International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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14 pages, 6916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circulating miRNA Expression Is Inversely Correlated with Tumor Tissue or Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Early Breast Cancer Patients

by Daniel Escuin, Laura López-Vilaró, Olga Bell, Josefina Mora, Bárbara García-Valdecasas, Antonio Moral, Montserrat Clos, Laia Boronat, Cristina Arqueros and Agustí Barnadas

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13293; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713293 - 27 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1398

Abstract

The deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with the various steps of the metastatic process. In addition, circulating miRNAs are remarkably stable in peripheral blood, making them ideal noninvasive biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Here, we performed a proof-of-principle study to determine whether tumor-tissue-derived [...] Read more.

The deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with the various steps of the metastatic process. In addition, circulating miRNAs are remarkably stable in peripheral blood, making them ideal noninvasive biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Here, we performed a proof-of-principle study to determine whether tumor-tissue-derived miRNAs are traceable to plasma in ER-positive early breast cancer patients. We performed RNA-sequencing on 30 patients for whom plasma, sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and tumor tissue were available. We carried out differential expression, gene ontology and enrichment analyses. Our results show that circulating miRNAs are inversely expressed compared with tumor tissue or SLNs obtained from the same patients. Our differential expression analysis shows the overall downregulation of circulating miRNAs. However, the expression of miR-643a-3p and miR-223 was up-regulated in patients with positive SLNs. Furthermore, gene ontology analysis showed the significant enrichment of biological processes associated with the regulation of epithelial cell proliferation and transcriptional regulation commonly involved in the promotion of metastases. Our results suggest the potential role of several circulating miRNAs as surrogate markers of lymph node metastases in early breast cancer patients. Further preclinical and clinical studies are required to understand the biological significance of the most significant miRNAs and to validate our results in a larger cohort of patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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14 pages, 2456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circulating miR-206 and miR-1246 as Markers in the Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

by Elizabeth Córdoba-Lanús, Angélica Domínguez de-Barros, Alexis Oliva, Delia Mayato, Francisca Gonzalvo, Ana Remírez-Sanz, Javier J. Zulueta, Bartolomé Celli and Ciro Casanova

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 12437; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512437 - 4 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1950

Abstract

Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cause of cancer death, with 75% of cases being diagnosed in late stages. This study aimed to determine potential miRNAs as biomarkers for the early detection of LC in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases. Ninety-nine [...] Read more.

Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cause of cancer death, with 75% of cases being diagnosed in late stages. This study aimed to determine potential miRNAs as biomarkers for the early detection of LC in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases. Ninety-nine patients were included, with registered clinical and lung function parameters followed for 6 years. miRNAs were determined in 16 serum samples from COPD patients (four with LC and four controls) by next generation sequencing (NGS) at LC diagnosis and 3 years before. The validation by qPCR was performed in 33 COPD-LC patients and 66 controls at the two time points. Over 170 miRNAs (≥10 TPM) were identified; among these, miR-224-5p, miR-206, miR-194-5p, and miR-1246 were significantly dysregulated (p < 0.001) in COPD-LC 3 years before LC diagnosis when compared to the controls. The validation showed that miR-1246 and miR-206 were differentially expressed in COPD patients who developed LC three years before (p = 0.035 and p = 0.028, respectively). The in silico enrichment analysis showed miR-1246 and miR-206 to be linked to gene mediators in various signaling pathways related to cancer. Our study demonstrated that miR-1246 and miR-206 have potential value as non-invasive biomarkers of early LC detection in COPD patients who could benefit from screening programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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14 pages, 1395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obese Asthma Phenotype Is Associated with hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and hsa-miR-376a-3p Modulating the IGF Axis

by Marta Gil-Martínez, Clara Lorente-Sorolla, José M. Rodrigo-Muñoz, Sara Naharro, Zahara García-de Castro, Joaquín Sastre, Marcela Valverde-Monge, Santiago Quirce, María L. Caballero, José M. Olaguibel and Victoria del Pozo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11620; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411620 - 18 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1578

Abstract

Clarifying inflammatory processes and categorising asthma into phenotypes and endotypes improves asthma management. Obesity worsens severe asthma and reduces quality of life, although its specific molecular impact remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and hsa-miR-376a-3p, biomarkers related to an inflammatory profile, discriminate [...] Read more.

Clarifying inflammatory processes and categorising asthma into phenotypes and endotypes improves asthma management. Obesity worsens severe asthma and reduces quality of life, although its specific molecular impact remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and hsa-miR-376a-3p, biomarkers related to an inflammatory profile, discriminate eosinophilic from non-eosinophilic asthmatics. We aimed to study hsa-miR-26a-1-3p, hsa-miR-376a-3p, and their target genes in asthmatic subjects with or without obesity to find biomarkers and comprehend obese asthma mechanisms. Lung tissue samples were obtained from asthmatic patients (n = 16) and healthy subjects (n = 20). We measured miRNA expression using RT-qPCR and protein levels (IGF axis) by ELISA in confirmation samples from eosinophilic (n = 38) and non-eosinophilic (n = 39) obese (n = 26) and non-obese (n = 51) asthma patients. Asthmatic lungs showed higher hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and hsa-miR-376a-3p expression than healthy lungs. A study of seven genes regulated by these miRNAs revealed differential expression of IGFBP3 between asthma patients and healthy individuals. In obese asthma patients, we found higher hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and IGF-1R values and lower values for hsa-miR-376a-3p and IGFBP-3. Hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and IGFBP-3 were directly and inversely correlated with body mass index, respectively. Hsa-miR-26a-1-3p and hsa-miR-376a-3p could be used as biomarkers to phenotype patients with eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic asthma in relation to comorbid obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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19 pages, 9817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circular Intronic RNA circTTN Inhibits Host Gene Transcription and Myogenesis by Recruiting PURB Proteins to form Heterotypic Complexes

by Nini Ai, Zonggang Yu, Xueli Xu, Sui Liufu, Kaiming Wang, Shengqiang Huang, Xintong Li, Xiaolin Liu, Bohe Chen, Haiming Ma and Yulong Yin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(12), 9859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129859 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1772

Abstract

Muscle cell growth plays an important role in skeletal muscle development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proven to be involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and development. In this study, we explored the effect of circTTN on myoblast growth and its [...] Read more.

Muscle cell growth plays an important role in skeletal muscle development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proven to be involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and development. In this study, we explored the effect of circTTN on myoblast growth and its possible molecular mechanism. Using C2C12 cells as a functional model, the authenticity of circTTN was confirmed by RNase R digestion and Sanger sequencing. Previous functional studies have showed that the overexpression of circTTN inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Mechanistically, circTTN recruits the PURB protein on the Titin (TTN) promoter to inhibit the expression of the TTN gene. Moreover, PURB inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation, which is consistent with circTTN function. In summary, our results indicate that circTTN inhibits the transcription and myogenesis of the host gene TTN by recruiting PURB proteins to form heterotypic complexes. This work may act as a reference for further research on the role of circRNA in skeletal muscle growth and development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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13 pages, 1461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Serum microRNA Levels as a Biomarker for Diagnosing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Colorectal Polyp Patients

by Lui Ng, Ryan Wai-Yan Sin, David Him Cheung, Wai-Keung Leung, Abraham Tak-Ka Man, Oswens Siu-Hung Lo, Wai-Lun Law and Dominic Chi-Chung Foo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(10), 9084; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24109084 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1791

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. It is reported that NAFLD is associated with colorectal polyps. Since identifying NAFLD in its early stages could prevent possible disease progression to [...] Read more.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. It is reported that NAFLD is associated with colorectal polyps. Since identifying NAFLD in its early stages could prevent possible disease progression to cirrhosis and decrease the risk of HCC by early intervention, patients with colorectal polyp may thus be considered a target group for screening NAFLD. This study aimed to investigate the potential of serum microRNAs (miRNAs) in identifying NAFLD for colorectal polyp patients. Serum samples were collected from 141 colorectal polyp patients, of which 38 had NAFLD. The serum level of eight miRNAs was determined by quantitative PCR and delta Ct values of different miRNA pairs which were compared between NAFLD and control groups. A miRNA panel was formulated from candidate miRNA pairs by multiple linear regression model and ROC analysis was performed to evaluate its diagnostic potential for NAFLD. Compared to the control group, the NAFLD group showed significantly lower delta Ct values of miR-18a/miR-16 (6.141 vs. 7.374, p = 0.009), miR-25-3p/miR-16 (2.311 vs. 2.978, p = 0.003), miR-18a/miR-21-5p (4.367 vs. 5.081, p = 0.021) and miR-18a/miR-92a-3p (8.807 vs. 9.582, p = 0.020). A serum miRNA panel composed of these four miRNA pairs significantly identified NAFLD in colorectal polyp patients with an AUC value of 0.6584 (p = 0.004). The performance of the miRNA panel was further improved to an AUC value of 0.8337 (p < 0.0001) when polyp patients with other concurrent metabolic disorders were removed from the analysis. The serum miRNA panel is a potential diagnostic biomarker for screening NAFLD in colorectal polyp patients. This serum miRNA test could be performed for colorectal polyp patients for early diagnosis and for prevention of the disease from progressing into more advanced stages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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15 pages, 831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circulating miRNA-451a and miRNA-328-3p as Potential Markers of Coronary Artery Aneurysmal Disease

by Sylwia Iwańczyk, Tomasz Lehmann, Artur Cieślewicz, Katarzyna Malesza, Patrycja Woźniak, Agnieszka Hertel, Grzegorz Krupka, Paweł P. Jagodziński, Marek Grygier, Maciej Lesiak and Aleksander Araszkiewicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5817; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065817 - 18 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1777

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are currently investigated as crucial regulatory factors which may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Reports on the role of miRNA in patients with coronary artery aneurysmal disease (CAAD) are limited. The present analysis aims to confirm the differences in the [...] Read more.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are currently investigated as crucial regulatory factors which may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Reports on the role of miRNA in patients with coronary artery aneurysmal disease (CAAD) are limited. The present analysis aims to confirm the differences in the expression of previously preselected miRNAs in larger study groups and evaluate their usefulness as potential markers of CAAD. The study cohort included 35 consecutive patients with CAAD (Group 1), and two groups of 35 patients matched Group 1 regarding sex and age from the overall cohort of 250 patients (Group 2 and Group 3). Group 2 included patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD), while Group 3 enrolled patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA) assessed during coronary angiography. We applied the RT-qPCR method using the custom plates for the RT-qPCR array. We confirmed that the level of five preselected circulating miRNAs was different in patients with CAAD compared to Group 2 and Group 3. We found that miR-451a and miR-328 significantly improved the CAAD prediction. In conclusion, miR-451a is a significant marker of CAAD compared to patients with CAD. In turn, miR-328-3p is a significant marker of CAAD compared to patients with NCA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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14 pages, 828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circulatory miR-411-5p as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

by Stephan Nopp, M. Leontien van der Bent, Daniel Kraemmer, Oliver Königsbrügge, Johann Wojta, Ingrid Pabinger, Cihan Ay and Anne Yaël Nossent

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3861; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043861 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

The risk stratification of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for subsequent cardiovascular events could help in guiding prevention strategies. In this study, we aimed at investigating circulating microRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in AF patients. We conducted a [...] Read more.

The risk stratification of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for subsequent cardiovascular events could help in guiding prevention strategies. In this study, we aimed at investigating circulating microRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in AF patients. We conducted a three-stage nested case–control study within the framework of a prospective registry, including 347 AF patients. First, total small RNA-sequencing was performed in 26 patients (13 cases with MACE) and the differential expression of microRNAs was analyzed. Seven candidate microRNAs with promising results in a subgroup analysis on cardiovascular death were selected and measured via using RT-qPCR in 97 patients (42 cases with cardiovascular death). To further validate our findings and investigate broader clinical applicability, we analyzed the same microRNAs in a subsequent nested case–control study of 102 patients (37 cases with early MACE) by using Cox regression. In the microRNA discovery cohort (n = 26), we detected 184 well-expressed microRNAs in circulation without overt differential expression between the cases and controls. A subgroup analysis on cardiovascular death revealed 26 microRNAs that were differentially expressed at a significance level < 0.05 (three of which with an FDR-adjusted p-value <0.05). We, therefore, proceeded with a nested case–control approach (n = 97) focusing on patients with cardiovascular death and selected, in total, seven microRNAs for further RT-qPCR analysis. One microRNA, miR-411-5p, was significantly associated with cardiovascular death (adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.95 (1.04–3.67)). Further validation (n = 102) in patients who developed early MACE showed similar results (adjusted HR (95% CI) 2.35 (1.17–4.73)). In conclusion, circulating miR-411-5p could be a valuable prognostic biomarker for MACE in AF patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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14 pages, 1115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dysregulation of Plasma miR-146a and miR-155 Expression Profile in Mycosis Fungoides Is Associated with rs2910164 and rs767649 Polymorphisms

by Chrysostomos Avgeros, Aikaterini Patsatsi, Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Andigoni Malousi, Triantafyllia Koletsa, Despoina Papathemeli, Antonia Syrnioti, Paraskevi Avgerou, Elizabeth Lazaridou, Georgios Tzimagiorgis and Elisavet Georgiou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010271 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1711

Abstract

Diagnosis of Mycosis Fungoides (MF) may be challenging, due to its polymorphic nature. The use of miRNAs as biomarkers to assist in diagnosis has been investigated, mainly in skin lesion biopsies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the plasma levels of [...] Read more.

Diagnosis of Mycosis Fungoides (MF) may be challenging, due to its polymorphic nature. The use of miRNAs as biomarkers to assist in diagnosis has been investigated, mainly in skin lesion biopsies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the plasma levels of miR-146a and miR-155 in MF patients and to investigate their association with SNPs of their genes. Plasma miRNAs were quantified by RT-qPCR. Genomic DNA was used for SNPs’ genotyping by Sanger sequencing. Plasma levels of miR-146a and miR-155 were significantly higher in patients vs. controls, in early MF patients vs. controls, and in advanced vs. early MF patients. Both miRNAs’ levels were significantly higher in stage IIB vs. early-stage patients. miR-155 plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with skin tumors or erythroderma. CC genotype (rs2910164 C>G) was significantly more frequent in healthy controls and associated with lower MF risk and lower miR-146a levels. The AA genotype (rs767649 T>A) was significantly more frequent in patients and correlated with increased MF risk and increased miR-155 levels. The combination of GG+AA was only detected in patients and was correlated with higher MF susceptibility. Increased mir-146a and mir-155 plasma levels in MF is an important finding to establish putative noninvasive biomarkers. The presence of SNPs is closely associated with miRs’ expression, and possibly with disease susceptibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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Review

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27 pages, 14353 KiB

Open AccessReview

Non-Coding RNAs in Human Cancer and Other Diseases: Overview of the Diagnostic Potential

by Roman Beňačka, Daniela Szabóová, Zuzana Guľašová, Zdenka Hertelyová and Jozef Radoňak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216213 - 11 Nov 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2638

Abstract

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are abundant single-stranded RNA molecules in human cells, involved in various cellular processes ranging from DNA replication and mRNA translation regulation to genome stability defense. MicroRNAs are multifunctional ncRNA molecules of 18–24 nt in length, involved in gene silencing through [...] Read more.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are abundant single-stranded RNA molecules in human cells, involved in various cellular processes ranging from DNA replication and mRNA translation regulation to genome stability defense. MicroRNAs are multifunctional ncRNA molecules of 18–24 nt in length, involved in gene silencing through base-pair complementary binding to target mRNA transcripts. piwi-interacting RNAs are an animal-specific class of small ncRNAs sized 26–31 nt, responsible for the defense of genome stability via the epigenetic and post-transcriptional silencing of transposable elements. Long non-coding RNAs are ncRNA molecules defined as transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides, their function depending on localization, and varying from the regulation of cell differentiation and development to the regulation of telomere-specific heterochromatin modifications. The current review provides recent data on the several forms of small and long non-coding RNA’s potential to act as diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic target for various human diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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25 pages, 2029 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Feasibility of Circulating miRNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Osteoarthritis: Challenges and Opportunities

by Kyriacos Felekkis, Myrtani Pieri and Christos Papaneophytou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13144; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713144 - 24 Aug 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and joint inflammation. As the most common aging-related joint disease, OA is marked by inadequate extracellular matrix synthesis and the breakdown of articular cartilage. However, traditional diagnostic methods for OA, [...] Read more.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and joint inflammation. As the most common aging-related joint disease, OA is marked by inadequate extracellular matrix synthesis and the breakdown of articular cartilage. However, traditional diagnostic methods for OA, relying on clinical assessments and radiographic imaging, often need to catch up in detecting early-stage disease or i accurately predicting its progression. Consequently, there is a growing interest in identifying reliable biomarkers that can facilitate early diagnosis and prognosis of OA. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential candidates due to their involvement in various cellular processes, including cartilage homeostasis and inflammation. This review explores the feasibility of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in OA, focusing on knee OA while shedding light on the challenges and opportunities associated with their implementation in clinical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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19 pages, 538 KiB

Open AccessReview

Expression and Regulatory Mechanisms of MicroRNA in Cholesteatoma: A Systematic Review

by Karolina Dżaman, Katarzyna Czerwaty, Torsten E. Reichert, Mirosław J. Szczepański and Nils Ludwig

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 12277; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512277 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1613

Abstract

Cholesteatoma is a temporal bone disease characterized by dysfunctions of keratinocytes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionary conserved noncoding RNAs that regulate mRNA expression. They can be packaged into exosomes and transported to target cells that can be used in the future therapy of cholesteatoma. [...] Read more.

Cholesteatoma is a temporal bone disease characterized by dysfunctions of keratinocytes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionary conserved noncoding RNAs that regulate mRNA expression. They can be packaged into exosomes and transported to target cells that can be used in the future therapy of cholesteatoma. This study aimed to collect knowledge on the role of miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs in cholesteatoma and was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. Four databases were screened: Pubmed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. The last search was run on the 6th of June 2023. We included full-text original studies written in English, which examined miRNAs in cholesteatoma. The risk of bias was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) Risk of Bias Rating Tool, modified for the needs of this review. We identified 118 records and included 18 articles. Analyses revealed the downregulation of exosomal miR-17 as well as miR-10a-5p, miR-125b, miR-142-5p, miR34a, miR-203a, and miR-152-5p and the overexpression of exosomal miR-106b-5p as well as miR-1297, miR-26a-5p, miR-199a, miR-508-3p, miR-21-3p, miR-584-5p, and miR-16-1-3p in cholesteatoma. The role of differentially expressed miRNAs in cholesteatoma, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, the cell cycle, differentiation, bone resorption, and the remodeling process, was confirmed, making them a potential therapeutic target in this disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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16 pages, 1396 KiB

Open AccessReview

miRNAs as Modern Biomarkers in Asthma Therapy

by Natalia Kierbiedź-Guzik and Barbara Sozańska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411499 - 15 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2210

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. For several decades (approximately 30 years), miRNAs and their role in asthma have been of constant interest among scientists. These small, non-coding RNA fragments, [...] Read more.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. For several decades (approximately 30 years), miRNAs and their role in asthma have been of constant interest among scientists. These small, non-coding RNA fragments, 18–25 nucleotides long, regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by binding to the target mRNA. In this way, they affect several biological processes, e.g., shaping airway structures, producing cytokines and immune mediators, and controlling defense mechanisms. Publications confirm their potential role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease, but only some articles address the use of miRNAs in the treatment of asthma. The following paper reviews the latest available studies and presents miRNAs as a useful tool for predicting the effectiveness of the included treatment, early diagnosis of exacerbations, and in assessing patient compliance for different groups of drugs used in asthma. The latest known pathways underlying the pathogenesis of the disease, which are associated with a change in miRNA expression, may be precise targets of therapeutic activity in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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14 pages, 639 KiB

Open AccessReview

Alterations in Circulating miRNA Levels after Infection with SARS-CoV-2 Could Contribute to the Development of Cardiovascular Diseases: What We Know So Far

by Myrtani Pieri, Panayiotis Vayianos, Vicky Nicolaidou, Kyriacos Felekkis and Christos Papaneophytou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032380 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3147

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and poses significant complications for cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and influence several physiological and pathological processes, [...] Read more.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and poses significant complications for cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and influence several physiological and pathological processes, including CVD. This critical review aims to expand upon the current literature concerning miRNA deregulation during the SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on cardio-specific miRNAs and their association with various CVDs, including cardiac remodeling, arrhythmias, and atherosclerosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite the scarcity of research in this area, our findings suggest that changes in the expression levels of particular COVID-19-related miRNAs, including miR-146a, miR-27/miR-27a-5p, miR-451, miR-486-5p, miR-21, miR-155, and miR-133a, may be linked to CVDs. While our analysis did not conclusively determine the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the profile and/or expression levels of cardiac-specific miRNAs, we proposed a potential mechanism by which the miRNAs mentioned above may contribute to the development of these two pathologies. Further research on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2, CVDs, and microRNAs will significantly enhance our understanding of this connection and may lead to the use of these miRNAs as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for both pathologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Human Diseases)

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