Tombusviruses are single, positive strand RNA viruses of plants, often associated with parasitic defective interfering (DI) RNAs. Two viral- coded gene products, namely p33 and p92, are required for tombusvirus replication. The overlapping domains of p33 and p92 contain an arginine/proline-rich (RPR) RNA binding motif. In this study, the role of RPR motif and viral RNA in tombusvirus replication and recombination, as well as involvement of viral RNA in tombusvirus replicase assembly was examined. Using site-directed mutagenesis I generated a series of RPR mutants of Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus (CNV). Analysis of RPR mutants defined that wild type RPR motif, especially two of the four arginines, were required for efficient RNA binding in vitro, for replication of tombusviruses, their associated DI RNAs, subgenomic (sg)RNA synthesis and DI RNA recombination in vivo. Experiments using a two-component tombusvirus replication system showed that RPR motif is critical for functions of both p33 and p92 in replication, but its role in these proteins might not be identical. Recombination studies using a novel tombusvirus three-component system revealed that mutations in RPR motif of p33 replicase protein resulted in an altered viral RNA recombination rate. Identified DI RNA recombinants were mostly imprecise, with recombination sites clustered around a replication enchancer and an additional putative cis-acting element that might facilitate the template switching events by the tombusvirus replicase. To study the role of RNA during the assembly of functional tombusvirus replicase, recombinant CNV replicase that showed similar properties to plant-derived CNV replicase was purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When in addition to p33 and p92 proteins DI RNA was co-expressed in yeast cells, the isolated replicase activity was increased ~40 fold. Further studies defined RNA motifs within two short DI RNA regions that enhanced active CNV replicase formation. In summary, this study showed that the conserved RNA binding motif of the tombusvirus replicase proteins and viral RNA are involved in replicase assembly, viral RNA replication, subgenomic RNA synthesis and RNA recombination. This data shed new light on the complex roles of the viral elements in replication, and will help future studies aimed at interfering with viral infections.

No description available.

Au Yeung Chi Lam. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-221). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Teng, Yufei. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-193). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Cheung, Hing Yau Coty. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-132). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

MicroRNA（miRNAs）是一類細小的非編碼RNA（ncRNA），能透過轉錄後機制調節靶標基因的表達。miRNA的發現，不僅提出一個嶄新的基因調節機制，更強調了小ncRNA於不同的生理和發展過程中的重要性。最近的研究更進一步展示了miRNA失調與癌症發展之間的因果關係。 / 我們此前曾利用陣列分析，發現miRNA在肝細胞癌（HCC）中的失調模式，揭示了miR-145在HCC的普遍下調。在本論文的第一部分，定量逆轉錄聚合酶鏈反應（qRT-PCR）進一步證實了miR-145在50的肝細胞癌患者（n=80）的腫瘤中出現表達下調，而且miR-145的表達下調更與較短的无病生存期相關。其中一個低內源性miR-145的肝癌腫瘤樣本被建立為細胞株─HKCI-C2。此體外模型保持低miR-145水平，並於恢復miR-145表達後，抑製細胞存活和增殖。多個計算機演算法均預測了miR-145可針對胰島素樣生長因子（IGF）信號通路中的多個基因，包括胰島素受體底物（IRS1）-1，IRS2和胰島素樣生長因子1受體。這些假定目標的蛋白表達亦被miR-145下調。熒光素酶檢測進一步驗證了miR-145和IRS1/IRS2 3'-非編碼區的直接目標關聯。隨後的分析也確定miR-145能下調 IGF信號通路下游的信號傳導，即活性β-catenin水平。 / 最近出現的深度測序技術，為研究miRNome提供了一個前所未有的平台，以識別已知和新的miRNA。此外，現代生物信息學技術可同時對不同類型的小ncRNA，如PIWI-interacting RNA（piRNAs）進行分析。在本論文的第二部分中，我們利用Illumina大規模並行測序對兩個肝癌細胞株（HKCI-4和HKCI-8）和正常肝細胞株（MIHA）的小RNA轉錄組進行研究。生物信息學和生物功能分析揭示一種新型piRNA（取名為piR-Hep1）在肝腫瘤發生中的重要角色。在73例肝癌中，qRT-PCR結果顯示piR-Hep1在47的肝癌組織出現上調。PiR-Hep1的沉默能抑制肝癌細胞存活、遷移和侵襲，同時亦減少了Akt的磷酸化。在miRNA的分析中，miR-1323被發現在肝癌組織中大量表達，並與肝硬化背景下產生的肝腫瘤相關。此外，miR-1323出現過表達的肝硬化肝癌患者的無病和整體存活率亦較差（P<0.009）。 / 總觀來說，本論文首次發現miR-145可同時抑制引致肝癌的IGF信號通路中的多個傳導因子，亦突出了piR-Hep1的功能重要性和miR-1323在肝癌患者中的預後意義。此外，本研究表明，傳統的陣列分析和新一代的測序技術均能發現重要的miRNA。新一代測序技術對轉錄組的全面分析，將對研究各種不同類型的ncRNAs在肝癌發生發展過程中的參與提供新的思路。 / MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. The discovery of miRNAs not only puts forth an alternate gene regulatory mechanism, but also underscores the importance of small ncRNAs as pivotal regulators of diverse physiological and developmental processes. Recent studies have emphasized a causal link between miRNA deregulation and cancer development. / Our group has previously reported on dysregulated miRNA pattern in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by array-based profiling, which revealed common downregulation of miR-145. In the first part of this thesis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) corroborated reduced miR-145 expression in 50% of tumors in a cohort of 80 HCC patients, which also correlated reduced miR-145 expression with shorter disease-free survival of patients. One HCC tumor analyzed with low endogenous miR-145 was propagated as cell line. This in vitro model HKCI-C2 maintained low miR-145 level and upon restoration of miR-145 expression, a consistent inhibitory effect on cell viability and proliferation was readily observed. Multiple in silico algorithms predicted that miR-145 could target a number of genes along the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling, including insulin receptor substrate (IRS1)-1, IRS2 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor. Protein expression of these putative targets was concordantly downregulated in the presence of miR-145. Luciferase reporter assay further verified direct target association of miR-145 to specific sites of IRS1 and IRS2 3’-untranslated regions. Subsequent analysis also affirmed the modulation of IGF signaling cascade by miR-145 as evident by reduction of the downstream mediator, namely, the active β-catenin level. / The recent advent of deep sequencing has provided an unprecedented platform to study the miRNome, in which both known and novel miRNAs can be identified. Moreover, bioinformatics advances have enabled different types of small ncRNAs, e.g. piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), to be analyzed simultaneously. In the second part of this thesis, small RNA transcriptomes of two HCC cell lines (HKCI-4 and HKCI-8) and an immortalized hepatocyte line (MIHA) were examined using Illumina massively parallel sequencing. Combined bioinformatic and biological analyses revealed the involvement of a novel piRNA, designated as piR-Hep1, in liver tumorigenesis. piR-Hep1 was found to be up-regulated in 47% of HCC in a cohort of 73 HCC patients by qRT-PCR. Silencing of piR-Hep1 inhibited cell viability, motility and invasiveness with a concomitant reduction of Akt phosphorylation. In the analysis of miRNA, miR-1323 was found to be abundantly expressed in HCC and distinctly associated with tumors arising from a cirrhotic background. Furthermore, miR-1323 overexpression in cirrhotic-HCC correlated with poorer disease-free and overall survivals of patients (P<0.009). / Taken together, results from this thesis showed for the first time the pleiotropic effect of miR-145 on targeting multiple components of the oncogenic IGF signaling pathway in HCC. In addition, the functional importance of piR-Hep1 and the prognostic significance of miR-1323 in HCC were highlighted. Studies conducted demonstrated that important miRNAs can be discovered by both traditional array-based profiling and next-generation sequencing. Moreover, comprehensive definition of transcriptome by next-generation sequencing unveils virtually all types of ncRNAs and provides new insight into the liver carcinogenic events. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Law, Tak Yin. / "December 2012." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-200). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Publications --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / 摘要 --- p.vi / Contents --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.xiii / List of Tables --- p.xv / Abbreviations --- p.xvi / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Hepatocellular Carcinoma - One of the world’s most deadly killers --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- MicroRNAs - a tiny molecule with enormous impacts --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Discovery of miRNAs --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Biogenesis and actions of miRNA --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3 --- MiRNAs and cancer --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4 --- Involvements of miRNAs in HCC etiological factors --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Viral hepatitis infection --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Chronic heavy alcohol consumption --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Dietary aflatoxin exposure --- p.28 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Male gender --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Obesity --- p.33 / Chapter 1.5 --- Regulation of cancer-associated signaling network by microRNAs --- p.34 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Apoptotic pathway --- p.37 / Chapter 1.5.1.1 --- Intrinsic pathway --- p.38 / Chapter 1.5.1.2 --- Extrinsic pathway --- p.39 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Cell cycle regulators --- p.41 / Chapter 1.5.2.1 --- G₁/S transition --- p.42 / Chapter 1.5.2.2 --- G₂/M transition --- p.43 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated pathways --- p.45 / Chapter 1.5.3.1 --- c-MET-activated signaling --- p.45 / Chapter 1.5.3.2 --- PI3K-Akt --- p.47 / Chapter 1.5.3.3 --- RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK cascade --- p.48 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- TGF-ß signaling pathways --- p.50 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- Metastatic pathways --- p.52 / Chapter 1.5.5.1 --- MiRNAs with metastatic suppressing effects --- p.52 / Chapter 1.5.5.2 --- MiRNAs with metastatic promoting effects --- p.53 / Chapter 1.6 --- Clinical potentials of microRNAs - a killer or a cure? --- p.56 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- MiRNAs involvements in HCC risk prediction --- p.57 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- MiRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers --- p.59 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- MiRNAs as prognostic biomarkers --- p.60 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Effects of miRNAs on responses to therapy --- p.61 / Chapter 1.7 --- Non-coding RNAs --- p.62 / Chapter 1.8 --- Aims of study --- p.63 / Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.65 / Chapter 2.1 --- Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Materials --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- DNase treatment --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- Reverse transcription --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1.1.4 --- Quantitative polymerase chain reaction --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Methods --- p.67 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.67 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- DNase treatment --- p.68 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Reverse transcription --- p.69 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- Quantitative polymerase chain reaction --- p.69 / Chapter 2.2 --- Transfection --- p.70 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Materials --- p.70 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Methods --- p.70 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Evaluation of HCC cells transfection efficiency --- p.70 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Transfection --- p.71 / Chapter 2.3 --- In vitro functional assay --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Materials --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Cell viability assay --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Colony formation assay --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.1.4 --- Apoptosis assay --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.1.5 --- Cell motility and invasion assay --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Methods --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Cell viability assay --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Colony formation assay --- p.74 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Apoptosis assay --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.2.5 --- Cell motility and invasion assay --- p.76 / Chapter 2.4 --- Luciferase reporter assay --- p.78 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Materials --- p.78 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Cloning --- p.78 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Cycle sequencing --- p.78 / Chapter 2.4.1.3 --- Luciferase reporter assay --- p.79 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Methods --- p.79 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Cloning --- p.79 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Cycle sequencing --- p.81 / Chapter 2.4.2.3 --- Luciferase reporter assay --- p.82 / Chapter 2.5 --- Western blot --- p.84 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Materials --- p.84 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Methods --- p.85 / Chapter 2.5.2.1 --- Cell harvesting and protein quantitation --- p.86 / Chapter 2.5.2.2 --- Western blotting --- p.86 / Chapter 2.6 --- Small RNA Sequencing --- p.88 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Materials --- p.88 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Methods --- p.88 / Chapter 2.6.2.1 --- Sample preparation --- p.88 / Chapter 2.6.2.2 --- Cluster generation by bridge amplification --- p.88 / Chapter 2.6.2.3 --- Sequencing by synthesis --- p.89 / Chapter 2.7 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.94 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Materials --- p.94 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Methods --- p.94 / Chapter 2.7.2.1 --- Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) --- p.94 / Chapter 2.7.2.2 --- Probe preparation --- p.95 / Chapter 2.7.2.3 --- Hybridization, stringency washes and signal detection --- p.95 / Chapter 3 --- Conventional miRNA profiling reveals miR-145 as a tumor suppressor in HCC --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.98 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.102 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Patients --- p.102 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- qRT-PCR --- p.104 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Cell line --- p.105 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Transfection --- p.106 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- In vitro functional assay --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.5.1 --- Cell viability assay --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.5.2 --- Colony formation assay --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.5.3 --- Flow cytometry assay --- p.107 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- miRNA target prediction --- p.109 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Luciferase reporter assay --- p.110 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Western blot --- p.112 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.113 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Statistical analysis --- p.114 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.115 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Down-regulation of miR-145 in primary HCC --- p.115 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Re-expression of miR-145 induced G₂-M arrest and apoptosis --- p.119 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- IRS1, IRS2 and IGF1R expressions --- p.124 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- miR-145 targeted both IRS1 and IRS2 and elicited IGF signaling --- p.126 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.131 / Chapter 4 --- Small RNA Deep sequencing reveals novel non-coding RNAs in HCC --- p.134 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.135 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.136 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Cell lines --- p.136 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Patients --- p.137 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Small RNA Sequencing --- p.139 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Bioinformatics analysis --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.4.1 --- Sequence mapping and ncRNA identification --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.4.2 --- Putative miRNA prediction --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.4.3 --- Putative piRNA identification --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.4.4 --- Differentially-expressed ncRNAs identification --- p.141 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- qRT-PCR --- p.142 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.143 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Transfection --- p.144 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- In vitro functional assays --- p.145 / Chapter 4.2.8.1 --- Cell viability assay --- p.145 / Chapter 4.2.8.2 --- Cell motility and invasion assay --- p.145 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Western blot analysis --- p.147 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Statistical analysis --- p.148 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.149 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Small RNA Sequencing --- p.149 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Up-regulation of putative piR-Hep1 in HCC --- p.155 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- piR-Hep1 silencing reduced cell viability and invasiveness --- p.159 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Novel miR-1323 overexpression in HCC --- p.162 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.171 / Chapter 5 --- Concluding remarks and future perspectives --- p.175 / Chapter 6 --- References --- p.179

In summary, the genome-wide miRNA analyses on HCC tumors, adjacent non-malignant livers and cell lines revealed distinct differential miRNA expressions. In particular, the findings of deregulated miR-223 and miR-222 underscore the potential role for these microRNAs in the development of HCC. / In the functional examinations of miR-222, inhibition of miR-222 expression in Hep3B and HKCI-9 exerted no effect on cell viability. However, significant retardations on cell migration were observed in both Hep3B (64.5%, p=0.008) and HKCI-9 (52.5%, p=0.048). In Hep3B cells, functional knockdown of miR-222 was further shown to impede filopodia formation (p=0.0273). Coupling expression profiling from functional knockdown of miR-222 in Hep3B and HKCI-9 with pathway analysis, a number of miR-222 modulated pathways was suggested. Examination of such pathways, AKT and JAK/STAT, by Western blot analysis suggested profound decrease of total AKT and STAT3 protein in both Hep3B and HKCI-9. A corresponding diminution of phosphorylated AKT was also shown in both cell lines. In the examination of JAK/STAT pathway, reductions of phosphorylated STAT3 proteins were demonstrated in Hep3B and HKCI-9 following functional knockdown of miR-222. Parallel quantitative RT-PCR analysis did not suggest transcriptional changes of AKT and STAT3 mRNA between miR-222 inhibited cells and mock controls in Hep3B and HKCI-9. This in turn would be suggestive of a post-transcriptional repression of AKT and STAT3 proteins by miR-222 knockdown. Based on the functional characterization of miR-222, it would suggest the likelihood of miR-222 induction on HCC cell motility through modulation of the AKT and JAK/STAT signalling pathways. / MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of small, 19-25 nucleotides, non-coding RNAs with significant roles in transcriptional silencing and translational suppression. Recent studies have emphasized on a causative link between miRNA deregulations and cancer development. However, such information remains minimal in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). In an effort to characterize differentially expressed miRNAs in HCC development, global expression analyses on HCC tumors, paired adjacent non-malignant livers and HCC cell fines were carried out. Distinct miRNA expression pattern that was able to distinguish HCC tumors from non-malignant cirrhotic livers was suggested. Based on a comprehensive screening, 96 miRNAs showed differential expressions in HCC tumors, within which over 60% of miRNAs displayed increased expressions. / Six top ranked differentially expressed miRNAs, namely down-regulated miR-223, miR-126 and miR-122a, and up-regulated miR-222, miR-221 and miR-31 were subjected to further Northern blot validations. Amongst these verified candidates, miR-223 and miR-222 showed the most consistent expression changes that allowed unequivocal differentiation between HCC and non-tumoral liver (p&le;0.002). The potential functional roles of miR-223 and miR-222 were subsequently investigated. Ectopic expression of miR-223 in 3 HCC cell fines, Hep3B, HKCI-C3 and HKCI-10, revealed a consistent growth inhibitory effect of 21-44% (p&le;0.01). In an attempt to define potential downstream targets of miR-223, an integrative analysis of overexpressed genes from mRNA array with in-silico predictions was utilized. This approach allowed streamline of 386 targets to a candidate gene, Stathmin1 (STMN1). A significant inverse correlation between STMN1 mRNA and miR-223 expressions was demonstrated (p=0.006). At the protein level, restoration of miR-223 expressions in HCC cell lines resulted in substantial reduction of STMN1. Furthermore, miR-223 could repress the luciferase activity in reporter construct containing the putative recognition site at the STMN1 3'UTR. / Wong, Wing Lei. / Adviser: Nathalie Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3450. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-171). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Although cervical cancer is commonly infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV infection alone is insufficient to induce malignant changes. Many characteristic genetic and epigenetic alterations have been identified in invasive cervical carcinomas but relatively little is known about the specific genetic and molecular alterations that allow pre-invasive epithelial cells to acquire the ability to progress to invasive squamous cell carcinomas. Recently, a family of small non-coding RNAs termed microRNAs (miRNAs) with specific inhibitory functions on target gene expression has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of human cancers including lung and breast cancer but remain undefined in cervical cancer. / Genome wide chromosomal copy number changes in cervical cancer by Agilent high-density array Comparative Genomic Hybridization demonstrated that only a very limited number of genomic imbalances have an impact on the miRNA profile in cervical cancer cells, although a high proportion of genomic loci containing miRNA genes exhibited DNA copy number alterations in other cancers. The impact of the genomic aberration on their mRNA expression was then confirmed by Aligent Whole Human Genome gene expression array. This suggests that the regulation of miRNA and mRNA expression may be different in cervical cancer. / In conclusion, our global miRNA profiling identified the common differentially expressed and genomic aberration independent miRNAs in cervical cancer. We further revealed the inhibition of hsa-miR-182 reduced tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo through apoptosis and cell cycle mechanism. This provides new evidence that hsa-miR-182 may contribute to the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. / Keywords. MicroRNA, Cervical Cancer, Tumor Growth / To identify microRNA(s) associated with the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer, we firstly used the TaqMan MicroRNA Assays to survey and quantify a panel of 157 known human miRNAs in cervical cancer cell fines and micro-dissected normal cervical epithelium cells. We identified 2 microRNAs that were differentially up-regulated (fold change > 2, p &lt; 0.05) and 9 differentially down-regulated (fold change > 2, p &lt; 0.05) in cervical cancer cell lines comparing with normal cervical epithelium. Further investigation in tumor samples confirmed these two up-regulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-182 and -183 ) and 3 down-regulated miRNA (hsa-miR-145, 150, 195) from 4 investigated downregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-145, 150, 195 and 328). / To investigate the biological function of those aberrantly expressed microRNAs, we chose one of the most aberrantly up-regulated microRNA ( hsa-miR-182, fold change > 10) for further investigation. Inhibition of hsa-miR-182 by antisense oligonucleotides inhibited HeLa cervical cancer cell growth in vitro and reduced tumor cell volume in vivo. Gene expression array analysis of HeLa cells with hsa-miR-182 knockdown and over-expression showed specific hsa-miR-182 targeting pathway in apoptosis and cell cycle. It indicated the roles of hsa-miR-182 in cervical cancer growth through apoptosis and cell cycle functions. / Tang, Tao. / Adviser: Richard K W Choy. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3446. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-169). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

膀胱尿路上皮腫瘤發病率在泌尿道腫瘤中排第二位，它具有高複發性的特點。目前，有創性尿道膀胱鏡檢查是診斷的金標準。儘管先後有很多血液或尿液中的分子被先後用於診斷膀胱癌的診斷研究，但到目前為止尚未有任何一種方法可以取代膀胱鏡檢查。有證據表明在膀胱上皮腫瘤組織中有很多異常表達的microRNA，但是內在機制的有關研究相對缺乏。在本研究中，我們利用在尿液上清中異常表達的microRNA來評估它們在膀胱癌診斷中的價值。而且，我們揭示了其潛在的調控機理。通過microRNA基因芯片，我們結合并對比來自膀胱腫瘤病人和正常對照患者的9個尿液上清樣本，以及4對腫瘤組織及臨近正常黏膜上皮中microRNA的表達，初步篩選出10個異常的microRNA。然後我們使用定量RT-PCR的方法在另外獨立的18對腫瘤組織和正常黏膜中進一步驗證芯片結果。最後我們就6個被帥選出來的microRNA在71例的膀胱癌患者和正常對照組的尿液上清中進行檢測並評估其診斷效能。我們發現，miR-125b和miR-99a的表達在膀胱癌患者的尿液上清中明顯下調。另外，它們下調程度與腫瘤的病理分級相關。結合miR-125b和miR-99b兩者作為診斷膀胱癌的指標，靈敏度達86.7%，特異度達81.1%，同時有陽性預測值達91.8%。當作為腫瘤分級指標，miR-125b具有81.4%的敏感度，87.0%的特異度，陽性預測值達93.4%。膀胱腫瘤切除之後，和術前比較，兩個microRNA的表達水平再度上升。我們將miR-99轉染到三個膀胱腫瘤細胞株中（T24，UMUC3和J82）。我們發現miR-99a對UMUC3細胞具有輕微的抗增殖功能。同時，miR-99a在3個細胞株中顯示均顯示具有抗遷移和抗侵襲能力。為尋找miR-99a的目標mRNA，我們結合數據庫算法預測，在Western blot中驗證到miR-99a能顯著下調VLDLR蛋白。隨後我們將帶有VLDLR的3'UTR質粒轉染進入細胞中并證實VLDLR mRNA是miR-99a直接作用的目標。另外，當VLDLR siRNA被轉入3個細胞株之後，我們觀察到相似的抗遷移和抗侵襲的現象。最後我們發現N-cadherin是該通路中的下游抑制遷移和侵襲的分子。本項研究證實研究尿液上清中的microRNA是可行的。MiR-125b和miR-99a是膀胱腫瘤的診斷和分級的有效指標。此外，miR-99a能夠通過和VLDLR mRNA直接結合從而抑制膀胱腫瘤遷移和侵襲功能。 / Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) is the second most common malignancy in the urological system with high recurrence rate. Current gold standard examination for diagnosis is urethrocystoscopy, which is an invasive procedure. Although numerous molecular markers in blood or urine have been proposed as diagnostic biomarkers for bladder cancer, none of them could replace urethrocystoscopy in clinical practice. There are accumulating evidences suggesting microRNA dysregulation might be related to the pathogenesis of UCB. However, the exact functions of these microRNAs in UCB remain unknown. In this thesis, the role of selected microRNAs in urine supernatant was investigated in the diagnosis of UCB and also the carcinogenesis of UCB. / In brief, a high-throughput microarray was carried out on nine supernatants of urine from UCB and normal subjects, and also four pairs of tissue from UCB and normal mucosa. Ten microRNA candidates were then identified. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate these microRNAs on a set of 18 pairs of tumor tissue and normal mucosa. Eventually, six potential candidate microRNAs were selected and then validated as diagnostic tools on the samples of urine supernatants from 71 patients (50 of known UCB and 21 of normal subjects). The expression levels of these selected microRNAs were further evaluated in the urine supernatants of 20 patients after tumors resections. MiR-125b and miR-99a were the two most significantly down-regulated microRNAs in the urine supernatants of patients with UCB. Moreover, the degree of down-regulation was associated with the pathological grade of the tumor. A combined index of miR-125b and miR-99a in urine supernatant had a sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of 81.1%, and a positive predicted value of 91.8% for diagnosing UCB. When used to discriminate high-grade from low-grade UCB, miR-125b alone had a sensitivity of 81.4%, specificity of 87.0% and PPV of 93.4%. After transurethral resections, the expression levels of both microRNAs were significantly increased compared to pre-operative levels. / In further studies on the role of microRNAs on the development of UCB, miR-99a was selected for further studies. The precursor of miR-99a was temporally transfected into 3 bladder cancer cell lines: T24, UMUC3 and J82. The proliferation ability was noticed to be suppressed mildly in UMUC3, but not the other. Meanwhile, migration and invasion abilities were inhibited by miR-99a in the all 3 cell lines. Potential targets of miR-99a were predicted from several prediction databases. Subsequently, in Western Blot study, the protein level of very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) was showed to be down-regulated by miR-99a. Thereafter, a plasmid constructed with 3’UTR of VLDLR was transfected into cytoplasm, which confirmed VLDLR mRNA was a direct target of miR-99a. All 3 cells lines showed the same effect on suppression of migration and invasion after knockdown of VLDLR. N-cadherin was identified as a down-stream molecule responsible for the migration and invasion suppression in this pathway. / This study confirmed microRNA expression in urine supernatants was a feasible approach for the assessment of biomarkers, and miR-125b and miR-99a showed promising results in the diagnosis and grading of UCB. Furthermore, we showed that miR-99a suppressed tumor migration and invasion by directly targeting VLDLR. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Zhang, Dingzuan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-131). / Abstract and appendix also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.I / 摘要 --- p.III / Acknowledgments --- p.V / Abbreviations --- p.VII / List of figures --- p.IX / List of Tables --- p.XI / Content --- p.XII / Chapter Chapter I: --- General Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Bladder cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- The incidence of bladder cancer / Chapter 1.1.2 --- The burden of bladder cancer to the health care system / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Risk factors for bladder cancer / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Pathology grading system in bladder cancer / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Current diagnostic methods and treatment for bladder cancer / Chapter 1.2 --- Biomarkers for bladder cancer --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- The advantages of biomarkers in blood and urine for the diagnosis of bladder cancer / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Biomarkers in blood for bladder cancer / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Biomarkers in the urine for bladder cancer / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Current concerning problems with biomarkers / Chapter 1.3 --- MicroRNAs and bladder cancer --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Post-trancriptional function of microRNAs / Chapter 1.3.2 --- The function of microRNAs in tumor / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Prospects of detecting microRNA in cell-free fluid in tumor / Chapter 1.4 --- MicroRNA target identification --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Prediction of microRNA target / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Validation of microRNA target / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Validation of direct interaction between microRNA and target RNA / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Validation of direct binding of microRNA and mRNA in vivo / Chapter 1.5 --- Migration and invasion of bladder cancer --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- The biological process of migration in bladder cancer / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Epithelial to mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives of this study --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter II --- MicroRNAs in urine supernatant: potential useful markers for bladder cancer screening / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Ethics Statement / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Patients and samples / Chapter 2.2.3 --- RNA extraction / Chapter 2.2.4 --- MicroRNA microarray / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Statistical methods / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- MicroRNA screening by microRNA microarray / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Independent validation of the ten selected microRNAs by qRT-PCR on tissue / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Verification of the six validated microRNAs in urine supernatants as tumor markers / Chapter 2.3.4 --- MiR-125b and miR-99a in urine supernatants were useful for the diagnosis of bladder cancer / Chapter 2. --- 3.5 MiR-125b and miR-99a were two highly correlated microRNAs / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Expression levels of miR-125b and miR-99a increased after tumor resection / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter III: --- MiR-99a suppresses migration and invasion in bladder cancer by targeting VLDLR / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Human tissue samples and bladder cancer cell lines / Chapter 3.2.2 --- RNA extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction / Chapter 3.2.3 --- MicroRNA and plasmid transfection / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Western Immunoblotting / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Agarose gel electrophoresis / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Luciferase assay / Chapter 3.2.7 --- MTT proliferation assay / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Apoptosis assay / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Cell cycle analysis / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Cell migration Assay / Chapter 3.1.11 --- Cell invasion assay: / Chapter 3.2.12 --- Statistical methods: / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- MiR-99a was significantly down-regulated in bladder cancer / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Precursor microRNA was successfully transfected into bladder cancer cell lines / Chapter 3.3.3 --- MiR-99a had little effect on cell proliferation / Chapter 3.3.4 --- MiR-99a had little effect on cell apoptosis and cell cycle / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Over-expression of miR-99a suppressed cell migration in bladder cancer / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Over-expression of miR-99a also suppressed invasion ability in bladder cancer / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Target prediction for miR-99a using 8 target prediction databases / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Protein level of VLDLR was down-regulated by miR-99a in bladder cancer / Chapter 3.3.9 --- VLDLR was a direct target of miR-99a / Chapter 3.3.10 --- VLDLR mRNA was not down-regulated correspondingly by miR-99a / Chapter 3.3.11 --- MiR-99a suppressed down-stream protein of VLDLR in Reelin pathway / Chapter 3.3.12 --- Knockdown of VLDLR also suppressed cell migration and invasion / Chapter 3.3.13 --- N-cadherin was the down-stream protein responsible for the suppression of migration and invasion in miR-99a/VLDLR pathway / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter Chapter IV: --- Conclusion and prospective --- p.101 / Appendix --- p.105 / Reference --- p.107

Yang, Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-244). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Awards and Presentations --- p.ii / Abstract in English --- p.iii / Abstract in Chinese --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xv / List of Figures --- p.xvii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xx / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Gliomas --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Oligodendroglial tumors (OTs) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Molecular pathology of gliomas --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Genetic alterations in OTs --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Prognostic and predictive factors in OTs --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Genetic alterations in GBM --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.3.4 --- Prognostic and predictive factors in GBM --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2 --- microRNA(miRNA) --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- miRNA biogenesis and function --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- miRNA involvement in cancer --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Dysregulation of miRNAs in human malignancies --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Function and potential application of miRNAs --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Role of miRNAs in glioma --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- miRNAs in OTs --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- miRNAs in GBM --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3 --- miR-137 --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Biology of miR-137 --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Role of miR-137 in carcinogenesis --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Deregulation of miR-137 in cancer --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Regulation of miR-137 expression in cancer --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Biological functions of miR-137 in cancer --- p.37 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Role of miR-137 in differentiation and neurogenesis --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- AIMS OF STUDY --- p.43 / Chapter CHARPTER 3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Tumor samples --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cell lines and culture conditions --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3 --- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4 --- Cell transfection --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Transfection of oligonucleotides --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Oligonucleotide preparation --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Optimization of transfection condition --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Cotransfection of plasmids and miRNA mimic --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Optimization of transfection condition --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Procedure of transfection --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5 --- Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- RNA extraction from frozen tissues and cell lines --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- qRT-PCR for miR-137 --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- qRT-PCR for CSE1L and ERBB4 transcripts --- p.57 / Chapter 3.6 --- 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and Trichostatin A (TSA) treatment --- p.61 / Chapter 3.7 --- Western blotting --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Preparation of cell lysate --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Measurement of protein concentration --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) --- p.63 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Electroblotting of proteins --- p.67 / Chapter 3.7.5 --- Immunoblotting --- p.67 / Chapter 3.8 --- Dual-luciferase reporter assay --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Construction of reporter plasmids --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1.1 --- Experimental outline --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1.2 --- PCR Amplification of MREs --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1.3 --- TA cloning --- p.71 / Chapter 3.8.1.4 --- Transformation --- p.72 / Chapter 3.8.1.5 --- Blue/white screening and validation of recombinants --- p.72 / Chapter 3.8.1.6 --- Subcloning of 3'UTR fragments into pMIR-reproter vector --- p.73 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Site-directed mutagenesis --- p.74 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Plasmid and miRNA mimic cotransfection --- p.76 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Determination of luciferase activity --- p.76 / Chapter 3.9 --- Functional assays : --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Cell growth and proliferation assay --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.1.1 --- "3-(4，5-Dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay" --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.1.2 --- Cell counting --- p.80 / Chapter 3.9.1.3 --- 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay --- p.80 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Apoptosis assay --- p.82 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Anchorage-independent growth assay --- p.82 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Wound healing assay --- p.83 / Chapter 3.9.5 --- Matrigel invasion assay --- p.84 / Chapter 3.9.6 --- Cell differentiation assay --- p.85 / Chapter 3.10 --- Immunohistochemical analysis --- p.86 / Chapter 3.10.1 --- H&E staining --- p.86 / Chapter 3.10.2 --- Detection of Ki-67 expression --- p.87 / Chapter 3.10.3 --- Detection of CSE1L expression --- p.87 / Chapter 3.10.4 --- Scoring methods --- p.88 / Chapter 3.11 --- Bioinformatic analysis --- p.90 / Chapter 3.12 --- Statistical analysis --- p.92 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- RESULTS --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1 --- Expression of miR-137 in glioma cells and clinical significance --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Description of 36 OT samples --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- miR-137 level in oligodendroglial tumors and glioma cells --- p.102 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- "Association of miR-137 expression with clinicopathological features, lp/19q status and Ki-67 expression" --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2 --- miR-137 levels in glioma cells after demethylation treatment --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3 --- Biological effects of miR-137 overexpression in glioma cells --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Cell growth --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Cell viability --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Cell number --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Cell cycle analysis : --- p.127 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Anchorage-independent cell growth --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Cell apoptosis --- p.134 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Cell motility --- p.136 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Cell differentiation : --- p.142 / Chapter 4.4 --- Identification of miR-137 targets --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- In silico prediction of potential miR-137 targets --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Experimental validation of miR-137 targets by dual-luciferase reporter assay --- p.147 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- "Expression of miR-137 candidate targets, CSE1L and ERBB4 in glioma cells" --- p.152 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Effects of miR-137 on CSE1L transcript and protein levels --- p.154 / Chapter 4.5 --- Expression of CSE1L in OTs --- p.156 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- CSE1L expression in OTs by qRT-PCR and IHC --- p.156 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Correlation of CSE1L expression with clinicopathological features --- p.165 / Chapter 4.6 --- Effects of CSE1L knockdown in glioma cells --- p.168 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Cell growth --- p.170 / Chapter 4.6.1.1 --- Cell viability --- p.170 / Chapter 4.6.1.2 --- Cell number --- p.173 / Chapter 4.6.1.3 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.176 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Anchorage-independent cell growth --- p.179 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Cell apoptosis --- p.182 / Chapter 4.6.4 --- Cell motility --- p.184 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.190 / Chapter 5.1 --- Expression of miR-137 transcript level in OTs and glioma cell lines --- p.190 / Chapter 5.2 --- Association of miR-137 expression with OT clinical and molecular parameters --- p.192 / Chapter 5.3 --- Prognostic significance of clinical features and miR-137 expression in OTs --- p.194 / Chapter 5.4 --- Inactivation mechanisms of miR-137 in glioma --- p.196 / Chapter 5.5 --- Biological effects of miR-137 overexpression in glioma cells --- p.198 / Chapter 5.6 --- CSE1L is a novel miR-137 target in glioma --- p.200 / Chapter 5.7 --- Expression of CSE1L in glioma --- p.203 / Chapter 5.8 --- Intracellular distribution of CSElL in OTs --- p.206 / Chapter 5.9 --- Correlation of CSE1L expression with clinicopathological and molecular features in OTs --- p.208 / Chapter 5.10 --- CSE1L mediates effects of miR-137 in glioma cells --- p.210 / Chapter 5.11 --- Biological roles of CSE1L in glioma cells 226}0Ø. --- p.212 / Chapter 5.11.1 --- CSE1L in glioma cell proliferation --- p.212 / Chapter 5.11.2 --- CSE1L in glioma cell apoptosis --- p.213 / Chapter 5.11.3 --- CSE1L in glioma cell invasion --- p.215 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.216 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- FUTURE STUDIES --- p.219 / Chapter 7.1 --- Expression Molecular mechanisms for miR-137 inactivation in glioma --- p.219 / Chapter 7.2 --- Identification of more miR-137 targets in glioma --- p.219 / Chapter 7.3 --- Role of miR-137 and CSE1L in drug-induced apoptosis in glioma --- p.220 / Chapter 7.4 --- Deciphering dysregulated and clinical relevant miRNAs in glioma --- p.220 / Chapter 7.5 --- Effects of miR-137 in vivo and the therapeutic potential in glioma treatment --- p.221 / REFERENCES --- p.222