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. 2022 Sep 16;11(18):5446.
doi: 10.3390/jcm11185446.

Circulating MicroRNAs Expression Profile in Lung Inflammation: A Preliminary Study

Davida Mirra  1 , Erika Cione  2 , Giuseppe Spaziano  1 , Renata Esposito  1 , Mario Sorgenti  3 , Elisabetta Granato  4 , Ida Cerqua  4 , Lucia Muraca  5 , Pasquale Iovino  1 , Luca Gallelli  6 , Bruno D'Agostino  1
Affiliations

Circulating MicroRNAs Expression Profile in Lung Inflammation: A Preliminary Study

Davida Mirra et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: Bronchial asthma is an inflammatory airway disease with an ever-increasing incidence. Therefore, innovative management strategies are urgently needed. MicroRNAs are small molecules that play a key role in lungs cellular functions and are involved in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as bronchial asthma. This study aims to compare microRNA serum expression between subjects with asthma, obesity, the most common co-morbidity in asthma, and healthy controls to obtain a specific expression profile specifically related to lung inflammation.

Methods: We collected serum samples from a prospective cohort of 25 sex-matched subjects to determine circulating miRNAs through a quantitative RT-PCR. Moreover, we performed an in silico prediction of microRNA target genes linked to lung inflammation.

Results: Asthmatic patients had a significant lower expression of hsa-miR-34a-5p, 181a-5p and 146a-5p compared to both obese and healthy ones suggesting microRNAs' specific involvement in the regulation of lungs inflammatory response. Indeed, using in silico analysis, we identified microRNAs novel target genes as GATA family, linked to the inflammatory-related pathway.

Conclusions: This study identifies a novel circulating miRNAs expression profile with promising potentials for asthma clinical evaluations and management. Further and larger investigations will be needed to confirm the potential role of microRNA as a clinical marker of bronchial asthma and eventually of pharmacological treatment response.

Keywords: asthma; biomarkers; circulating microRNAs; inflammation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Serum levels of hsa-miR-155-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum levels of hsa-miR-223-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test. *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Serum levels of hsa-miR-34a-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test. ** p < 0.01, **** p < 0.0001.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Serum levels of hsa-miR-181a-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, **** p < 0.0001.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Serum levels of hsa-miR-146a-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Serum levels of hsa-miR-150-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test. ** p < 0.01.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Serum levels of hsa-miR-21-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Serum levels of hsa-miR-125b-5p in HNW (Group A), MANW (Group B) and HNAO (Group C). Results were shown as means ± SD. The statistical tests used in these analyses were one-way analysis of variance using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test.
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