STUDY DESIGN: A miRNA study using Solexa sequencing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify @entity1797 ( @entity1797 )-specific miRNA expression profile, and to validate its biological function. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Accumulating evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a citical role in @entity1797 , but the role of specific miRNAs involved in this entity remains unclear. METHODS: MiRNA expression profile was determined in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues from @entity1 with @entity1797 and controls, employing Solexa sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Biological functions of differential expression miRNAs were further investigated. Luciferase reporter assays and western blotting were performed to determine miRNA targets. RESULTS: We identified 31 miRNAs that were differentially expressed (22 upregulated and 9 downregulated) in @entity1 compared with controls. Following qRT-PCR confirmation, miR-133a was significantly down-regulated in degenerative NP tissues. Moreover, its level was inversely correlated with grade of @entity1797 . Through gain- and loss-of-function studies, miR-133a was demonstrated to significantly promote type II collagen expression in NP cells. @entity1495 was identified as a target of miR-133a. Knockdown of @entity1495 induced effects on NP cells similar to those induced by miR-133a. Expression of @entity1495 was inversely correlated with miR-133a expression in degenerative NP tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the downregulation of miR-133a induces type II collagen loss by directly targeting @entity1495 . Our findings also highlight miR-133a as a novel hopeful therapeutic target for @entity1797 . LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Dysregulated miR-133a Mediates Loss of Type II Collagen by Directly Targeting @entity1495 ( @entity1495 ) in XXXX Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

@entity1797 :: ('MESH:D055959', 'Disease') :: ['intervertebral disc degeneration', 'disc degeneration', 'IDD'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1495 :: ('4318', 'Gene') :: ['MMP9']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Human']
