MicroRNA Profiles and Differential Expression in Normal Skin Samples from the Uyghur and Han Populations in Xinjiang. Homo sapiens

This study investigated the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in normal skin samples from the Uyghur and Han populations in Xinjiang and analyzed the miRNA expression differences between the two populations. The 7th generation miRCURYTM LNA Array kit (containing 3100 probes) was used to detect the miRNA expression in 10 Uyghur and 10 Han normal skin samples and to compare the miRNA expression differences between the two populations. A total of 2041 miRNAs were present in normal Uyghur and Han skin samples. In particular, 2039 miRNAs were present in normal Uyghur skin, of which 295 miRNAs were expressed more than 2.0-fold and 1461 miRNAs were expressed less than 0.5-fold of the average value. Moreover, 2041 miRNAs were expressed in normal Han skin, of which 279 miRNAs were expressed more than 2.0-fold and 1414 miRNAs were expressed less than 0.5-fold of the average value. Considering both populations together, 228 miRNAs were expressed more than 2.0-fold and 1353 miRNAs were expressed less than 0.5-fold of the average value. In the Han population, 76 miRNAs were upregulated and 171 miRNAs were downregulated compared with the Uyghur population (p =30 in all samples were chosen for calculating normalization factor. Expressed data were normalized using the Median normalization. After normalization, significant differentially expressed miRNAs were identified through Volcano Plot filtering. Finally, hierarchical clustering was performed to show distinguishable miRNA expression profiling among samples.