27,124 research outputs found
miR-127 protects proximal tubule cells against ischemia/reperfusion : identification of Kinesin family member 3B as miR-127 target
No full textIschemia/reperfusion (I/R) is at the basis of renal transplantation and acute kidney injury. Molecular mechanisms underlying proximal tubule response to I/R will allow the identification of new therapeutic targets for both clinical settings. microRNAs have emerged as crucial and tight regulators of the cellular response to insults including hypoxia. Here, we have identified several miRNAs involved in the response of the proximal tubule cell to I/R. Microarrays and RT-PCR analysis of proximal tubule cells submitted to I/R mimicking conditions in vitro demonstrated that miR-127 is induced during ischemia and also during reperfusion. miR-127 is also modulated in a rat model of renal I/R. Interference approaches demonstrated that ischemic induction of miR-127 is mediated by Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) stabilization. Moreover, miR-127 is involved in cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion maintenance, since overexpression of miR-127 maintains focal adhesion complex assembly and the integrity of tight junctions. miR-127 also regulates intracellular trafficking since miR-127 interference promotes dextran-FITC uptake. In fact, we have identified the Kinesin Family Member 3B (KIF3B), involved in cell trafficking, as a target of miR-127 in rat proximal tubule cells. In summary, we have described a novel role of miR-127 in cell adhesion and its regulation by HIF-1α. We also identified for the first time KIF3B as a miR-127 target. Both, miR-127 and KIF3B appear as key mediators of proximal epithelial tubule cell response to I/R with potential al application in renal ischemic damage management
SA-βgal activity detected by flow cytometry in A549 cells overexpressing miR-34a, miR-34b, and miR-34c.
No full textThe relative percentage of cells with detectable SA-gal activity was measured in A549 cells overexpressing (A) miR-34a, (B) miR-34b, (C) miR-34c, or (D) mCherry control. Note the higher percentage of cells with SA-βgal activity in cells overexpressing miR-34a, miR-34b, or miR-34c compared to treated control cells.</p
miR-132/212 knockout mice reveal roles for these miRNAs in regulating cortical synaptic transmission and plasticity
No full textmiR-132 and miR-212 are two closely related miRNAs encoded in the same intron of a small non-coding gene, which have been suggested to play roles in both immune and neuronal function. We describe here the generation and initial characterisation of a miR-132/212 double knockout mouse. These mice were viable and fertile with no overt adverse phenotype. Analysis of innate immune responses, including TLR-induced cytokine production and IFNβ induction in response to viral infection of primary fibroblasts did not reveal any phenotype in the knockouts. In contrast, the loss of miR-132 and miR-212, while not overtly affecting neuronal morphology, did affect synaptic function. In both hippocampal and neocortical slices miR-132/212 knockout reduced basal synaptic transmission, without affecting paired-pulse facilitation. Hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by tetanic stimulation was not affected by miR-132/212 deletion, whilst theta burst LTP was enhanced. In contrast, neocortical theta burst-induced LTP was inhibited by loss of miR-132/212. Together these results indicate that miR-132 and/or miR-212 play a significant role in synaptic function, possibly by regulating the number of postsynaptic AMPA receptors under basal conditions and during activity-dependent synaptic plasticity
NEW INSIGHTS OF MIR-145 FUNCTION AND REGULATION IN HUMAN BREAST CANCER.
No full textmiR-145 is down-regulated in the majority of human cancers, including breast cancer (BC).
However, its role remains largely unknown. Here, I provide evidence for miR-145 induced
anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect in several BC cell lines, which was not detected in
BC cells lacking a functional TP53 gene and exhibiting an estrogen receptor alfa (ESR1)
negative status. I found that miR-145 anti-proliferative effects were dependent upon TP53
activation and that activation of TP53 could in turn stimulates miR-145 expression. I also
found that miR-145 could repress the expression of ESR1 protein by direct interaction with
two sites within its gene coding sequence. My findings support the existence of a positive
regulatory loop where miR-145 directly targets ESR1 and indirectly activates TP53, which in
turn sustains miR-145 expression and reinforces miR-145 overall effects on proliferation and
apoptosis
Functional microRNA high throughput screening reveals miR-9 as a central regulator of liver oncogenesis by affecting the PPARA-CDH1 pathway
No full textBackground: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, reflecting the aggressiveness of this type of cancer and the absence of effective therapeutic regimens. MicroRNAs have been involved in the pathogenesis of different types of cancers, including liver cancer. Our aim was to identify microRNAs that have both functional and clinical relevance in HCC and examine their downstream signaling effectors. Methods: MicroRNA and gene expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR in HCC tumors and controls. A TargetScan algorithm was used to identify miR-9 downstream direct targets. Results: A high-throughput screen of the human microRNAome revealed 28 microRNAs as regulators of liver cancer cell invasiveness. MiR-9, miR-21 and miR-224 were the top inducers of HCC invasiveness and also their expression was increased in HCC relative to control liver tissues. Integration of the microRNA screen and expression data revealed miR-9 as the top microRNA, having both functional and clinical significance. MiR-9 levels correlated with HCC tumor stage and miR-9 overexpression induced SNU-449 and HepG2 cell growth, invasiveness and their ability to form colonies in soft agar. Bioinformatics and 3’UTR luciferase analyses identified E-cadherin (CDH1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA) as direct downstream effectors of miR-9 activity. Inhibition of PPARA suppressed CDH1 mRNA levels, suggesting that miR-9 regulates CDH1 expression directly through binding in its 3’UTR and indirectly through PPARA. On the other hand, miR-9 inhibition of overexpression suppressed HCC tumorigenicity and invasiveness. PPARA and CDH1 mRNA levels were decreased in HCC relative to controls and were inversely correlated with miR-9 levels. Conclusions: Taken together, this study revealed the involvement of the miR-9/PPARA/CDH1 signaling pathway in HCC oncogenesis
Serum microRNA-21 as marker for necroinflammation in hepatitis C patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma
No full textBackground: MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is up-regulated in tumor tissue of patients with malignant diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Elevated concentrations of miR-21 have also been found in sera or plasma from patients with malignancies, rendering it an interesting candidate as serum/plasma marker for malignancies. Here we correlated serum miR-21 levels with clinical parameters in patients with different stages of chronic hepatitis C virus infection (CHC) and CHC-associated HCC.
Methodology/Principal Findings: 62 CHC patients, 29 patients with CHC and HCC and 19 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. RNA was extracted from the sera and miR-21 as well as miR-16 levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR; miR-21 levels (normalized by miR-16) were correlated with standard liver parameters, histological grading and staging of CHC. The data show that serum levels of miR-21 were elevated in patients with CHC compared to healthy controls (P<0.001); there was no difference between serum miR-21 in patients with CHC and CHC-associated HCC. Serum miR-21 levels correlated with histological activity index (HAI) in the liver (r = −0.494, P = 0.00002), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (r = −0.309, P = 0.007), aspartate aminotransferase (r = −0.495, P = 0.000007), bilirubin (r = −0.362, P = 0.002), international normalized ratio (r = −0.338, P = 0.034) and γ-glutamyltransferase (r = −0.244, P = 0.034). Multivariate analysis revealed that ALT and miR-21 serum levels were independently associated with HAI. At a cut-off dCT of 1.96, miR-21 discriminated between minimal and mild-severe necroinflammation (AUC = 0.758) with a sensitivity of 53.3% and a specificity of 95.2%.
Conclusions/Significance: The serum miR-21 level is a marker for necroinflammatory activity, but does not differ between patients with HCV and HCV-induced HCC
Identification and validation of oncologic miRNA biomarkers for Luminal A-like breast cancer
No full textIntroduction: Breast cancer is a common disease with distinct tumor subtypes phenotypically characterized by ER and HER2/neu receptor status. MiRNAs play regulatory roles in tumor initiation and progression, and altered miRNA expression has been demonstrated in a variety of cancer states presenting the potential for exploitation as cancer biomarkers. Blood provides an excellent medium for biomarker discovery. This study investigated systemic miRNAs differentially expressed in Luminal A-like (ER+PR+HER2/neu-) breast cancer and their effectiveness as oncologic biomarkers in the clinical setting. Methods: Blood samples were prospectively collected from patients with Luminal A-like breast cancer (n=54) and controls (n=56). RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and subjected to microarray analysis (n=10 Luminal A-like; n=10 Control). Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by artificial neural network (ANN) data-mining algorithms. Expression of specific miRNAs was validated by RQ-PCR (n=44 Luminal A; n=46 Control) and potential relationships between circulating miRNA levels and clinicopathological features of breast cancer were investigated. Results: Microarray analysis identified 76 differentially expressed miRNAs. ANN revealed 10 miRNAs for further analysis ( miR-19b, miR-29a, miR-93, miR-181a, miR-182, miR-223, miR-301a, miR-423-5p, miR-486-5 and miR-652 ). The biomarker potential of 4 miRNAs ( miR-29a, miR-181a , miR-223 and miR-652 ) was confirmed by RQ-PCR, with significantly reduced expression in blood of women with Luminal A-like breast tumors compared to healthy controls (p=0.001, 0.004, 0.009 and 0.004 respectively). Binary logistic regression confirmed that combination of 3 of these miRNAs ( miR-29a, miR-181a and miR-652 ) could reliably differentiate between cancers and controls with an AUC of 0.80. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the underlying molecular portrait of Luminal A-like breast cancer subtype. From an initial 76 miRNAs, 4 were validated with altered expression in the blood of women with Luminal A-like breast cancer. The expression profiles of these 3 miRNAs, in combination with mammography, has potential to facilitate accurate subtype- specific breast tumor detection
Importancia clínica de los micrornas de la vía de p53 en cáncer de pulmón no microcítico: miR-34a y miR-16
No full text[spa] El cáncer de pulmón no célula pequeña es la neoplasia más frecuente en la actualidad en los países industrializados, siendo la primera causa de mortalidad por cáncer en el varón.
Su incidencia continúa aumentando progresivamente, y su tratamiento, pese a los esfuerzos de investigación de los últimos años, sigue siendo poco efectivo en la mayor parte de los casos, situándose la supervivencia global a los cinco años alrededor del 13%.
La alta tasa de recaída, incluso en estadios iniciales susceptibles de cirugías radicales, justifica el interés de estudiar marcadores pronósticos de supervivencia y recaída. Esto nos ayudaría a distinguir grupos de riesgo, cuyo interés radica en ayudarnos a conocer la necesidad y efecto de los tratamientos adyuvantes, con quimioterapia y radioterapia así como abrir la puerta a posibles nuevas armas terapéuticas.
Dada la alta incidencia de alteraciones en la vía de p53 en el cáncer de pulmón no célula pequeña, y su probable valor pronóstico, nuestra hipótesis es que existen alteraciones en los niveles de expresión de los miRNAs directamente regulados por p53, así como en los reguladores intermedios de la función de p53, con posible valor pronóstico en recaída y supervivencia de pacientes operados de cáncer de pulmón no célula pequeña o no microcítico(CPNCP).
Tratamos pues de identificar el papel que juegan los miRNAs como marcadores útiles en el pronóstico del CPNCP en estadios iniciales, tras cirugía radical. De forma más específica determinar el posible papel pronóstico en recaída y en supervivencia de los miRNAs de la familia de miR-34: miR-34a, miR-34b y miR-34c, cuya transcripción es activada por p53. También definir el posible papel pronóstico en recaída y en supervivencia de los miRNAs miR-16 y miR-143, cuyos niveles finales en la célula, están modulados por p53. Así como, conocer si existen posibles interacciones entre miR-34a, miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-16 y miR-143 a nivel pronóstico.
Para ello, hemos planteado un estudio retrospectivo, con las muestras de tejido tumoral y normal pareado de 70 pacientes, diagnosticados y tratado, de cáncer de pulmón no microcítico estadios I-III, entre Febrero de 1996 y Septiembre de 2002, en el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Se realizaron la extracción y cuantificación de RNA. Determinación de los niveles de los microRNAs mencionados. Determinación del estado de metilación de la región promotora del gen MIR34A. Determinación de la presencia de mutaciones de P53 entre los exones 5-8.
Tras estos estudios los resultado obtenidos se han publicado en dos artículos. El primero de ellos en la revista “Carcinogenesis” y el segundo en la revista “Journal of Surgical Oncology”.
En el primer artículo, titulado “miR-34a as a prognostic marker of relapse in surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer”, relacionamos los niveles de miR-34a con la recaída tumoral, estableciendo tres grupos en función de esta tasa de recaída: el grupo con niveles bajos de miR34a, con un 67% de recaída, los que tenían niveles altos, con un 43% de recaída y los que tenían los niveles más altos con un 0% de recaída. Además, en el análisis univariado para riesgo de recaída, el estado mutacional de P53, los niveles de miR-34a
y el estadio IA vs el resto, se correlacionaron con probabilidad de recaída. Se realizaron dos análisis mutilvariados, incluyendo o no el estado mutacional de P53, permaneciendo en ambos análisis la expresión de miR-34a, como factor independiente para recaída tumoral. Se observó que los pacientes con mutaciones de P53 presentaban una media de expresión de miR-34a más baja. Se observó que el subgrupo de pacientes en el que los niveles de expresión de miR-34a baja coincidían con presencia de mutaciones de P53, presentaban una alta tasa de recaída. En los pacientes sin mutaciones de de P53, existe una diferencia significativa en los niveles de expresión de miR-34a entre los pacientes que presentaban la región promotora de MIR34A metilada vs los que no. Por todo esto, encontramos que miR-34a se demuestra como un nuevo marcador biológico con significación en el pronóstico de la recaída de pacientes sometidos a cirugía del CPNCP, abriendo la posibilidad de una futura herramienta en el algoritmo de decisiones terapéuticas.
En el segundo artículo, titulado “Prognostic Implications of miR-16 Expression Levels in Resected Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer”, desde la hipótesis de que P53 activa la transcripción de la familia de miRNAs de miR-34 y regula la maduración de miR-16 y miR143, se estudiaron los niveles de expresión de miR-143 y miR-16 en el tejido normal y tumoral pareado de cada paciente de la serie, antes mencionada, de 70 pacientes.
Así los pacientes se clasificaron de acuerdo a los niveles de expresión de miR-16(alto, normal y bajo). Aquellos pacientes con niveles normales tuvieron la mejor evolución, mientras que aquellos con niveles más altos tuvieron la peor. La supervivencia libre de enfermedad (SLE) era de 22,4 meses para los pacientes con niveles altos de miR-16, 71,8 meses para los de niveles normales y de 55,8 meses para los de niveles bajos. La supervivencia global (SG) fue de 23,9 meses para los que tenían niveles altos de miR-16, de 97,6 meses para los que tenían niveles normales y 63,5 meses para aquellos con niveles bajos. No se observó correlación entre los niveles de miR-143 y la evolución clínica de los pacientes. El análisis multivariado mostró a miR-16 como factor pronóstico independiente de SLE Y SG. En un análisis secundario, examinamos la correlación potencial entre la expresión de miR-16 y miR-34a y el estado mutacional de P53.No hubo correlación entre el estado mutacional de P53 y miR-16, pero si se observó una interacción entre miR-16 y miR-34a. En los pacientes con niveles altos de miR-34a, se observaron diferencias entre SLE Y SG, de acuerdo a los niveles de expresión de miR-16, mientras que en los pacientes con niveles bajos de miR-34a presentaban un pobre pronóstico, independientemente de los niveles de expresión de miR-16. Estos resultados nos indican el posible valor pronóstico de miR-16 en pacientes intervenidos de CPNCP, además del posible sinergismo entre miR-34a y miR16.[eng] Non small cell lung cancer is more common today, in industrialized countries and is the leading cause of cancer death in men. Its incidence continues to increase gradually, and their treatment, despite the research efforts of recent years, it remains ineffective in most cases, putting the overall survival at five years about 13%. The high rate of relapse, even in early stages susceptible to radical surgery, justifies the interest in studying prognostic markers of survival and relapse. This would help us distinguish risk groups, whose interest lies in helping to meet the need and effect of adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as opening the door to possible new therapeutic tools. Given the high incidence of alterations in the p53 pathway in non small cell lung cancer, and likely its prognostic role, our hypothesis is that there are alterations in the expression levels of miRNAs directly regulated by p53, as well as in intermediate regulators of p53 function with potential prognostic value on relapse and survival of patients undergoing non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Then, we try to identify the role of miRNAs as useful markers for the prognosis of NSCLC in initial stages, after radical surgery. More specifically determine the possible prognostic role in relapse and survival of the family miRNAs miR-34: miR-34a, miR-34b and miR-34c, whose transcription is activated by p53. Also define the possible prognostic role in relapse and survival of the miRNAs miR-16 and miR-143, whose final levels in the cell are modulated by p53. And, determine whether there are possible interactions between miR-34a, miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-16 and miR-143 as regards prognosis. To do this, we have proposed a retrospective study, with the tumor tissue and paired normal in 70 patients, diagnosed and treated of non small cell lung cancer stages I-III, between February 1996 and September 2002, at the Hospital Clínic, in Barcelona. We performed RNA extraction and quantification. Determining levels of microRNAs mentioned. Determining the status of methylation of the promoter region of the gene MIR34A. Determining the presence of p53 mutations between exons 5-8. Following, the results obtained from these studies have been published in two articles. The first in the journal "Carcinogenesis" and the second in the "Journal of Surgical Oncology." In the first article, entitled "miR-34a as a Prognostic marker of relapse in surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer", we relate the levels of miR-34a with the tumor relapse, establishing three groups according to the rate of relapse: the group with low levels of miR34a, with 67% relapse, those with high levels, with 43% relapse and those with the highest levels with a 0% relapse. Furthermore, in univariate analysis for risk of relapse, the mutational status of p53, the levels of miR-34a and stage IA vs the rest, were correlated with likelihood of relapse. Two multivariate analyzes were performed, including or not the P53 mutational status, remaining in both analyzes the expression of miR-34a, as an independent factor for tumor relapse. It was observed that patients with p53 mutations had a mean expression of miR-34a lower. It was noted that the subgroup of patients in which the expression levels of miR-34a low coincided with the presence of p53 mutations, had a high rate of relapse. In patients without mutations of p53, there is a significant difference in expression levels of miR-34a between the patients with the methylated promoter region MIR34A vs. those without. For all this, we found that miR-34a is shown as a novel biomarker with prognostic significance in patients relapsed NSCLC undergoing surgery, opening the possibility of a future tool in the therapeutic decision algorithm. In the second article, entitled "Prognostic Implications of miR-16 Expression Levels in Resected Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer", from the hypothesis that p53 activates transcription of the family of miRNAs miR-34 and regulates the maturation of miR-16 to miR-143, we studied the expression levels of miR-143 and miR-16 in the paired normal and tumor tissue of each patient in the series, mentioned above, in 70 patients. So patients were classified according to the expression levels of miR-16 (high, normal and low). Patients with normal levels had the best clinical course, while those with higher levels had the worst. The disease-free survival (DFS) was 22.4 months for patients with high levels of miR-16, 71.8 months for normal levels of 55.8 months for low levels. Overall survival (OS) was 23.9 months for those with high levels of miR-16, from 97.6 months for those with normal levels and 63.5 months for those with low levels. No correlation was observed between the levels of miR-143 and the clinical course of patients. Multivariate analysis showed miR-16 as an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS. In a secondary analysis, we examined the potential correlation between the expression of miR-16 and miR-34a and the mutational status of P53. There was no correlation between p53 mutational status and miR-16, but observed an interaction between miR-16 and miR-34a. In patients with high levels of miR-34a, there were differences between DFS and OS, according to the expression levels of miR-16, whereas in patients with low levels of miR-34a had a poor prognosis, regardless of expression levels of miR-16. These results indicate the possible prognostic value of miR-16 in patients operated for NSCLC, as well as possible synergism between miR-34a and miR1
Klinički značaj cirkulišućih miR-21, miR-142, miR-143 i miR-146a u pacijenata sa karcinomom prostate
No full textBackground: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common type of solid tissue cancer among men in western countries. In this study, we determined the levels of circulating miR-21, miR-142, miR-143, miR-146a, and RNU 44 levels as controls for early diagnosis of PCa.
Methods: The circulating miRNA levels in peripheral blood samples from 43 localized PCa patients, 12 metastatic PCa (MET) patients, and a control group of, 42 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients with a total of 97 volunteers were determined the by PCR method.
Results: No differences in the Delta CT values were found among the groups. In PCa and PCaMet groups the expression of miR21 and miR142 were higher compared to the BHP group. No other differences were observed among the other groups. miR21 expression in the PCa group was 6.29 folds upregulated whereas in the PCaMet group 10.84 folds up-regulated. When the total expression of miR142 is evaluated, it showed a positive correlation with mir21 and mir 146 (both p<0.001). Also, the expression of miR146 shows a positive correlation with both miR21 and miR143 (both p<0.001). Expression of miRNAs was found to be an independent diagnostic factor in patients with Gleason score, PSA, and free PSA levels.
Conclusions: Our study showed that co-expression of miR21, miR-142, miR-143, and miR-146a and the upregulation of miR-21 resulted in increased prostate carcinoma cell growth. In the PCaMet group, miR21 is the most upregulated of all miRNAs. These markers may provide a novel diagnostic tool to help diagnose PCa with aggressive behavior.Uvod: Karcinom prostate (PCa) je naj~e{}i tip raka ~vrstog
tkiva me|u mu{karcima u zapadnim zemljama. U ovoj stu -
diji, odredili smo nivoe cirkuli{u}ih miR-21, miR-142,
miR-143, miR-146a i nivoe RNU 44 kao kontrole za ranu
dijagnozu PCa.
Metode: Nivoi cirkuli{u}e miRNA u uzorcima periferne krvi
odre|ivani su PCR metodom kod 43 pacijenta sa otkri -
venim PCa, 12 pacijenata sa metastatskim PCa (MET) i kao
kontrolnom grupom kod 42 pacijenta sa benignom
hiperpla zijom prostate (BPH) u ukupno 97 dobrovoljaca.
Rezultati: Nisu prona|ene razlike u vrednostima DCT me|u
grupama. U grupama PCa i PCaMet ekspresija miR21 i miR142 bila je ve}a u pore|enju sa BHP grupom. Nisu uo~ene
druge razlike me|u ostalim grupama. Ekspresija miR-21 u
grupi PCa bila je 6,29 puta lo{ije regulisana, dok je u grupama PCaMet regulacija bila pove}ana 10,84 puta. Kada se
proceni ukupna ekspresija miR-142, ona je pokazala po -
zitivnu korelaciju sa miR-21 i miR-146 (oba p<0,001).
Tako|e ekspresija miR-146 pokazuje pozitivnu korelaciju sa
oba miR-21 i miR-143 (oba p<0,001). Utvr|eno je da je
ekspresija miRNA nezavisan dijagnosti~ki faktor kod pacijenata da Gleason skorom, i nivoima PSA i slobodne PSA
miR-34 miRNAs Regulate Cellular Senescence in Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
No full textPathologic features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) include genetic predisposition, activation of the unfolded protein response, telomere attrition, and cellular senescence. The mechanisms leading to alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) senescence are poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported as regulators of cellular senescence. Senescence markers including p16, p21, p53, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-βgal) activity were measured in type II AECs from IPF lungs and unused donor lungs. miRNAs were quantified in type II AECs using gene expression arrays and quantitative RT-PCR. Molecular markers of senescence (p16, p21, and p53) were elevated in IPF type II AECs. SA-βgal activity was detected in a greater percentage in type II AECs isolated from IPF patients (23.1%) compared to patients with other interstitial lung diseases (1.2%) or normal controls (0.8%). The relative levels of senescence-associated miRNAs miR-34a, miR-34b, and miR-34c, but not miR-20a, miR-29c, or miR-let-7f were significantly higher in type II AECs from IPF patients. Overexpression of miR-34a, miR-34b, or miR-34c in lung epithelial cells was associated with higher SA-βgal activity (27.8%, 35.1%, and 38.2%, respectively) relative to control treated cells (8.8%). Targets of miR-34 miRNAs, including E2F1, c-Myc, and cyclin E2, were lower in IPF type II AECs. These results show that markers of senescence are uniquely elevated in IPF type II AECs and suggest that the miR-34 family of miRNAs regulate senescence in IPF type II AECs
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