Both Natural and Designed Micro RNAs Can Inhibit the Expression of Cognate mRNAs When Expressed in Human Cells

Although RNA interference (RNAi) functions as a potent antiviral innate-immune response in plants and invertebrates, mammalian somatic cells appear incapable of mounting an RNAi response and few, if any, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can be detected. To examine why siRNA production is inefficient, we have generated double-knockout human cells lacking both Dicer and protein kinase RNA-activated. Using these cells, which tolerate double-stranded RNA expression, we show that a mutant form of human Dicer lacking the amino-terminal helicase domain can process double-stranded RNAs to produce high levels of siRNAs that are readily detectable by Northern blot, are loaded into RNA-induced silencing complexes, and can effectively and specifically inhibit the expression of cognate mRNAs. Remarkably, overexpression of this mutant Dicer, but not wild-type Dicer, also resulted in a partial inhibition of Influenza A virus—but not poliovirus—replication in human cells.

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Micro RNAs and DNA methylation are regulatory players in human cells with altered X chromosome to autosome balance

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep43235 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shriram N. Rajpathak ◽

Deepti D. Deobagkar

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

X Chromosome ◽

Human Cells ◽

Micro Rnas

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370: Micro-RNAS Profiling in Kidney and Bladder Cancers

The Journal of Urology ◽

10.1016/s0022-5347(18)34623-8 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 173 (4S) ◽

pp. 101-101

Author(s):

Fedra Gottardo ◽

Chang Gong Liu ◽

Manuela Ferracin ◽

George A. Calin ◽

Cinzia Sevignani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Micro Rnas

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Alpha-Tocopherol Protects Cultured Human Cells from the Acute Lethal Cytotoxicity of Dioxin

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.72.3.147 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

pp. 147-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kei-Ichi Hirai ◽

Jie-Hong Pan ◽

Ying-Bo Shui ◽

Eriko Simamura ◽

Hiroki Shimada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽

Dehydroascorbic Acid ◽

Human Cells ◽

Alpha Tocopherol ◽

Cervical Cancer Cells ◽

Cultured Human Cells ◽

Nuclear Damage ◽

Conjunctival Epithelial Cells

The possible protection of cultured human cells from acute dioxin injury by antioxidants was investigated. The most potent dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), caused vacuolization of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells and cervical cancer cells. Subsequent nuclear damage included a deep irregular indentation resulting in cell death. A dosage of 30–40 ng/mL TCDD induced maximal intracellular production of H2O2 at 30 minutes and led to severe cell death (0–31% survival) at two hours. A dose of 1.7 mM alpha-tocopherol or 1 mM L-dehydroascorbic acid significantly protected human cells against acute TCDD injuries (78–97% survivals), but vitamin C did not provide this protection. These results indicate that accidental exposure to fatal doses of TCDD causes cytoplasmic free radical production within the smooth endoplasmic reticular systems, resulting in severe cytotoxicity, and that vitamin E and dehydroascorbic acid can protect against TCDD-induced cell damage.

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