[Differential expression analysis of prolactinoma-related microRNAs].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between the prolactinoma-related microRNAs (miRNA) and the development, growth and hormone secretion of prolactinoma.

METHODS

The technique of Solexa sequencing was employed to analyze the differential expressions of prolactinoma and normal anterior pituitary gland samples. And the stem-loop real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized for confirmation.

RESULTS

According to the differentially expressed profiles of miRNAs, 4 miRNAs were down-regulated (miR-130a, miR-199b-3p, miR-200b, miR-125b, P < 0.05) and 6 miRNAs up-regulated (miR-342-3p, miR-432, miR-23b, miR-493, miR-493(*), miR-664(*), P < 0.05). The expression levels of miR-493(*) and miR-432 had a significant positive correlation with the serum level of prolactin (r = 0.47, P < 0.05; r = 0.528, P < 0.01) while miR-342-3p a significantly positive correlation with the invasiveness (r = 0.402, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

miRNAs are differentially expressed between normal anterior pituitary gland and prolactinomas, between invasive and localized prolactinomas and among different hormone secretion levels. It suggests that miRNAs may be involved in the physiological process of development, growth and hormone secretion of prolactinoma.