Syngeneic cardiac and bone marrow stromal cells display tissue-specific microRNA signatures and microRNA subsets restricted to diverse differentiation processes

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 18;9(9):e107269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107269. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are key modulators at molecular level in different biological processes, including determination of cell fate and differentiation. Herein, microRNA expression profiling experiments were performed on syngeneic cardiac (CStC) and bone marrow (BMStC) mesenchymal stromal cells cultured in standard growth medium and then in vitro exposed to adipogenic, osteogenic, cardiomyogenic and endothelial differentiation media. Analysis identified a tissue-specific microRNA signature composed of 16 microRNAs that univocally discriminated cell type of origin and that were completely unaffected by in vitro differentiation media: 4 microRNAs were over-expressed in cardiac stromal cells, and 12 were overexpressed or present only in bone marrow stromal cells. Further, results revealed microRNA subsets specifically modulated by each differentiation medium, irrespective of the cell type of origin, and a subset of 7 microRNAs that were down-regulated by all media with respect to growth medium. Finally, we identified 16 microRNAs that were differentially modulated by the media when comparing the two tissues of origin. The existence of a tissue-specific microRNA signature surviving to any differentiation stimuli, strongly support the role if microRNAs determining cell identity related to tissue origin. Moreover, we identified microRNA subsets modulated by different culture conditions in a tissue-specific manner, pointing out their importance during differentiation processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Myocardium / cytology*
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Stromal Cells / cytology*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

The present study was supported by Italian Ministry of Health (RC 2008) to MCC, and by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (FIRB-MIUR RBFR087JMZ_001 to AR and VA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.