Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Monitoring the Mechanical Evolution of Tissue During Neural Tube Closure of Chick Embryo
Published on: November 10, 2023
Embryonic ectoderm development protein is regulated by microRNAs in human neural tube defects
Pei-Pei Song1, Yi Hu, Chun-Mei Liu
1Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to investigate the expression and regulation of polycomb group (PcG) proteins in human neural tube defects (NTDs).
Study Design:
PcG proteins in human NTD fetuses and age-matched controls were detected by Western blot. The relation between PcG proteins and microribonucleic acids was predicted and confirmed by the bioinformatics method, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), dual-luciferase activity assay, and Western blot. The trimethyl condition of histone H3 Lys27 (H3K27) was detected by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence.
Results:
Embryonic ectoderm development protein (EED) was differentially detected in placenta, cerebral cortex, and spinal cord from NTDs and age-matched controls. MiR-30b can interact with 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of Eed and regulate endogenous EED expression in neural tissues. In addition, we found an inverse relationship between the miR-30b expression and the amount of trimethyl H3K27.
Conclusion:
Differential expression of EED exists in the nerves system in human NTDs and that is regulated by miR-30b.
