Association of miR-155, miR-187 and Inflammatory Cytokines Il-10 and TNF-α in Chronic Opiate Abusers

Abstract

The current study determined levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and immune-regulatory miR-155 and miR-187 expressions in chronic opiate abuse. Adults (n = 48), meeting the 5th Edition of the DSM criteria regarding opioid use disorder, and healthy controls (n = 46) were included in the study. Serum samples were analysed for inflammatory cytokines IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α using ELISA and PBMCs processed for miRNA expression using SybrGreen chemistry. Cases showed significantly raised IL-10 and TNF-α and reduced IL-6. Using RNU6 for normalization, dose-dependent corresponding upregulation of miR-155-5p and downregulation of miR-187-5p were evident at opiate dose > 1500 gm/day, with a corresponding increase of TNF-α and IL-10. MiR-155 showed a significant negative correlation with IL-6 and TNF-α; miR-187 showed a significant positive association with TNF-α at > 1000 g/day consumption. Therefore, increasing consumption of opium probably enhances inflammation leading to immunomodulation and aberrant expression of has-miR-155-5p and has-miR-187-5p in opiate abusers.