The Role of microRNAs in Bladder Urothelium Development and Tumorigenesis
type: CreativeWork
description: There are two morphologically distinct cell types in the normal urothelium: umbrella cells and basal/intermediate cells. Immunohistochemical studies from our group suggest that there may be more than one urothelial progenitor. Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States and the second most prevalent genitourinary malignancy. Urothelial carcinoma accounts for 90% of bladder cancers. Based on clinical and histological studies, urothelial carcinomas are thought to develop through two independent pathways and are classified into two main phenotypic variants: low-grade tumors (usually papillary and "superficial" with high recurrence), and high-grade tumors (usually flat carcinoma in situ lesions that are often associated with and progress to muscle invasion). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 21-23 nucleotides in length, that regulate gene expression. Since their discovery in 1993, they have emerged as major mediators of cellular functions and tissue homeostasis. Importantly, distortion of their normal function is commonly observed in human malignancies, suggesting that they act as a new class of tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Despite the strong links reported between miRNAs and the pathogenesis of numerous human cancers, there are few studies centering on their characterization in normal urothelium and there is little consensus on which miRNAs contribute to urothelial tumor initiation and progression. Through a series of studies, we profiled the expression of miRNAs in distinct compartments of the normal bladder, including umbrella and basal-intermediate urothelial cells, as well as the muscularis propria; and bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS) lesions. We discovered and validated the expression of miR-133a and miR-139-3p in umbrella cells, and miR-142-3p in basal-intermediate cells. This study represents the first molecular characterization of miRNA expression in the normal urothelium. Strikingly, we f…
abstract: There are two morphologically distinct cell types in the normal urothelium: umbrella cells and basal/intermediate cells. Immunohistochemical studies from our group suggest that there may be more than one urothelial progenitor. Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States and the second most prevalent genitourinary malignancy. Urothelial carcinoma accounts for 90% of bladder cancers. Based on clinical and histological studies, urothelial carcinomas are thought to develop through two independent pathways and are classified into two main phenotypic variants: low-grade tumors (usually papillary and "superficial" with high recurrence), and high-grade tumors (usually flat carcinoma in situ lesions that are often associated with and progress to muscle invasion). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 21-23 nucleotides in length, that regulate gene expression. Since their discovery in 1993, they have emerged as major mediators of cellular functions and tissue homeostasis. Importantly, distortion of their normal function is commonly observed in human malignancies, suggesting that they act as a new class of tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Despite the strong links reported between miRNAs and the pathogenesis of numerous human cancers, there are few studies centering on their characterization in normal urothelium and there is little consensus on which miRNAs contribute to urothelial tumor initiation and progression. Through a series of studies, we profiled the expression of miRNAs in distinct compartments of the normal bladder, including umbrella and basal-intermediate urothelial cells, as well as the muscularis propria; and bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS) lesions. We discovered and validated the expression of miR-133a and miR-139-3p in umbrella cells, and miR-142-3p in basal-intermediate cells. This study represents the first molecular characterization of miRNA expression in the normal urothelium. Strikingly, we f…
author: Jia, Angela Yuanyuan
language: English
keywords: Pathology, Genetics
date published: 2013
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:44:27Z
provider: Columbia University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Columbia University

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.7916/D8QC09RX