MicroRNA and Hemophilia-A Disease: Bioinformatics Prediction and Experimental Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Hemophilia-A is a common genetic abnormality resulted from decreased or lack of factor VIII (FVIII) pro-coagulant protein function caused by mutations in the F8 gene. Majority of molecular studies consider screening of mutations and their relevant impacts on the quality and expression levels of FVIII. Interestingly, some of the functions in FVIII suggest a probable involvement of small non-coding RNAs embedded within the sequence of F8 gene. Therefore, microRNAs which are encoded within the F8 gene might have a role in hemophilia development. In this study, miRNAs production in the F8 gene was investigated by bioinformatics prediction and experimental validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study that approved by Research Assistant, University of Isfahan, bioinformatics tools have been utilized to seek the novel microRNAs inserted within human F8 gene. The ability to express new microRNAs in F8 locus was studied through reliable bioinformatics databases such as SSCProfiler, RNA fold, miREval, miR-FIND, UCSC genome browser and miRBase. Then, expression and processing of the predicted microRNAs were examined based on bioinformatics methods, in the HEK293 cell lines. RESULTS: We are unable to confirm existence of the considered mature microRNAs in the transfected cells. CONCLUSION: We hope that through changing experimental conditions, designing new primers or altering cell lines as well as the expression of vectors, exogenous and endogenous expressions of the predicted miRNA will be confirmed.