mRNA profiling of human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem (hMADS) cells transfected with miR-29a and subjected to adipocyte differentiation

The human microRNA hsa-miR-29a is a member of the miR-29 family of microRNAs, which is expressed in the adipogenic lineage. To identify putative direct target mRNAs of the miR-29 family, and to get an idea about potential functions of the miR-29 family in adipocyte development, we transfected human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem (hMADS) cells with miR-29a mimics (leading to elevation of intracellular levels of mature miR-29a). Subsequently, gene expression profiling was performed for hMADS cells at day 0 (48 h after transfection) and at day 3, i.e. 3 days after adipocyte differentiation was induced by a chemically defined medium. Two-condition experiment, hMADS cells transfected either with miR-29a mimics or a control (non-targeting) miRNA mimic (miR-C). Separate analysis of two distinct time points after transfection: day 0 (i.e. 48 h after transfection; 4 biological replicates); day 3 after induction of adipocyte differentiation (3 biological replicates). Biological replicates were indepently grown, transfected and harvested. On each array, one biological replicate of miR-29a-transfected cells was directly compared to the corresponding miR-C-transfected cells (serving as reference sample). All hybridizations were repeated with reversed dye assignment (dye-swap) as technical replicates.