MicroRNA expression profiling of the developing murine molar tooth germ and the developing murine submandibular salivary gland

Using microarrays, miRNA expression profiles have been established at selected times during development (E15.5, P0 and P5) of the murine first molar mandibular tooth germ and the right submandibular salivary gland (E15.5, P0, P5 and P25). Microarray data was validated using real-time PCR, also facilitating RT-PCR profiling of nine selected miRNAs. In general, good agreement between microarray data and real-time PCR data was found. Further, miRNA expression profiles of foetal and adult liver were also investigated, and found to agree with published data. In tooth germ and salivary gland up to 88 different miRNAs were detected. In all tissues examined miRNA expression was highly dynamic; miRNA profiles changing extensively with time of development. Additionally, the expression of some miRNAs was tissue-specific. Bioinformatic analysis of clusters of miRNAs was attempted using the miRGate software, the results suggesting miRNAs to be involved in the regulation of essential developmental processes, e.g., epithelical cell proliferation, mesodermal cell fate determination and salivary gland morphogenesis.