclusively expressed in EAC, BE and SQ may have important clinical implications as these may be useful as tissue markers.”