Discovery pipeline for epigenetically deregulated miRNAs in cancer: integration of primary miRNA transcription

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer is commonly associated with widespread disruption of DNA methylation, chromatin modification and miRNA expression. In this study, we established a robust discovery pipeline to identify epigenetically deregulated miRNAs in canc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Statham Aaron L, Strbenac Dario, Bert Saul, Wiklund Erik D, Sibbritt Tennille, Hulf Toby, Robinson Mark D, Clark Susan J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-01-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/12/54
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Summary:<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer is commonly associated with widespread disruption of DNA methylation, chromatin modification and miRNA expression. In this study, we established a robust discovery pipeline to identify epigenetically deregulated miRNAs in cancer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using an integrative approach that combines primary transcription, genome-wide DNA methylation and H3K9Ac marks with microRNA (miRNA) expression, we identified miRNA genes that were epigenetically modified in cancer. We find miR-205, miR-21, and miR-196b to be epigenetically repressed, and miR-615 epigenetically activated in prostate cancer cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We show that detecting changes in primary miRNA transcription levels is a valuable method for detection of local epigenetic modifications that are associated with changes in mature miRNA expression.</p>
ISSN:1471-2164