[Expression profiles of microRNAs in radioresistant esophageal cell line].

Objective: To identify the differential microRNA expression profiles of acquired radioresistant esophageal cell line established by fractionated ionizing radiation (FIR) versus parental cell line.

Methods: MicroRNA microarray was employed for detection. Bioinformatic software tools were used to predict the target genes of identified microRNAs. For an understanding of miRNA functions, the GO analysis of abundantly differentially expressed targets of miRNAs was performed by GeneOntology Browser.

Results: Compared with parental cell line, 10 microRNAs (hsa-miR-1539, hsa-miR-1237, hsa-miR-92b, etc.) were up-regulated over 2-fold and 25 microRNAs (hsa-miR-185, hsa-miR-18b, hsa-miR-17, etc.) down-regulated in KYSE-150R. Eighteen miRNAs had their target genes, 10 of them had the potential to individually target up to 200 mRNAs. Hsa-let-7a, hsa-miR-185, hsa-miR-141, hsa-miR-92b, hsa-miR-22 and hsa-miR-301a were known as important genes associated with radioresistance.

Conclusion: These results confirm the involvement of miRNA in radiation resistance. It may potentially help to explain the mechanisms of gene regulation in cellular response to radioresistance.