Circulating microRNAs: Biomarkers of disease

Sensitive Multiplexed MicroRNA Spatial Profiling and Data Classification Framework Applied to Murine Breast Tumors

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that are often dysregulated in many diseases, including cancers. They are highly tissue-specific and stable, thus, making them particularly useful as biomarkers. As the spatial transcriptomics field advances, protocols that enable highly sensitive and spatially resolved detection become necessary to maximize the information gained from samples. This is especially true of miRNAs where the location their expression within tissue can provide prognostic value with regard to patient outcome. Equally as important as detection are ways to assess and visualize the miRNA's spatial information in order to leverage the power of spatial transcriptomics over that of traditional nonspatial bulk assays. We present a highly sensitive methodology that simultaneously quantitates and spatially detects seven miRNAs in situ on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. This method utilizes rolling circle amplification (RCA) in conjunction with a dual scanning approach in nanoliter well arrays with embedded hydrogel posts. The hydrogel posts are functionalized with DNA probes that enable the detection of miRNAs across a large dynamic range (4 orders of magnitude) and a limit of detection of 0.17 zeptomoles (1.7 × 10-4 attomoles). We applied our methodology coupled with a data analysis pipeline to K14-Cre Brca1f/fTp53f/f murine breast tumors to showcase the information gained from this approach.

Extracellular Proteomic Profiling from the Erythrocytes Infected with Plasmodium Falciparum 3D7 Holds Promise for the Detection of Biomarkers

Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), which causes the most severe form of malaria, if left untreated, has 24 h window in which it can cause severe illness and even death. The aim of this study was to create the most comprehensive and informative secretory-proteome possible by combining high-accuracy and high-sensitivity protein identification technology. In this study, we used Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (Pf3D7) as the model parasite to develop a label-free quantification proteomic strategy with the main goal of identifying Pf3D7 proteins that are supposed to be secreted outside the infected erythrocytes in the spent media culture during the in-vitro study. The spent culture media supernatant was subjected to differential and ultra-centrifugation steps followed by total protein extraction, estimation, and in-solution digestion using trypsin, digested peptides were analyzed using Nano-LC coupled with ESI for MS/MS. MS/MS spectra were processed using Maxquant software (v2.1.4.0.). Non-infected erythrocytes incubated spent cultured media supernatant were considered as control. Out of discovered 38 proteins, proteins belonging to P. falciparum spp. were EGF-like protein (C0H544), Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone GRP170 (C0H5H0), Small GTP-binding protein sar1 (Q8I1S0), Erythrocyte membrane protein 1, PfEMP1 (Q8I639), aldehyde reductase (Q8ID61), Conserved Plasmodium proteins (Q8IEH3, Q8ILD1), Antigen 332, DBL-like protein (Q8IHN4), Fe-S cluster assembly protein (Q8II78), identified and chosen for further in-depth investigation. This study highlights the value of secretory Plasmodium proteins play crucial roles in various aspects of the disease progression and host-pathogen interactions which can serve as diagnostic markers for malaria infection.

Specificity protein 1/3 regulate T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell proliferation and apoptosis through β-catenin by acting as targets of miR-495-3p

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a hematologic heterogeneous disease. This study explored the mechanism of specificity protein 1/3 (Sp1/3) in T-ALL cells through β-catenin by acting as targets of miR-495-3p. Expression levels of miR-495-3p, Sp1, Sp3, and β-catenin in the serum from T-ALL children patients, healthy controls, and the T-ALL cell lines were measured. The cell proliferation ability and apoptosis rate were detected. Levels of proliferation-related proteins proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)/cyclinD1 and apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) were determined. The binding of Sp1/3 and β-catenin promoter and the targeted relationship between miR-495-3p with Sp1/3 were analyzed. Sp1/3 were upregulated in CD4+ T-cells in T-ALL and were linked with leukocyte count and risk classification. Sp1/3 interference prevented proliferation and promoted apoptosis in T-ALL cells. Sp1/3 transcription factors activated β-catenin expression. Sp1/3 enhanced T-ALL cell proliferation by facilitating β-catenin expression. miR-495-3p targeted and repressed Sp1/3 expressions. miR-495-3p overexpression inhibited T-ALL cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Conjointly, Sp1/3, as targets of miR-495-3p limit apoptosis and promote proliferation in T-ALL cells by promoting β-catenin expression.

Peripheral whole blood microRNA expression in relation to vascular function: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

As key regulators of gene expression, microRNAs affect many cardiovascular mechanisms and have been associated with several cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation of whole blood microRNAs with several quantitative measurements of vascular function, and explore their biological role through an integrative microRNA-gene expression analysis.

METHODS

Peripheral whole blood microRNA expression was assessed through RNA-Seq in 2606 participants (45.8% men, mean age: 53.93, age range: 30 to 95 years) from the Rhineland Study, an ongoing population-based cohort study in Bonn, Germany. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to cluster microRNAs with highly correlated expression levels into 14 modules. Through linear regression models, we investigated the association between each module's expression and quantitative markers of vascular health, including pulse wave velocity, total arterial compliance index, cardiac index, stroke index, systemic vascular resistance index, reactive skin hyperemia and white matter hyperintensity burden. For each module associated with at least one trait, one or more hub-microRNAs driving the association were defined. Hub-microRNAs were further characterized through mapping to putative target genes followed by gene ontology pathway analysis.

RESULTS

Four modules, represented by hub-microRNAs miR-320 family, miR-378 family, miR-3605-3p, miR-6747-3p, miR-6786-3p, and miR-330-5p, were associated with total arterial compliance index. Importantly, the miR-320 family module was also associated with white matter hyperintensity burden, an effect partially mediated through arterial compliance. Furthermore, hub-microRNA miR-192-5p was related to cardiac index. Functional analysis corroborated the relevance of the identified microRNAs for vascular function by revealing, among others, enrichment for pathways involved in blood vessel morphogenesis and development, angiogenesis, telomere organization and maintenance, and insulin secretion.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified several microRNAs robustly associated with cardiovascular function, especially arterial compliance and cardiac output. Moreover, our results highlight miR-320 as a regulator of cerebrovascular damage, partly through modulation of vascular function. As many of these microRNAs were involved in biological processes related to vasculature development and aging, our results contribute to the understanding of vascular physiology and provide putative targets for cardiovascular disease prevention.

miR-485-3p targets SIRT1 in vascular smooth muscle cells mediating the occurrence of aortic dissection

Studies have demonstrated a close correlation between MicroRNA and the occurrence of aortic dissection (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship have not been fully elucidated and further exploration is still required. In this study, we found that miR-485-3p was significantly upregulated in human aortic dissection tissues. Meanwhile, we constructed in vitro AD models in HAVSMCs, HAECs and HAFs and found that the expression of miR-485-3p was increased only in HAVSMCs. Overexpression or knockdown of miR-485-3p in HAVSMCs could regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL1β, IL6, TNF-α, and NLRP3, as well as the expression of apoptosis-related proteins BAX/BCL2 and Cleaved caspase3/Caspase3. In the in vivo AD model, we have observed that miR-485-3p regulates vascular inflammation and apoptosis, thereby participating in the modulation of AD development in mice. Based on target gene prediction, we have validated that SIRT1 is a downstream target gene of miR-485-3p. Furthermore, by administering SIRT1 agonists and inhibitors to mice, we observed that the activation of SIRT1 alleviates vascular inflammation and apoptosis, subsequently reducing the incidence of AD. Additionally, functional reversal experiments revealed that overexpression of SIRT1 in HAVSMCs could reverse the cell inflammation and apoptosis mediated by miR-485-3p. Therefore, our research suggests that miR-485-3p can aggravate inflammation and apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells by suppressing the expression of SIRT1, thereby promoting the progression of aortic dissection.

Diagnostic Value and Molecular Function of MicroRNAs in Endometrial Diseases: A Systematic Review

The human endometrium experiences significant cyclic morphological and biochemical changes throughout the menstrual cycle to prepare for embryo implantation. These processes are meticulously regulated by ovarian steroids and various locally expressed genes, encompassing inflammatory reactions, apoptosis, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, differentiation (tissue formation), and tissue remodeling. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized as crucial regulators of gene expression, with their altered expression being linked to the onset and progression of various disorders, including cancer. This review examines the expression of miRNAs in the endometrium and their potential regulatory roles under pathological conditions such as endometriosis, recurrent implantation failure and endometrial cancer. Given miRNAs' critical role in maintaining gene expression stability, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of endometrial miRNAs and identifying their specific target genes could pave the way for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting specific genes associated with these reproductive disorders.

Space radiation damage rescued by inhibition of key spaceflight associated miRNAs

Our previous research revealed a key microRNA signature that is associated with spaceflight that can be used as a biomarker and to develop countermeasure treatments to mitigate the damage caused by space radiation. Here, we expand on this work to determine the biological factors rescued by the countermeasure treatment. We performed RNA-sequencing and transcriptomic analysis on 3D microvessel cell cultures exposed to simulated deep space radiation (0.5 Gy of Galactic Cosmic Radiation) with and without the antagonists to three microRNAs: miR-16-5p, miR-125b-5p, and let-7a-5p (i.e., antagomirs). Significant reduction of inflammation and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) activity and rescue of mitochondria functions are observed after antagomir treatment. Using data from astronaut participants in the NASA Twin Study, Inspiration4, and JAXA missions, we reveal the genes and pathways implicated in the action of these antagomirs are altered in humans. Our findings indicate a countermeasure strategy that can potentially be utilized by astronauts in spaceflight missions to mitigate space radiation damage.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of circulating serum and plasma microRNAs in TB diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) ranks as the second leading cause of death globally among all infectious diseases. This problem is likely due to the lack of biomarkers to differentiate the heterogeneous spectrum of infection. Therefore, the first step in solving this problem is to identify biomarkers to distinguish the different disease states of an individual and treat them accordingly. Circulating microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers are promising candidates for various diseases. In fact, we are yet to conceptualize how miRNA expression influences and predicts TB disease outcomes. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of circulating miRNAs in Latent TB (LTB) and Active Pulmonary TB (PTB).

METHODS

Literature published between 2012 and 2021 was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar. Articles were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and their quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Funnel plots and forest plots were generated to assess the likelihood of study bias and heterogeneity, respectively.

RESULTS

After the screening process, seven articles were selected for qualitative analysis. The study groups, which consisted of Healthy Control (HC) vs. TB and LTB vs. TB, exhibited an overall sensitivity of 81.9% (95% CI: 74.2, 87.7) and specificity of 68.3% (95% CI: 57.8, 77.2), respectively. However, our meta-analysis results highlighted two potentially valuable miRNA candidates, miR-197 and miR-144, for discriminating TB from HC. The miRNA signature model (miR197-3p, miR-let-7e-5p, and miR-223-3p) has also been shown to diagnose DR-TB with a sensitivity of 100%, but with a compromised specificity of only 75%.

CONCLUSION

miRNA biomarkers show a promising future for TB diagnostics. Further multicentre studies without biases are required to identify clinically valid biomarkers for different states of the TB disease spectrum.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42022302729).

Integrated analysis of diverse cancer types reveals a breast cancer-specific serum miRNA biomarker through relative expression orderings analysis

PURPOSE

Serum microRNA (miRNA) holds great potential as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing breast cancer (BrC). However, most diagnostic models rely on the absolute expression levels of miRNAs, which are susceptible to batch effects and challenging for clinical transformation. Furthermore, current studies on liquid biopsy diagnostic biomarkers for BrC mainly focus on distinguishing BrC patients from healthy controls, needing more specificity assessment.

METHODS

We collected a large number of miRNA expression data involving 8465 samples from GEO, including 13 different cancer types and non-cancer controls. Based on the relative expression orderings (REOs) of miRNAs within each sample, we applied the greedy, LASSO multiple linear regression, and random forest algorithms to identify a qualitative biomarker specific to BrC by comparing BrC samples to samples of other cancers as controls.

RESULTS

We developed a BrC-specific biomarker called 7-miRPairs, consisting of seven miRNA pairs. It demonstrated comparable classification performance in our analyzed machine learning algorithms while requiring fewer miRNA pairs, accurately distinguishing BrC from 12 other cancer types. The diagnostic performance of 7-miRPairs was favorable in the training set (accuracy = 98.47%, specificity = 98.14%, sensitivity = 99.25%), and similar results were obtained in the test set (accuracy = 97.22%, specificity = 96.87%, sensitivity = 98.02%). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the 11 miRNAs within the 7-miRPairs revealed significant enrichment of target mRNAs in pathways associated with BrC.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides evidence that utilizing serum miRNA pairs can offer significant advantages for BrC-specific diagnosis in clinical practice by directly comparing serum samples with BrC to other cancer types.

KNOCKDOWN OF CIRC_0114428 ALLEVIATES LPS-INDUCED HK2 CELL APOPTOSIS AND INFLAMMATION INJURY VIA TARGETING MIR-215-5P/TRAF6/NF-ΚB AXIS IN SEPTIC ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY

ABSTRACT

Background: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disease that can cause multiple organ damage. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to play a regulatory role in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI); however, the role of circ_0114428 has not been studied. Methods: In this study, HK2 cells were treated with different concentrations of LPS to induce cell damage, and then the expressions of circ_0114428, microRNA-215-5p (miR-215-5p), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot examined the Bax and cleaved-Caspase-3 proteins. Cell proliferation was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. In addition, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: After LPS treatment with different concentrations, we found that LPS at 10 μg/mL had the best effect on HK2 cells. Circ_0114428 was highly expressed in sepsis-AKI patients and LPS-treated HK2 cells. Knockdown of circ_0114428 restored the effects of LPS treatment on proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of HK2 cells. MiR-215-5p was a target of circ_0114428, and TRAF6 was a downstream target of miR-215-5p. Circ_0114428 regulated TRAF6 expression by sponging miR-215-5p in LPS-treated HK2 cells. Circ_0114428 regulated LPS-induced NF-κB signaling in HK2 cells by targeting miR-215-5p/TRAF6 axis. Conclusion: Circ_0114428 knockdown abolished the cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory damage in LPS-induced HK2 cells by targeting miR-215-5p/TRAF6/NF-κB.

Identification and Potential Roles of Human MicroRNAs in Ebola Virus Infection and Disease Pathogenesis

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly pathogenic virus that causes a severe illness called Ebola virus disease (EVD). EVD has a high mortality rate and remains a significant threat to public health. Research on EVD pathogenesis has traditionally focused on host transcriptional responses. Limited recent studies, however, have revealed some information on the significance of cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) in EBOV infection and pathogenic mechanisms, but further studies are needed. Thus, this study aimed to identify and validate additional known and novel human miRNAs in EBOV-infected adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE) cells and predict their potential roles in EBOV infection and pathogenic mechanisms. We analyzed previously available small RNA-Seq data obtained from ARPE cells and identified 23 upregulated and seven downregulated miRNAs in the EBOV-infected cells; these included two novel miRNAs and 17 additional known miRNAs not previously identified in ARPE cells. In addition to pathways previously identified by others, these miRNAs are associated with pathways and biological processes that include WNT, FoxO, and phosphatidylinositol signaling; these pathways were not identified in the original study. This study thus confirms and expands on the previous study using the same datasets and demonstrates further the importance of human miRNAs in the host response and EVD pathogenesis during infection.

MicroRNA expression profiling of urine exosomes in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection can damage the central nervous system in infants; however, its prognosis cannot be predicted from clinical evaluations at the time of birth. Urinary exosomes can be used to analyze neuronal damage in neuronal diseases. To investigate the extent of neuronal damage in patients with cCMV, exosomal miRNA expression in the urine was investigated in cCMV-infected infants and controls. Microarray analysis of miRNA was performed in a cohort of 30 infants, including 11 symptomatic cCMV (ScCMV), 7 asymptomatic cCMV (AScCMV), and one late-onset ScCMV cases, and 11 healthy controls (HC). Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed the distinct expression profile of ScCMV. The patient with late-onset ScCMV was grouped into the ScCMV cluster. Pathway enrichment analysis of the target mRNAs differed significantly between the ScCMV and HC groups; this analysis also revealed that pathways related to brain development were linked to upregulated pathways. Six miRNAs that significantly different between groups (ScCMV vs. HC and ScCMV vs. AScCMV) were selected for digital PCR in another cohort for further validation. Although these six miRNAs seemed insufficient for predicting ScCMV, expression profiles of urine exosomal miRNAs can reveal neurological damage in patients with ScCMV compared to those with AcCMV or healthy infants.

MicroRNAs in chronic pediatric diseases (Review)

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with a length of 20-24 nucleotides. They bind to the 3'-untranslated region of target genes to induce the degradation of target mRNAs or inhibit their translation. Therefore, they are involved in the regulation of development, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation and other biological processes (including hormone secretion, signaling and viral infections). Chronic diseases in children may be difficult to treat and are often associated with malnutrition resulting from a poor diet. Consequently, further complications, disease aggravation and increased treatment costs impose a burden on patients and their families. Existing evidence suggests that microRNAs are involved in various chronic non-neoplastic diseases in children. The present review discusses the roles of microRNAs in five major chronic diseases in children, namely, diabetes mellitus, congenital heart diseases, liver diseases, bronchial asthma and epilepsy, providing a theoretical basis for them to become therapeutic biomarkers in chronic pediatric diseases.

Expression and clinical significance of miR-8078 in patients with congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyze the plasma levels of miR-8078 in patients with congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CHD-PAH) and to explore the diagnostic value and potential mechanisms of miR-8078 in CHD-PAH.

METHODS

Plasma samples were collected from 110 patients with congenital heart disease. Subsequently, based on the mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm) measured via right heart catheterization, the patients were divided into three groups: no-PAH group (Group W, PAPm < 25 mmHg), mild group (Group M, 25 mmHg ≤ PAPm < 35 mmHg), and moderate-to-severe group (Group H, PAPm ≥ 35 mmHg). The study also involved a control group (Group C) comprised of 40 healthy individuals. The miR-8078 expression levels were determined by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The target genes and biological functions of miR-8078 were predicted using TargetScan, PicTar, and miRDB software. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between miR-8078 and hemodynamic parameters in CHD-PAH, in addition to its diagnostic value.

RESULTS

The plasma miR-8078 expression levels were significantly higher in the moderate-to-severe group when compared with the control group, no-PAH group, and mild group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mild group and no-PAH group showed significantly higher miR-8078 expression levels when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Both results were consistent with the high-throughput sequencing results. KEGG pathway analysis of the miR-8078 target genes revealed associations with morphine addiction, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and parathyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. GO enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of miR-8078 in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, the positive regulation of stress-activated MAPK cascade, the transmembrane transport of CI- and K+ ions, chromatin organization, and atrioventricular valve morphogenesis. Correlation analysis showed that the miR-8078 expression levels were positively correlated with the pulmonary artery systolic pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance (correlation coefficients of 0.404, 0.397, and 0.283, respectively; all p < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed plasma miR-8078 (odds ratio: 1.475, 95 % confidence interval: 1.053-2.065, p < 0.05) to be an independent risk factor for CHD-PAH. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for miR-8078 alone and for B-type natriuretic peptide alone in diagnosing CHD-PAH was 0.686 and 0.851, respectively, while the AUC for a combined diagnosis was 0.874, which was higher than that associated with the individual diagnoses (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that miR-8078 is upregulated in CHD-PAH, while the results of the bioinformatics analysis indicate its involvement in the pathogenesis of CHD-PAH, suggesting it to be a potential therapeutic target or biomarker.

Exploring the Therapeutic Significance of microRNAs and lncRNAs in Kidney Diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two crucial classes of transcripts that belong to the major group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These RNA molecules have significant influence over diverse molecular processes due to their crucial role as regulators of gene expression. However, the dysregulated expression of these ncRNAs constitutes a fundamental factor in the etiology and progression of a wide variety of multifaceted human diseases, including kidney diseases. In this context, over the past years, compelling evidence has shown that miRNAs and lncRNAs could be prospective targets for the development of next-generation drugs against kidney diseases as they participate in a number of disease-associated processes, such as podocyte and nephron death, renal fibrosis, inflammation, transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease, renal vascular changes, sepsis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis. Hence, in this current review, we critically analyze the recent findings concerning the therapeutic inferences of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the pathophysiological context of kidney diseases. Additionally, with the aim of driving advances in the formulation of ncRNA-based drugs tailored for the management of kidney diseases, we discuss some of the key challenges and future prospects that should be addressed in forthcoming investigations.

Sickle Cell Disease Update: New Treatments and Challenging Nutritional Interventions

Sickle cell disease (SCD), a distinctive and often overlooked illness in the 21st century, is a congenital blood disorder characterized by considerable phenotypic diversity. It comprises a group of disorders, with sickle cell anemia (SCA) being the most prevalent and serious genotype. Although there have been some systematic reviews of global data, worldwide statistics regarding SCD prevalence, morbidity, and mortality remain scarce. In developed countries with a lower number of sickle cell patients, cutting-edge technologies have led to the development of new treatments. However, in developing settings where sickle cell disease (SCD) is more prevalent, medical management, rather than a cure, still relies on the use of hydroxyurea, blood transfusions, and analgesics. This is a disease that affects red blood cells, consequently affecting most organs in diverse manners. We discuss its etiology and the advent of new technologies, but the aim of this study is to understand the various types of nutrition-related studies involving individuals suffering from SCD, particularly in Africa. The interplay of the environment, food, gut microbiota, along with their respective genomes collectively known as the gut microbiome, and host metabolism is responsible for mediating host metabolic phenotypes and modulating gut microbiota. In addition, it serves the purpose of providing essential nutrients. Moreover, it engages in direct interactions with host homeostasis and the immune system, as well as indirect interactions via metabolites. Nutrition interventions and nutritional care are mechanisms for addressing increased nutrient expenditures and are important aspects of supportive management for patients with SCD. Underprivileged areas in Sub-Saharan Africa should be accompanied by efforts to define and promote of the nutritional aspects of SCD. Their importance is key to maintaining well-being and quality of life, especially because new technologies and products remain limited, while the use of native medicinal plant resources is acknowledged.

The Role of microRNA in Spermatogenesis: Is There a Place for Fertility Preservation Innovation?

Oncological treatments have dramatically improved over the last decade, and as a result, survival rates for cancer patients have also improved. Quality of life, including concerns about fertility, has become a major focus for both oncologists and patients. While oncologic treatments are often highly effective at suppressing neoplastic growth, they are frequently associated with severe gonadotoxicity, leading to infertility. For male patients, the therapeutic option to preserve fertility is semen cryopreservation. In prepubertal patients, immature testicular tissue can be sampled and stored to allow post-cure transplantation of the tissue, immature germ cells, or in vitro spermatogenesis. However, experimental techniques have not yet been proven effective for restoring sperm production for these patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising molecular markers and therapeutic tools in various diseases. These small regulatory RNAs possess the unique characteristic of having multiple gene targets. MiRNA-based therapeutics can, therefore, be used to modulate the expression of different genes involved in signaling pathways dysregulated by changes in the physiological environment (disease, temperature, ex vivo culture, pharmacological agents). This review discusses the possible role of miRNA as an innovative treatment option in male fertility preservation-restoration strategies and describes the diverse applications where these new therapeutic tools could serve as fertility protection agents.

Exploration of the Pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Caused by Smoking-Based on Bioinformatics Analysis and In Vitro Experimental Evidence

This study was aimed at investigating the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by smoking-based on bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experimental evidence. The GEO, GEO2R, TargetScan, miRDB, miRWalk, DAVID, and STRING databases were used for bioinformatics analysis. The mRNA expression and the protein levels were determined by real-time PCR and ELISA. After taking the intersection of the diversified results of the databases, four differentially expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-146a, hsa-miR-708, hsa-miR-150, and hsa-miR-454) were screened out. Subsequently, a total of 57 target genes of the selected miRNAs were obtained. The results of DAVID analysis showed that the selected miRNAs participated in COPD pathogenesis through long-term potentiation, the TGF-β signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. The results of STRING prediction showed that TP53, EP300, and MAPK1 were the key nodes of the PPI network. The results of the confirmatory experiment showed that, compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of ZEB1, MAPK1, EP300, and SP1 were up-regulated, while the expression of MYB was down-regulated and the protein levels of ZEB1, MAPK1, and EP300 were increased. Taken together, miRNAs (hsa-miR-146a, hsa-miR-708, hsa-miR-150, and hsa-miR-454) and their regulated target genes and downstream protein molecules (ZEB1, EP300, and MAPK1) may be closely related to the pathological process of COPD.

Hepatitis B Virus and microRNAs: A Bioinformatics Approach

In recent decades, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expression, and the identification of viral miRNAs (v-miRNAs) within some viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), has attracted significant attention. HBV infections often progress to chronic states (CHB) and may induce fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The presence of HBV can dysregulate host miRNA expression, influencing several biological pathways, such as apoptosis, innate and immune response, viral replication, and pathogenesis. Consequently, miRNAs are considered a promising biomarker for diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment response. The dynamics of miRNAs during HBV infection are multifaceted, influenced by host variability and miRNA interactions. Given the ability of miRNAs to target multiple messenger RNA (mRNA), understanding the viral-host (human) interplay is complex but essential to develop novel clinical applications. Therefore, bioinformatics can help to analyze, identify, and interpret a vast amount of miRNA data. This review explores the bioinformatics tools available for viral and host miRNA research. Moreover, we introduce a brief overview focusing on the role of miRNAs during HBV infection. In this way, this review aims to help the selection of the most appropriate bioinformatics tools based on requirements and research goals.

Visceral adipocyte size links obesity with dysmetabolism more than fibrosis, and both can be estimated by circulating miRNAs

OBJECTIVE

In obesity, adipocyte hypertrophy is detrimental to health, but its' interrelation with fibrosis in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) depot remains unclear. Because VAT is less accessible via biopsy, biomarkers for VAT quality are needed. The authors hypothesized that VAT adipocyte size and fibrosis are interrelated and can be estimated by circulating microRNAs (circ-miRNAs), contributing to subphenotyping obesity.

METHODS

Adipocyte size and AT fibrosis were estimated in n = 43 participants (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ). Circ-miRNAs were sequenced (Next Generation Sequencing).

RESULTS

Participants with above- versus below-median VAT adipocyte area exhibited metabolic dysfunction but lower total and pericellular fibrosis. VAT adipocyte size remained associated with metabolic dysfunction even when controlling for BMI or VAT fibrosis in the entire cohort, as in matched-pairs subanalyses. Next Generation Sequencing uncovered 22 and 6 circ-miRNAs associated with VAT adipocyte size and fibrosis, respectively, with miRNA-130b-3p common to both analyses. The combination of miRNA-130b-3p + miR-150-5p + high-density lipoprotein cholesterol discriminated among those with large versus small VAT adipocytes (receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve: 0.872 [95% CI: 0.747-0.996]), whereas miRNA-130b-3p + miRNA-15a-5p + high-density lipoprotein cholesterol discriminated among those with low and high fibrosis (receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve: 0.823 [95% CI: 0.676-0.97]).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that VAT adipocyte size and fibrosis are inversely correlated in obesity and can be estimated by distinct circ-miRNAs, providing a potential tool to subphenotype obesity via a liquid biopsy-like approach to assess VAT health in nonsurgical patients.

Electrochemical miRNA-34a-based biosensor for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia type and a leading cause of death and disability in the elderly. Diagnosis is expensive and invasive, urging the development of new, affordable, and less invasive diagnostic tools. The identification of changes in the expression of non-coding RNAs prompts the development of diagnostic tools to detect disease-specific blood biomarkers. Building on this idea, this work reports a novel electrochemical microRNA (miRNA) biosensor for the diagnosis of AD, based on carbon screen-printed electrodes (C-SPEs) modified with two gold nanostructures and a complementary anti-miR-34a oligonucleotide probe. This biosensor showed good target affinity, reflected on a 100 pM to 1 μM linearity range and a limit of detection (LOD) of 39 pM in buffer and 94 aM in serum. Moreover, the biosensor's response was not affected by serum compounds, indicating selectivity for miR-34a. The biosensor also detected miR-34a in the cell culture medium of a common AD model, stimulated with a neurotoxin to increase miR-34a secretion. Overall, the proposed biosensor makes a solid case for the introduction of a novel, inexpensive, and minimally invasive tool for the early diagnosis of AD, based on the detection of a circulating miRNA overexpressed in this pathology.

Machine-Learning-Based Single-Molecule Quantification of Circulating MicroRNA Mixtures

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression and are emerging as powerful indicators of diseases. MiRs are secreted in blood plasma and thus may report on systemic aberrations at an early stage via liquid biopsy analysis. We present a method for multiplexed single-molecule detection and quantification of a selected panel of miRs. The proposed assay does not depend on sequencing, requires less than 1 mL of blood, and provides fast results by direct analysis of native, unamplified miRs. This is enabled by a novel combination of compact spectral imaging and a machine learning-based detection scheme that allows simultaneous multiplexed classification of multiple miR targets per sample. The proposed end-to-end pipeline is extremely time efficient and cost-effective. We benchmark our method with synthetic mixtures of three target miRs, showcasing the ability to quantify and distinguish subtle ratio changes between miR targets.

Enhanced fluorescence detection of miRNA by means of Bloch surface wave-based biochips

We report on the use of biochips based on one-dimensional photonic crystals sustaining Bloch surface waves to specifically detect target miRNA that is characteristic of hemorrhagic stroke (miR-16-5p) at low concentration in a buffer solution. The biochips were functionalized with streptavidin and ssDNA oligonucleotides to enable miRNA detection. To discriminate the target miRNA from a non-specific control (miR-101a-3p), we made use of an optical platform developed to work both in label-free and fluorescence detection modes. We demonstrate that the limit of detection provided when operating in the fluorescence mode allows us to specifically detect the target miRNA down to 1 ng mL-1 (140 pM), which matches the recommendations for diagnostic miRNA assays, 5 ng mL-1. The low costs open the way towards the application of these disposable optical biochips based on 1DPC sustaining Bloch surface waves as a promising tool for early disease detection in a liquid biopsy format.

The role of microRNAs in neurobiology and pathophysiology of the hippocampus

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding and well-conserved RNAs that are linked to many aspects of development and disorders. MicroRNAs control the expression of genes related to different biological processes and play a prominent role in the harmonious expression of many genes. During neural development of the central nervous system, miRNAs are regulated in time and space. In the mature brain, the dynamic expression of miRNAs continues, highlighting their functional importance in neurons. The hippocampus, as one of the crucial brain structures, is a key component of major functional connections in brain. Gene expression abnormalities in the hippocampus lead to disturbance in neurogenesis, neural maturation and synaptic formation. These disturbances are at the root of several neurological disorders and behavioral deficits, including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and schizophrenia. There is strong evidence that abnormalities in miRNAs are contributed in neurodegenerative mechanisms in the hippocampus through imbalanced activity of ion channels, neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity and neuronal apoptosis. Some miRNAs affect oxidative stress, inflammation, neural differentiation, migration and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Furthermore, major signaling cascades in neurodegeneration, such as NF-Kβ signaling, PI3/Akt signaling and Notch pathway, are closely modulated by miRNAs. These observations, suggest that microRNAs are significant regulators in the complicated network of gene regulation in the hippocampus. In the current review, we focus on the miRNA functional role in the progression of normal development and neurogenesis of the hippocampus. We also consider how miRNAs in the hippocampus are crucial for gene expression mechanisms in pathophysiological pathways.

A simple, sensitive and label-free method for miRNA analysis in gastric cancer via catalytic hairpin assembly assisted programming of split-G-quadruplexes

Accurate analysis of miRNA is valuable for the diagnosis of various diseases. Herein, a sensitive and accurate fluorescence method was developed for miRNA detection based on catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and split-G-quadruplex (split-G4) based signal reactions. The presence of target miRNA activated the CHA process through unfolding the H1 probe, which could continuously induce the proximity of split-G4. The formed intact G4 can be specifically recognized by the commercial fluorescent dye ThT (thioflavin T), allowing for the highly sensitive, label-free detection of miRNAs. By utilizing split-G4 to generate a signal, the method exhibited a low background signal and a high reliability. In addition, the method is demonstrated to be applied for clinical sample detection, implying its promising prospect for disease diagnosis.

The Role of microRNAs in Epigenetic Regulation of Signaling Pathways in Neurological Pathologies

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in researchers' interest in the functions of microRNAs and the role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of many multifactorial diseases. This is related to the diagnostic and prognostic potential of microRNA expression levels as well as the prospects of using it in personalized targeted therapy. This review of the literature analyzes existing scientific data on the involvement of microRNAs in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury, and dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier.

MicroRNAs in aldosterone production and action

Aldosterone is a cardiovascular hormone with a key role in blood pressure regulation, among other processes, mediated through its targeting of the mineralocorticoid receptor in the renal tubule and selected other tissues. Its secretion from the adrenal gland is a highly controlled process subject to regulatory influence from the renin-angiotensin system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. MicroRNAs are small endogenous non-coding RNA molecules capable of regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally through stimulation of mRNA degradation or suppression of translation. Several studies have now identified that microRNA levels are changed in cases of aldosterone dysregulation and that microRNAs are capable of regulating the expression of various genes involved in aldosterone production and action. In this article we summarise the major studies concerning this topic. We also discuss the potential role for circulating microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for primary aldosteronism, a highly treatable form of secondary hypertension, which would be highly desirable given the current underdiagnosis of this condition.

Electrochemiluminescence detection of miRNA-21 based on dual signal amplification strategies: Duplex-specific nuclease -mediated target recycle and nicking endonuclease-driven 3D DNA nanomachine

DNA nanomachines have shown potential application in the construction of various biosensors. Here, an electrochemiluminescence biosensor for the sensitive detection of miRNA-21 were reported based on three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanomachine and duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-mediated target recycle amplification strategy. First, the bipedal DNA walkers were obtained by DSN-mediated digestion reaction initiated by target miRNA-21.3D DNA tracks were prepared by modifying Fe₃O₄ magnetic beads (MBs) with ferrocene-labeled DNA (Fc-DNA). The produced DNA walkers autonomously moved along 3D DNA tracks powered by nicking endonuclease. During the movement, ferrocene-labeled DNA was cleaved, resulting in large amounts of Fc-labeled DNA fragments away from the MBs surface. Finally, the liberated Fc-labeled DNA fragments were dropped on the C-g-C₃N₄ modified electrode surface, leading to the quenching of C-g-C₃N₄ electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Benefiting from the dual amplification strategy of 3D DNA nanomachine and DSN-mediated target recycling, the developed ECL biosensor exhibited an excellent performance for miRNA-21 detection with a wide linear range of 10 fM to 10 nM and a low detection limit of 1.0 fM. This work offers a new thought for the application of DNA walkers in the construction of various biosensors.

Microfluidics: the propellant of CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection

Since the discovery of collateral cleavage activity, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas systems have become the new generation of nucleic acid detection tools. However, their widespread application remains limited. A pre-amplification step is required to improve the sensitivity of CRISPR systems, complicating the operating procedure and limiting quantitative precision. In addition, nonspecific collateral cleavage activity makes it difficult to realize multiplex detection in a one-pot CRISPR reaction with a single Cas protein. Microfluidics, which can transfer nucleic acid analysis process to a chip, has the advantages of miniaturization, integration, and automation. Microfluidics coupled with CRISPR systems improves the detection ability of CRISPR, enabling fast, high-throughput, integrated, multiplex, and digital detection, which results in the further popularization of CRISPR for a range of scenarios.

Exploratory integrated analysis of circulating exosomal miRNA and tissue mRNA related to long-term physical activity for more than 25 years: a bioinformatics study

Physical activity exerts various positive effects on both physical and mental health. Although the comprehensive expression profiles of each microRNA (miRNA) or messenger RNA (mRNA) related to physical activity have already been reported, the association between miRNA and mRNA remains unclear. Here, the integrated study was conducted to comprehensively explore the potential miRNA-mRNA relationships related to long-term physical activity over 25 years. Genome-wide public deposited mRNA expression data of adipose tissue (GSE20536) from six same-sex twin pairs (no information regarding gender) and of skeletal muscle tissue (GSE20319) from ten same-sex twin pairs (four female twin pairs) were used, and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) related to discordant leisure-time physical activity for 30 years were identified using GEO2R. Overlapped mRNAs between DEMs and predicted possible target mRNAs, based on a previous study and TargetScan tool, were then identified and used as long-term physical activity-related mRNAs targeted by miRNAs. In adipose tissue, 36 mRNAs and 42 mRNAs were identified as upregulated or downregulated DEMs, respectively. Based on the results of the overlapped analysis between DEMs and predicted possible target mRNAs targeted by miRNAs, 15 upregulated mRNAs, including NDRG4, FAM13A, ST3GAL6, and AFF1, and 10 downregulated mRNAs, including RPL14, LBP, and GLRX, were identified. In muscle tissue, three downregulated mRNAs overlapped with the predicted target mRNAs targeted by miRNAs. Fifteen upregulated mRNAs in adipose tissue showed a tendency to enrich in "Cardiovascular" in GAD_DISEASE_CLASS category. Potential miRNA-mRNA relationships related to long-term physical activity over 25 years were identified through bioinformatics analysis.

Rapid and ultrasensitive miRNA detection by combining endonuclease reactions in a rolling circle amplification (RCA)-based hairpin DNA fluorescent assay

MicroRNA (miRNA) sensing strategies employing rolling circle amplification (RCA) coupled with the hairpin DNA (HD) probe-mediated FRET assay have shown promise, but achieving rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of target miRNA remains a challenge in clinical diagnostics. Herein, we incorporate PstI endonuclease cleavage (PEC) into a conventional RCA-based HD probe FRET assay to develop an effective and feasible method. Long single-stranded RCA products are synthesized from miRNA-21 loaded on a circular dumbbell DNA, and the resultant RCA products self-assemble to generate long HD structures with double-stranded stem regions that are specifically recognized and cleaved by PstI endonucleases when incubated with PstI enzymes. This releases large amounts of short single-stranded DNA fragments that hybridize and open to the complementary loop-stem regions of HD probes labeled with FAM at one end and BHQ-1 at the other, resulting in a reduction in FRET efficiency. This assay achieves a 39.7 aM detection limit for target miRNA-21, approximately 37-fold higher than that of the conventional assay (1.5 fM). Moreover, quantitative detection is possible in a wide range from 1 aM to 1 pM within 90 min with high sequence specificity. We demonstrate the assay with the detection of target miRNA-21 in total RNA extracted from MCF-7 cancer cells.

Promises and Challenges of Predictive Blood Biomarkers for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) requires a multimodal approach combining neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery. Predicting tumor response to CRT can guide clinical decision making and improve patient care while avoiding unnecessary toxicity and morbidity. Circulating biomarkers offer both the advantage to be easily accessed and followed over time. In recent years, biomarkers such as proteins, blood cells, or nucleic acids have been investigated for their predictive value in oncology. We conducted a comprehensive literature review with the aim to summarize the status of circulating biomarkers predicting response to CRT in LARC. Forty-nine publications, of which forty-seven full-text articles, one review and one systematic review, were retrieved. These studies evaluated circulating markers (CEA and CA 19-9), inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, albumin, and lymphocytes), hematologic markers (hemoglobin and thrombocytes), lipids and circulating nucleic acids (cell-free DNA [cfDNA], circulating tumor DNA [ctDNA], and microRNA [miRNA]). Post-CRT CEA levels had the most consistent association with tumor response, while cfDNA integrity index, MGMT promoter methylation, ERCC-1, miRNAs, and miRNA-related SNPs were identified as potential predictive markers. Although circulating biomarkers hold great promise, inconsistent results, low statistical power, and low specificity and sensibility prevent them from reliably predicting tumor response following CRT. Validation and standardization of methods and technologies are further required to confirm results.

Investigation of the Protective Effect of Extracellular Vesicle miR-124 on Retinal Ganglion Cells Using a Photolabile Paper-Based Chip

Purpose

Photolabile paper-based chips were developed to isolate extracellular vesicles (EVs) from small-volume samples (less than 30 µL), such as vitreous humor. Putative neuroprotective effects of EVs' microRNAs were investigated by using the paper chip and a rodent model with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rNAION).

Methods

rNAION was established using laser-induced photoactivation of rose bengal administered intravenously. On days 0, 0.25, 1, 3, and 7 after rNAION induction, CD63-positive EV microRNAs (CD63+-EV miRNAs) in vitreous humor samples were enriched using the paper chip and assessed using microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. The viability and visual function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were further assessed by measuring photopic flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs).

Results

We identified 38 different variations of CD63+-EV miRNAs with more than twofold altered expressions. Among them, M1-related miRNA, mR-31a-5p, and M2-related miRNA, miR-125a-5p, miR-182, miR-181a-5p, and miR-124-3, were capable of coordinating anti-inflammatory reactions during rNAION because of their capacity to activate macrophages. In particular, miR-124, having the most dramatic alteration of gene expression, was synthesized and injected intravitreally. Compared to controls, rats that received miR-124 had shown increased RGC survivability and improved visual function.

Conclusions

Our research team has developed a paper-based chip capable of capturing EVs that can be released after UV exposure. The quantity and quality of EV-miRNAs extracted are adequate for microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. Animal studies suggest that miR-124 may play a neuroprotective role in the natural recovery of rNAION and holds the potential to be a novel treatment option.

Palindrome-Embedded Hairpin Structure and Its Target-Catalyzed Padlock Cyclization for Label-Free MicroRNA-Initiated Rolling Circle Amplification

Highly sensitive detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) is of great significance in early diagnosis of cancers. Here, we develop a palindrome-embedded hairpin structure and its target-catalyzed padlock cyclization for rolling circle amplification, named PHP-RCA for simplicity, which can be applied in label-free ultrasensitive detection of miRNA. PHP-RCA is a facile system that consists of only an oligonucleotide probe with a palindrome-embedded hairpin structure (PHP). The two ends of PHP were extended as overhangs and designed with the complementary sequences of the target. Hence, the phosphorylated PHP can be cyclized by T4 DNA ligase in the presence of the target that serves as the ligation template. This ligation has formed a palindrome-embedded dumbbell-shaped probe (PDP) that allows phi29 polymerase to perform a typical target-primed RCA on PDP by taking miRNA as a primer, resulting in the production of a lengthy tandem repeat. Benefits from the palindromic sequences and hairpin-shaped structure in padlock double-stranded structures can be infinitely produced during the RCA reaction and provide numerous binding sites for SYBR Green I, a double-stranded dye, achieving a sharp response signal for label-free target detection. We have demonstrated that the proposed system exhibits a good linear range from 0.1 fM to 5 nM with a low detection limit of 0.1 fM, and the non-target miRNA can be clearly distinguished. The advantages of high efficiency, label-free signaling, and the use of only one oligonucleotide component make the PHP-RCA suitable for ultrasensitive, economic, and convenient detection of target miRNAs. This simple and powerful system is expected to provide a promising platform for tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

Analysis of Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs in Serum and Lung Tissues from Individuals with Severe Asthma Treated with Oral Glucocorticoids

Nowadays, microRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly used as biomarkers due to their potential contribution to the diagnosis and targeted treatment of a range of diseases. The aim of the study was to analyze the miRNA expression profiles in serum and lung tissue from patients with severe asthma treated with oral corticosteroids (OCS) and those without OCS treatment. For this purpose, serum and lung tissue miRNAs of OCS and non-OCS asthmatic individuals were evaluated by miRNAs-Seq, and subsequently miRNA validation was performed using RT-qPCR. Additionally, pathway enrichment analysis of deregulated miRNAs was conducted. We observed altered expression by the next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 11 miRNAs in serum, of which five (hsa-miR-148b-3p, hsa-miR-221-5p, hsa-miR-618, hsa-miR-941, and hsa-miR-769-5p) were validated by RT-qPCR, and three miRNAs in lung tissue (hsa-miR-144-3p, hsa-miR-144-5p, and hsa-miR-451a). The best multivariate logistic regression model to differentiate individuals with severe asthma, treated and untreated with OCS, was to combine the serum miRNAs hsa-miR-221-5p and hsa-miR-769-5p. Expression of hsa-miR-148b-3p and hsa-miR-221-5p correlated with FEV1/FVC (%) and these altered miRNAs act in key signaling pathways for asthma disease and the regulated expression of some genes (FOXO3, PTEN, and MAPK3) involved in these pathways. In conclusion, there are miRNA profiles differentially expressed in OCS-treated individuals with asthma and could be used as biomarkers of OCS treatment.

miR-24-3p and Body Mass Index as Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors in Spanish Women 15 Years after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance that is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. The objective of this study is to know the glucose tolerance status after 15 years of pregnancy in patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes and to assess the long-term effect of GDM on the circulating miRNA profile of these women. To answer these, 30 randomly selected women diagnosed with GDM during 2005-2006 were included in the study, and glucose tolerance was measured using the National Diabetes Data Group criteria. Additionally, four miRNAs (hsa-miR-1-3p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-329-3p, hsa-miR-543) were selected for their analysis in the plasma of women 15 years after the diagnosis of GDM. In our study we discovered that, fifteen years after the diagnosis of GDM, 50% of women have some degree of glucose intolerance directly related to body weight and body mass index during pregnancy. Dysglycemic women also showed a significantly increased level of circulating hsa-miR-24-3p. Thus, we can conclude that initial weight and BMI, together with circulating expression levels of hsa-miR-24-3p, could be good predictors of the future development of dysglycemia in women with a previous diagnosis of GDM.

Identification of novel factors that affect the onset of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis: The role for microRNA-323b-5p

BACKGROUND

The c.194+2 T>C variant of serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) is a known genetic risk factor found in Chinese patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP), but the early-onset mechanisms of ICP are still unclear.

METHODS

Complementary experimental approaches were used to pursue other potential pathologies in the present study. The serum level of SPINK1 of ICP patients in the Han population in China was detected and verified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Next, differentially expressed proteins and microRNAs from plasma samples of early-onset and late-onset ICP patients were screened by proteomic analysis and microarray, respectively.

RESULTS

Combined with these advanced methods, the data strongly suggest that the regulatory effects of microRNAs were involved in the early-onset mechanism of the ICP by in vitro experiments. There was no significant difference in the plasma SPINK1 expression between the early-onset ICP and the late-onset patients. However, the expression of plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx3) in early-onset ICP patients was markedly lower than that in late-onset ICP patients, although the level of hsa-miR-323b-5p was lower in late-onset patients compared to the early-onset ICP group. In vitro experiments confirmed that hsa-miR-323b-5p could increase apoptosis in caerulein-treated pancreatic acinar cells and inhibit the expression of GPx3.

CONCLUSIONS

The up-regulated hsa-miR-323b-5p might play a crucial role in the early-onset mechanisms of ICP by diminishing the antioxidant activity through the down-regulation of GPx3.

microRNAs as biomarkers of risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a complex and multifactorial disease. Although prophylactic anticoagulation has great benefits in avoiding comorbidities, adverse cardiovascular events still occur and thus in recent decades, many resources have been invested in the identification of useful markers in the prevention of the risk of MACE in these patients. As such, microRNAs, that are small non-coding RNAs whose function is to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, have a relevant role in the development of MACE. miRNAs, have been investigated for many years as potential non-invasive biomarkers of several diseases. Different studies have shown their utility in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. In particular, some studies have associated the presence of certain miRNAs in plasma with the development of MACE in AF. Despite these results, there are still many efforts to be done to allow the clinical use of miRNAs. The lack of standardization concerning the methodology in purifying and detecting miRNAs, still provides contradictory results. miRNAs also have a functional impact in MACE in AF through the dysregulation of immunothrombosis. Indeed, miRNAs may be a link between MACE and inflammation, through the regulation of neutrophil extracellular traps that are a key element in the establishment and evolution of thrombotic events. The use of miRNAs as therapy against thromboinflammatory processes should also be a future approach to avoid the occurrence of MACE in atrial fibrillation.

MicroRNAs: Small molecules with big impacts in liver injury

A type of small noncoding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs) fine-tune gene expression posttranscriptionally by binding to certain messenger RNA targets. Numerous physiological processes in the liver, such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, are regulated by miRNAs. Additionally, there is growing evidence that miRNAs contribute to liver pathology. Extracellular vesicles like exosomes, which contain secreted miRNAs, may facilitate paracrine and endocrine communication between various tissues by changing the gene expression and function of distal cells. The use of stable miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers was made possible by the discovery of these molecules in body fluids. Circulating miRNAs reflect the conditions of the liver that are abnormal and may serve as new biomarkers for the early detection, prognosis, and evaluation of liver pathological states. miRNAs are appealing therapeutic targets for a range of liver disease states because altered miRNA expression is associated with deregulation of the liver's metabolism, liver damage, liver fibrosis, and tumor formation. This review provides a comprehensive review and update on miRNAs biogenesis pathways and mechanisms of miRNA-mediated gene silencing. It also outlines how miRNAs affect hepatic cell proliferation, death, and regeneration as well as hepatic detoxification. Additionally, it highlights the diverse functions that miRNAs play in the onset and progression of various liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, fibrosis, hepatitis C virus infection, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Further, it summarizes the diverse liver-specific miRNAs, illustrating the potential merits and possible caveats of their utilization as noninvasive biomarkers and appealing therapeutic targets for liver illnesses.

miRNA expression profiles of the perilesional skin of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients are highly similar

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis vulgaris (PV) are chronic inflammatory skin diseases with heterogeneous molecular backgrounds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to either development or regulation of many immune system related diseases. Only few miRNA profiling studies are available for AD and no comparisons between AD and PV skin miRNA profiles have been performed recently. We conducted a miRNA profiling analysis of skin, as well as serum, from adult AD and PV patients and control individuals. 130 miRNAs were differentially expressed in AD skin, of which 77 were common differentially expressed in AD and PV. No differentially expressed miRNAs were detected in serum. Pathway analyses revealed differentially expressed miRNAs to potentially target immune-system related pathways, including TNF-α, IL-2/STAT4 and IL-6/JAK/STAT3. Additional genetic analysis of published AD GWAS dataset detected association of several target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs in skin. Moreover, miR-28-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-378a-3p and miR-203a were validated as upregulated in the skin of AD and PV patients. All validated miRNAs were reliable predictive markers for AD or PV. In conclusion, miRNA expression pattern in the skin of adult AD patients is highly similar to that of PV with multiple differentially expressed miRNAs potentially involved in the regulation of immune responses in AD and PV.

Prospective pilot study on the predictive significance of plasma miR-30b-5p through the study of echocardiographic modifications in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by different stages of myxomatous mitral valve disease: The PRIME study

Specific microRNAs expressions may accurately characterize different stages of canine myxomatous mitral valve disease. This preliminary pilot study aimed to (1) describe the clinical and echocardiographic parameters of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease at different American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stages (B1, B2 and C) and healthy control group (ACVIM A), comparing the parameters collected during the first examination (T0) and the end of the follow-up (T1); (2) assess the association between the values of echocardiographic parameters at T1 and the expression profile of miR-30b-5p at T0. Thirty-five Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (median age 4.29 years and median weight 9 Kg) in different ACVIM stages were included (7 A, 19 B1, 6 B2 and 3 C). Inverse probability weighting analysis was performed to estimate the association of the exposure variable (miR-30b-5p) with the outcome variables (clinical and echocardiographic variables). Time was included as variable. The results pointed out that high levels of plasma miR-30b-5p corresponded to lower values of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter normalized for body weight, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes indexed for body weight, and left atrium-to aortic root ratio. Hence, higher miR-30b-5p expressions were associated with milder forms of mitral valve disease in our study population. In contrast, the results obtained for the intensity of heart murmur, the mitral regurgitation severity, and the Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic score) were not statistically significant. A relationship between high abundance of miR-30b-5p and myxomatous mitral valve disease that appear echocardiographically more stable over time has been demonstrated. In conclusion, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease that at the first cardiologic evaluation showed an upregulation of miR-30b-5p are expected to experience lesser variations on their echocardiographic examination between T0 and T1.

Circulating MicroRNA Profiling Identifies Distinct MicroRNA Signatures in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Patients

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) refers to a momentary neurologic deficit caused by focal cerebral, spinal or retinal ischemic insult. TIA is associated with a high risk of impending acute ischemic stroke (AIS), a neurologic dysfunction characterized by focal cerebral, spinal or retinal infarction. Understanding the differences in molecular pathways in AIS and TIA has merit for deciphering the underlying cause for neuronal deficits with long-term effects and high risks of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we performed comprehensive investigations into the circulating microRNA (miRNA) profiles of AIS (n = 191) and TIA (n = 61) patients. We performed RNA-Seq on serum samples collected within 24 hrs of clinical diagnosis and randomly divided the study populations into discovery and validation cohorts. We identified a panel of 11 differentially regulated miRNAs at FDR < 0.05. Hsa-miR-548c-5p, -20a-5p, -18a-5p, -484, -652-3p, -486-3p, -24-3p, -181a-5p and -222-3p were upregulated, while hsa-miR-500a-3p and -206 were downregulated in AIS patients compared to TIA patients. We also probed the previously validated gene targets of our identified miRNA panel to highlight the molecular pathways affected in AIS. Moreover, we developed a multivariate classifier with potential utilization as a discriminative biomarker for AIS and TIA patients. The underlying molecular pathways in AIS compared to TIA may be explored further in functional studies for therapeutic targeting in clinical translation.

MicroRNAs in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

Although cardiac tumor formation is rare, accumulating evidence suggests that the two leading causes of deaths, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases are similar in terms of pathogenesis, including angiogenesis, immune responses, and fibrosis. These similarities have led to the creation of new exciting field of study called cardio-oncology. Here, we review the similarities between cancer and cardiovascular disease from the perspective of microRNAs (miRNAs). As miRNAs are well-known regulators of translation by binding to the 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), we carefully dissect how a specific set of miRNAs are both oncomiRs (miRNAs in cancer) and myomiRs (muscle-related miRNAs). Furthermore, from the standpoint of similar pathogenesis, miRNAs categories related to the similar pathogenesis are discussed; namely, angiomiRs, Immune-miRs, and fibromiRs.

Comprehensive Phenotyping in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Search for Biomarker Algorithms in the Transkingdom Interactions Context

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the most common form of intestinal inflammation associated with a dysregulated immune system response to the commensal microbiota in a genetically susceptible host. IBD includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), both of which are remarkably heterogeneous in their clinical presentation and response to treatment. This translates into a notable diagnostic challenge, especially in underdeveloped countries where IBD is on the rise and access to diagnosis or treatment is not always accessible for chronic diseases. The present work characterized, for the first time in our region, epigenetic biomarkers and gut microbial profiles associated with UC and CD patients in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan area and revealed differences between non-IBD controls and IBD patients. General metabolic functions associated with the gut microbiota, as well as core microorganisms within groups, were also analyzed. Additionally, the gut microbiota analysis was integrated with relevant clinical, biochemical and epigenetic markers considered in the follow-up of patients with IBD, with the aim of generating more powerful diagnostic tools to discriminate phenotypes. Overall, our study provides new insights into data analysis algorithms to promote comprehensive phenotyping tools using quantitative and qualitative analysis in a transkingdom interactions network context.

MicroRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in pancreatic cancer: From epigenetics to potential clinical applications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two relevant classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a pivotal role in a number of molecular processes through different epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of gene expression. As a matter of fact, the altered expression of these types of RNAs leads to the development and progression of a varied range of multifactorial human diseases. Several recent reports elucidated that miRNA and lncRNAs have been implicated in pancreatic cancer (PC). For instance, dysregulation of such ncRNAs has been found to be associated with chemoresistance, apoptosis, autophagy, cell differentiation, tumor suppression, tumor growth, cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in PC. Moreover, several aberrantly expressed miRNAs and lncRNAs have the potential to be used as biomarkers for accurate PC diagnosis. Additionally, miRNAs and lncRNAs are considered as promising clinical targets for PC. Therefore, in this review, we discuss recent experimental evidence regarding the clinical implications of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the pathophysiology of PC, their future potential, as well as the challenges that have arisen in this field of study in order to drive forward the design of ncRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics for PC.

CircRNA 0009043 suppresses non-small-cell lung cancer development via targeting the miR-148a-3p/DNAJB4 axis

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important regulators of the development and progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and many other malignancies. The functional importance of circ_0009043 in NSCLC, however, has yet to be established.

Methods

The expression of circ_0009043, miR-148a-3p, and DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B4 (DNAJB4) in NSCLC cells was assessed via qPCR. The proliferative activity of these cells was examined through EdU uptake and CCK-8 assays, while flow cytometry approaches were used to examine apoptotic cell death rates. Protein expression was measured through Western immunoblotting. Interactions between miR-148a-3p and circ_0009043 or DNAJB4 were detected through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The in vivo importance of circ_0009043 as a regulator of oncogenic activity was assessed using murine xenograft models.

Results

Both NSCLC cells and tissue samples were found to exhibit circ_0009043 upregulation, and lower circ_0009043 expression levels were found to be related to poorer NSCLC patient overall survival. Knocking down circ_0009043 resulted in the enhancement of NSCLC cell proliferative activity and the suppression of apoptotic tumor cell death in vitro, while also driving more rapid in vivo tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, circ_0009043 was found to function as a molecular sponge that sequestered miR-148a-3p, which was in turn able to directly suppress DNAJB4 expression. When miR-148a-3p was overexpressed, this reversed the impact of knocking down circ_0009043 on the apoptotic death and proliferation of NSCLC cells. Conversely, miR-148a-3p inhibition resulted in the suppression of NSCLC cell apoptosis and the enhancement of tumor cell growth, while the downregulation of DNAJB4 reversed these changes.

Conclusion

Circ_0009043 acts as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC cells, promoting DNAJB4 upregulation via the sequestration of miR-148a-3p.

Non-coding RNAs in necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases

Accumulating evidence has proved that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a critical role in the genetic programming and gene regulation of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality are rising and have become a primary public health issue that requires immediate resolution through effective intervention. Numerous studies have revealed that new types of cell death, such as pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, play critical cellular roles in CVD progression. It is worth noting that ncRNAs are critical novel regulators of cardiovascular risk factors and cell functions by mediating pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. Thus, ncRNAs can be regarded as promising therapeutic targets for treating and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the mediation of ncRNAs on three types of cell death in regulating tissue homeostasis and pathophysiological conditions in CVDs. Although our understanding of ncRNAs remains in its infancy, the studies reviewed here may provide important new insights into how ncRNAs interact with CVDs. This review summarizes what is known about the functions of ncRNAs in modulating cell death-associated CVDs and their role in CVDs, as well as their current limitations and future prospects.