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Li Y, Kong C, Wang W, Hu F, Chen X, Xu B, Lu S. Screening of miR-15a-5p as a potential biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration through RNA-sequencing. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 123:110717. [PMID: 37597405 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent clinical condition that imposes substantial economic burdens on society. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is recognized as a major contributing factor to LBP. Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating the onset and progression of IVDD. Understanding the involvement of miRNAs in IVDD will expand our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets for managing LBP. However, the pathological process of IVDD and the miRNA-mediated pathomechanism in IVDD remain unclear. Herein, we comprehensively analyzed and divided the pathological process of IVDD into three stages based on the analysis by Risbud and colleagues. Results showed that IVDD was especially associated with cell death, oxidative stress, inflammatory and immune response, and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. Subsequently, we obtained human normal and degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues, which were visually confirmed through histological staining techniques such as HE and TUNEL staining. RNA sequencing was then performed on these tissue samples. Additionally, miRNA (GSE116726) and mRNA (GSE56081/GSE70362/GSE23130/GSE34095) datasets were collected from the GEO database. Our analysis revealed that miR-15a-5p was significantly upregulated IVDD, as validated by both RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR experiments. To further refine our findings, bioinformatics analysis was conducted, merging the targets of miR-15a-5p and multiple mRNA datasets, ultimately identifying the overlapping IVDD-associated mRNAs. Notably, many cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs), ferroptosis-related genes, oxidative stress-related genes, and immunity-related genes were potential targets of miR-15a-5p. The miR-15a-5p-mRNA network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Additionally, PPI, functional, and pathway enrichment analyses of the CRGs were also performed. We found that MTF1, one of the CRGs, was highly expressed in IVDD and primarily localized in the nucleus of nucleus pulposus cells. These findings suggest that miR-15a-5p is a potential biomarker in IVDD, and targeting the miR-15a-5p-mRNA signaling pathway may be a promising strategy for treating IVDD diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjin Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Kong
- Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Hu
- Spine Center, Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Xiaolong Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China.
| | - Baoshan Xu
- Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, 406. No, Jiefangnan Road, Hexi district, Tianjin 300211, China.
| | - Shibao Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, China.
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Pelassa S, Raggi F, Rossi C, Bosco MC. MicroRNAs in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:991. [PMID: 37508421 PMCID: PMC10376583 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) represents the most common chronic pediatric arthritis in Western countries and a leading cause of disability in children. Despite recent clinical achievements, patient management is still hindered by a lack of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and targeted treatment protocols. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs playing a key role in gene regulation, and their involvement in many pathologies has been widely reported in the literature. In recent decades, miRNA's contribution to the regulation of the immune system and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has been demonstrated. Furthermore, miRNAs isolated from patients' biological samples are currently under investigation for their potential as novel biomarkers. This review aims to provide an overview of the state of the art on miRNA investigation in JIA. The literature addressing the expression of miRNAs in different types of biological samples isolated from JIA patients was reviewed, focusing in particular on their potential application as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. The role of miRNAs in the regulation of immune responses in affected joints will also be discussed along with their potential utility as markers of patients' responses to therapeutic approaches. This information will be of value to investigators in the field of pediatric rheumatology, encouraging further research to increase our knowledge of miRNAs' potential for future clinical applications in JIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Pelassa
- UOC Rheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases, Department of Pediatric Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Raggi
- UOC Rheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases, Department of Pediatric Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Rossi
- UOC Rheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases, Department of Pediatric Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Carla Bosco
- UOC Rheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases, Department of Pediatric Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 16147 Genova, Italy
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Bullock CH, McAlpine SM, Roberts SE, Derfalvi B. MicroRNA-27a-3p enhances the inflammatory phenotype of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2023; 21:53. [PMID: 37277817 DOI: 10.1186/s12969-023-00833-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent chronic pediatric rheumatic disorder. In joints of JIA patients, aggressive phenotypic changes in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) of the synovial lining play a key role in inflammation. MicroRNAs are dysregulated in rheumatoid arthritis and JIA, including miR-27a-3p. However, it is not understood if miR-27a-3p, enriched in JIA synovial fluid (SF) and leukocytes, alters FLS function. METHODS Primary JIA FLS cells were transfected with a miR-27a-3p mimic or a negative control microRNA (miR-NC) and stimulated with pooled JIA SF or inflammatory cytokines. Viability and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Proliferation was evaluated using a 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. Cytokine production was assessed by qPCR and ELISA. Expression of TGF-β pathway genes was determined using a qPCR array. RESULTS MiR-27a-3p was constitutively expressed in FLS. Overexpression of miR-27a-3p caused increased interleukin-8 secretion in resting FLS, and interleukin-6 was elevated in SF-activated FLS compared to miR-NC. Furthermore, stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines augmented FLS proliferation in miR-27a-3p-transfected FLS relative to miR-NC. Expression of multiple TGF-β pathway genes was modulated by overexpression of miR-27a-3p. CONCLUSIONS MiR-27a-3p significantly contributes to FLS proliferation and cytokine production, making it a potential candidate for epigenetic therapy that targets FLS in arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire H Bullock
- Dalhousie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Sarah M McAlpine
- Division of Immunology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, 8 East Research 5850/5980 University Ave Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Halifax, Canada.
| | - Sarah E Roberts
- Division of Immunology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, 8 East Research 5850/5980 University Ave Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Halifax, Canada
| | - Beata Derfalvi
- Division of Immunology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, 8 East Research 5850/5980 University Ave Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Halifax, Canada.
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Ahmed S, Misra R. Microdissecting Epigenetic Pathways in Oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A New Avenue in Transforming Growth Factor β? J Rheumatol 2023; 50:164-165. [PMID: 36379568 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.221038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sakir Ahmed
- S. Ahmed, DM, Associate Professor, R. Misra, MD, Professor, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Ramnath Misra
- S. Ahmed, DM, Associate Professor, R. Misra, MD, Professor, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
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