Identifikation von miRNAs und ihrer Zielmoleküle mit Bedeutung für die chronische lymphatische Leukämie

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a recently described class of endogenously expressed short RNAs that silence gene expression at the translational step. They have been implicated in developmental processes in virtually all multicellular organisms capable of short RNA-directed gene silencing, including humans. In addition, dysregulation of some of these RNAs has been correlated with different cancers. The precise roles of miRNAs in the biology of normal and transformed cells, however, remain largely elusive. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous leukemia characterized by several different chromosomal translocations whose etiology is unknown. Two miRNA genes are frequently deleted in CLL suggesting that miRNAs are involved in CLL formation, progress or maintenance. Identification of miRNAs and their target genes could lead to insights into CLL etiology and potentially a patient¿s response to therapy. In addition, modeling miRNA pathways could lead to identification of pathologically relevant targets for future therapeutic applications. Therefore, the specific aims of the proposed research project are: 1. Identification of novel miRNAs and their target genes in different stages of CLL. 2. Characterization of miRNA-target interactions and miRNA pathways in CLL.