ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the microRNA profile changes in the development of NKT cells.Methods: Differently developmental stage of NKT cells in mouse thymus were sorted by flow cytometry.Total RNA were extracted,reversely transcribed and pre-amplified.TaqMan low density microRNA assay and single real-time PCR were applied to detect the expression changes of microRNAs in the developmental process of NKT cells.Results: There were total 92 microRNAs whose expression changed significantly during the development and maturation of NKT cells.Among them,increasly expressed microRNAs were 71,including 36 microRNAs whose expression continuously increased;decreasly expressed microRNAs were 21,including 12 microRNAs whose expression continuously decreased.In addition,single real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of Let-7f,miR-150,miR-24,miR-29 increased,while the expression of miR-223 and miR-155 decreased during the development and maturation of NKT cells.Conclusion: NKT development and maturation is accompanied by expression changes of large amount of microRNAs,indicating that specific microRNA regulates NKT development and function.