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microRNAs (miRNAs) are important both in early cardiogenesis and in the process of heart maturation. The aim of this study was to determine the stage-specific expression of miRNAs in human fetal heart in order to identify valuable targets for further study of heart defects. Affymetrix microarrays were used to obtain miRNA expression profiles from human fetal heart tissue at 5, 7, 9 and 23 weeks of gestation. To identify differentially expressed miRNAs at each time-point, linear regression analysis by the R limma algorithm was employed. Hierarchical clustering analysis was conducted with Cluster 3.0 software. Gene Ontology analysis was carried out for miRNAs from different clusters. Commonalities in miRNA families and genomic localization were identified, and the differential expression of selected miRNAs from different clusters was verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). A total of 703 miRNAs were expressed in human fetal heart. Of these, 288 differentially expressed miRNAs represented 5 clusters with different expression trends. Several clustered miRNAs also shared classification within miRNA families or proximal genomic localization. qPCR confirmed the expression patterns of selected miRNAs. miRNAs within the 5 clusters were predicted to target genes vital for heart development and to be involved in cellular signaling pathways that affect heart structure formation and heart-associated cellular events. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first miRNA expression profiling study of human fetal heart tissue. The stage-specific expression of specific miRNAs suggests potential roles at distinct time-points during fetal heart development.
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
February 2016,
BMC musculoskeletal disorders,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
January 2017,
BioMed research international,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
November 2012,
International journal of molecular medicine,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
January 2022,
Frontiers in genetics,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
July 2010,
Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
December 2020,
Poultry science,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
April 2015,
Genomics,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
December 2004,
Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
June 2000,
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology,
Jizi Zhou, and
Xinran Dong, and
Qiongjie Zhou, and
Huijun Wang, and
Yanyan Qian, and
Weidong Tian, and
Duan Ma, and
Xiaotian Li
October 2020,
Melanoma research,
