Treatment of leukemia cells with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may overcome their differentiation block and lead to the transition from myeloblasts to monocytes. To identify microRNA-mRNA networks relevant for myeloid differentiation, we profiled the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs associated to the low- and high-density ribosomal fractions in leukemic cells and in their differentiated monocytic counterpart. Intersection between mRNAs shifted across the fractions after treatment with putative target genes of modulated microRNAs showed a series of molecular networks relevant for the monocyte cell fate determination, as for example the post-transcriptional regulation of the Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) by miR-22-3p and let-7e-5p.
Keywords: AGO2, argonaute 2; AML; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; ECL methods, enhanced chemiluminescence methods; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GFP, green fluorescent protein; HPCs, haematopoietic progenitor cells; KPNA2, karyopherin α, 2; NBT assay, nitroblue tetrazolium assay; PLK1; PLK1, polo-like kinase 1; PMSF, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; RAB10, member RAS oncogene family 10; RAB5C, member RAS oncogene family 5C; RT-qPCR, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SF2A1, splicing factor 2A1; TFs, transcription factors; VitD3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; miRNAs, microRNAs; microRNAs; myeloid differentiation; ribosomal/polysomal fractions.