Association of miR-196a-2 and miR-499 variants with ulcerative colitis and their correlation with expression of respective miRNAs

Potential Impact of Polymorphisms in Toll-like Receptors 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-196a Genes on Osteoarthritis Susceptibility

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive inflammatory disease of synovial joints and a leading cause of disability among adults. Inflammation-related genes, including genes for Toll-like receptors (TLRs), are tightly controlled by several microRNAs that, in addition to their pivotal role in the epigenetic regulation of target genes, are ligands for TLR activation and downstream signaling. Thus, we evaluated the association between OA risk and genetic variants in TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, and microRNAs that regulate TLRs signaling miR146a, miR155, and miR196a2. Our study group consisted of 95 surgically treated OA patients and a control group of 104 healthy individuals. Genetic polymorphisms were determined using TaqMan real-time PCR assays (Applied Biosystems). Adjusted logistic regression analysis demonstrated that polymorphisms in TLR4 rs4986790 (OR = 2.964, p = 0.006), TLR4 rs4986791 (OR = 8.766, p = 0.00001), and TLR7 rs385389 (OR = 1.579, p = 0.012) increased OA risk, while miR-196a2 rs11614913 (OR = 0.619, p = 0.034) was significantly associated with decreased OA risk. Our findings indicate that polymorphisms in the TLR4 and TLR7 genes might increase OA risk and suggest a novel association of miR-196a2 polymorphism with decreased OA susceptibility. The modulation of TLRs and miRNAs and their cross-talk might be an attractive target for a personalized approach to OA management.

Rs3746444 T>C locus in miR-499 increases the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis 14812 subjects

BACKGROUND

Recently, many investigations have suggested that the rs3746444 T>C locus in the microRNA (miR)-499 gene may contribute to the occurrence of cancer. However, reports on the association between rs3746444 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are conflicting.

AIM

To further understand and explore the potential correlation between the single-nucleotide polymorphism of rs3746444 and the incidence of HCC.

METHODS

In this meta-analysis, we obtained electronic literature by searching the PubMed, Embase and Chinese BioMedical Disc databases (through May 20, 2022). All eligible case-control, prospective cohort or nested case-control studies with sufficient data for calculating the odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were included.

RESULTS

Ultimately, a total of 17 independent studies were included. We identified that rs3746444 was associated with the development of HCC (C vs T: P = 0.019 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.016). In Asian individuals, rs3746444 was associated with susceptibility to HCC (C vs T: P = 0.013 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.016). In addition, this study identified that the miR-499 rs3746444 locus was associated with susceptibility to HCC in the normal/healthy control subgroup (C vs T: P = 0.034 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

In summary, this meta-analysis highlights that rs3746444 in the miR-499 gene is involved in the occurrence of HCC, especially in Asian individuals.

Association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases: A meta-analysis

Introduction

The association between miRNA-499 rs3746444 and a variety of autoimmune diseases has been reported. However, these results were contradictory and just focused on one or two autoimmune diseases. The present study aims to examine the possible association between rs3746444 polymorphism and the risk of autoimmune diseases.

Methods

The studies that evaluated the association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases were retrieved. Five different genetic models were used to evaluate the association. The random-effects model was used to pool the effect sizes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the associations. Stratification analyses were performed by ethnicity and type of autoimmune diseases. False-positive report probability (FPRP) was performed for determining noteworthy associations.

Results

Seventeen articles (twenty studies) involving 4,376 cases and 4,991 controls were identified and included in our meta-analysis. The pooled ORs of all eligible case-control studies indicated a significant association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases: (T vs. C: OR = 0.877; 95% CI: 0.774, 0.993; P = 0.039). Stratified analysis indicated a significant association across both Caucasian (TT vs. TC+CC: OR = 0.779; 95% CI: 0.622, 0.976; P = 0.030) and Asian (T vs. C: OR = 0.895; 95% CI: 0.808, 0.992; P = 0.035) populations. There was also a significant association in Behcet’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ulcerative colitis populations.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis suggested that the miRNA-499 rs3746444 polymorphism was associated with an elevated risk of autoimmune diseases in the overall analysis as well as Caucasian and Asian populations.

Fas and microRNAs Variations as a Possible Risk for Behçet Disease

BACKGROUND

Behçet disease (BD) belongs to a disease family that has a transparent borderline between autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Fas and some miRNAs have revealed to display remarkable roles in both autoimmune and autoinflammatory processes, and they can play important roles in defective apoptosis in BD. We investigated the association of the susceptibility of BD with Fas, miRNA variations, and their both single and combined presence in a Turkish population as a case-control study.

METHODS

The distributions of FAS-670 A>G rs1800682, mir146a rs2910164, and mir196a rs11614913 polymorphisms are analyzed with the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 115 BD patients and 220 controls in 6-month period.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis indicates that in the case of Fas-670 A/G rs1800682, AA genotype and A allele have a protective role in BD (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.0009, respectively). The dominant model (AA + AG/GG) also displays a protective effect on BD unlike the recessive model (p = 0.03). In addition, both homozygous genotype (CC) of rs2910164 of mir-146a (p = 0.04) and the dominant model (CC + CG vs. GG) have protective effects on BD unlike the recessive model (p < 0.0001). Both mir-196a2 rs1800682 polymorphism and combined genotype analysis of rs1800682-rs2910164 and rs1800682-rs11614913 gave no statistically significant differences within the groups for genotypes and either of the alleles (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that both Fas rs1800682 and mir-146a rs2910164 variants might be important factors participating in the protection against BD in the Turkish population.

Meta-Analysis of miRNA Variants Associated with Susceptibility to Autoimmune Disease

Purpose

Various studies have shown an association between miRNA polymorphisms and susceptibility to autoimmune disease (AD); however, the results are inconclusive. To evaluate whether miRNA polymorphisms account for a significant risk of AD, a total of 87 articles, including 39431 patients and 56708 controls, were identified to estimate their association with 12 AD subtypes.

Methods

Several electronic databases were searched to analyze population-based studies on the relationship between miRNA variants and AD risk. Fixed effects or random effect models were used in the meta-analysis for the risk assessment.

Results

In our meta-analysis, miR-146a rs2910164/rs57095329 conferred a marginally elevated risk for AD (allele model, OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15, P = 0.019; allele model, OR = 1.09, 95 CI: 1.05-1.15, P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, miR-196a2 rs11614913 was also associated with AD risk (allele model, OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88-0.97, P = 0.001) as well as miR-499 rs3746444 (allele model, OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29, P = 0.011). In addition, associations were observed between miR-149 rs2292832/miR-27a rs895819 and AD susceptibility in the overall population (allele model, OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.24, P < 0.001; allele model, OR = 1.11, 95% CI:1.01-1.22, P = 0.043, respectively).

Conclusions

Evidence from our systematic review suggests that miR-146a, miR-196a2, miR-499, miR-149, and miR-27a polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to AD.

The Construction and Comprehensive Analysis of Inflammation-Related ceRNA Networks and Tissue-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Ulcerative Progression

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common disease with great variability in severity, with a high recurrence rate and heavy disease burden. In recent years, the different biological functions of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRs) have aroused wide concerns, the ceRNA network of ulcerative colitis (UC) may have potential research value, and these expressed noncoding RNAs may be involved in the molecular basis of inflammation recurrence and progression. This study analyzed 490 colon samples associated with UC from 4 gene expression microarrays from the GEO database and identified gene modules by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). CIBERSORT detected tissue-infiltrating leukocyte profiling by deconvolution of microarray data. LncBase and multiMIR were used to identify lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction. We constructed a ceRNA network which includes 4 lncRNAs (SH3BP5-AS1, MIR4435-2HG, ENTPD1-AS1, and AC007750.1), 5 miRNAs (miR-141-3p, miR-191-5p, miR-192-5p, miR-194-5p, and miR196-5p), and 52 mRNAs. Those genes are involved in interleukin family signals, neutrophil degranulation, adaptive immunity, and cell adhesion pathways. lncRNA MIR4435-2HG is a variable in the decision tree for moderate-to-severe UC diagnostic prediction. Our work identifies potential regulated inflammation-related lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes. The regulatory axes are dysregulated during the deterioration of UC, suggesting that it is a risk factor for UC progression.

The role of the miR-21-5p-mediated inflammatory pathway in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a major type of inflammatory bowel disease, is also a chronic non-specific intestinal inflammation condition of unknown etiology. The pathogenesis of UC is closely associated with immune abnormalities, inflammatory damage and genetics. The present study aimed to explore the effects of microRNA (miR)-21-5p on the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor (IL6R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) signal pathway in UC, in order to identify a highly effective treatment for UC. A total of 45 patients with UC and 45 healthy controls were recruited for the present study. The expression levels of miR-21-5p and STAT3 in the sera of patients with UC and healthy controls were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A UC rat model was established using dextran sulfate sodium. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, RAW264.7 cells were transfected with a miR-21-5p inhibitor. The levels of morphological damage and apoptosis of the colonic mucosal epithelial tissue were investigated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and a TUNEL staining assay, and then the colon macroscopic damage index and disease activity index were measured in rats. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of IL6R, STAT3, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), NF-κB, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and Fas ligand (FasL). RT-qPCR detected the mRNA expression levels of miR-21-5p, IL6R, STAT3, ICAM-1, NF-κB, caspase-3, caspase-9 and FasL. An ELISA was performed to measure the levels of inflammatory cytokines. The viability and apoptosis levels of RAW264.7 cells were examined using MTT and flow cytometry assays. Additionally, STAT3 was investigated as a direct target of miR-21-5p in RAW264.7 cells using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results of the present study demonstrated that inflammation and apoptotic markers were revealed to be significantly downregulated following transfection with miR-21-5p inhibitors in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS, and that cell viability was increased. Furthermore, STAT3 was confirmed to be a target of miR-21-5p in RAW264.7 cells. Collectively, these data demonstrated that miR-21-5p inhibition mediated the IL-6/STAT3 pathway in UC rats to decrease the levels of inflammation and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells, and suggested that miR-21-5p may be an important therapy target in human UC.

Association of miRNA-146a rs2910164 and miRNA-196 rs11614913 polymorphisms in patients with ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis and review

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) miRNA-196 (miR-196) rs11614913 and miRNA-146a (miR-146a) rs2910164 are related to susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC). Because the previously reported results have been mixed and uncertain, the aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis and review to assess the relationship between these 2 SNPs and UC risk.

METHODS

In this analysis, 5 studies involving 1023 cases and 1769 controls for miR-196 rs11614913 and 4 studies involving 827 cases and 1451 controls for miR-146 rs2910164 were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to pool the effect size.

RESULTS

A decreased risk of UC was identified in homozygote comparison (GG vs CC: OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.52-0.93, P = .02), recessive comparison (GG vs CG + CC: OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59-0.92, P = .007), and dominant comparison (GG + CG vs CC: OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.97, P = .02) of miR-146 rs2910164 in Asian but not Caucasian population. No evidence of an association was shown between the rs11614913 polymorphism and UC risk in allelic, heterozygote, homozygote, recessive, and dominant models in both Caucasian and Asian populations (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-146 rs2910164, but not miR-196 rs11614913, was associated with a decreased risk of UC in Asian population. However, the results should be treated with caution because of the limited sample size and heterogeneity. Well-designed studies with large sample sizes and more ethnic groups are needed to validate the risks identified in the current meta-analysis and review.

Association of Three Polymorphisms rs11614913, rs2910146, and rs3746444 in miRNA-196a2, miRNA-146a, and miRNA-499 with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

It has been found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of microRNA might be involved in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, the related retrospective research has not been reported. In this work, we performed a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the associated relationship.

Methods

We searched the studies on the association of SNPs of microRNA with the hereditary susceptibility of IBD in PubMed and Embase; eligible research was selected by screening the abstract and full text. The meta-analysis was performed based on the statistical software Stata 14.0, and besides, the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association.

Results

159 papers were acquired from the PubMed and Embase databases, and five eligible articles containing nine case-control studies were selected. In the study, we first found that the association between miRNA-196a2 rs11614913 and IBD was insignificant. Then, the susceptibility of miRNA-146a rs2910146 to IBD increased significantly in allelic comparison, homozygote model, heterozygote model, and dominant model. Moreover, a positive relationship between miRNA-499 rs3746444 and IBD was identified in the homozygote model.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that miRNA-146a rs2910146 (G>C) polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility to IBD and miRNA-196a2 rs11614913 (T>C) and miRNA-499 rs3746444 (A>G) did not reveal an obvious relationship with the IBD susceptibility.

The variant of pri-mir-26a-1 polymorphism is associated with decreased risk of betel quid-related oral premalignant lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

This case-control study evaluated the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs7372209 (T>C) in pri-mir-26a-1 with the risk and progression of betel quid (BQ)-related oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

STUDY DESIGN

In total, 597 BQ chewers were recruited: 196 healthy controls, 241 patients with OPLs, and 160 patients with OSCC. Genotypes were determined using the TaqMan real-time assay.

RESULTS

The C/T + T/T genotypes and T allele in pri-mir-26a-1 were correlated with a decreased risk of BQ-related OPLs (P = .038 and .005, respectively), oral leukoplakia (P = .01 and .001, respectively), and advanced-stage OSCC (P = .021 and .004, respectively). The effects of the C/T + T/T genotypes and T allele on the decreased risk of OPLs were potent in the older age group (both P_interaction < .001), heavy smokers (P_interaction ≤ .003 and .006, respectively) and alcohol drinkers (P_interaction ≤ .004 and .001, respectively). Furthermore, among patients with OSCC, the C/T + T/T genotypes and T allele were associated with a decreased risk of advanced pathologic stage (P = .032) and lymph node involvement (P = .017).

CONCLUSIONS

BQ chewers carrying the T allele or C/T + T/T genotypes in pri-mir-26a-1 may have a decreased risk of oral leukoplakia, OPLs, and advanced-stage OSCC.