Biomarkers and therapeutic targets: microRNA roles in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of eosinophilic esophagitis

Abstract

How to cite this article: Lambert KA, Jhaveri P, Jhaveri P. Biomarkers and therapeutic targets: microRNA roles in the pathophysiology, AbstractEosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease that is increasingly recognized as the cause of common gastrointestinal symptoms including dysphagia, chest and abdominal pain, heartburn, food impaction, and food refusal in children and adults. Often referred to as "asthma of the esophagus", eosinophilic esophagitis, like its asthma counterpart, is an allergic disorder on the rise worldwide. Clinically managed by food avoidance, steroid therapy, recurring endoscopic evaluations and dilations as needed, eosinophilic esophagitis is a poorly understood disease process with limited therapies and even fewer diagnostic tools to predict and surveil active inflammation. As a result, there is a critical need to identify noninvasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for eosinophilic esophagitis. Here we review the known contributions of miRNAs to eosinophilic inflammation of the esophagus and the potential for miRNA biomarkers for EoE in the clinical setting.

Proton‐pump Inhibitor Response Prediction Using Esophageal microRNAs in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis

“…To validate the results of miRNA expression, we tested them in 15 pairs of biopsies from PPI-R children before and after treatment using qRT-PCR. We analyzed 6 miRNAs upregulated in children after treatment (miR-4485-3p, miR-135a-2-3p, miR-3659, miR-135a-5p, miR-31-3p, and miR-664a-3p) and 11 downregulated miRNAs (miR-520d-5p, miR-520a-5p, miR-525-5p, miR-519d-5p, miR-4773, miR-522-3p, miR-490-3p, miR-137-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-212-5p, and miR-7-5p), which were selected based on several criteria: differential expression with a P value less than 0.05 and a fold change higher than 1.5; putative target genes associated with the pathology; and their implication in the disease, according to previous studies ( 16 ). In addition, we decided to check 2 additional miRNAs: miR-375-3p (Log 2 fold change = 2.17; P value = 0.06) and miR-21-3p (Log 2 fold change = −1.08; P value = 0.09).…”

Emerging role of MicroRNAs in allergic diseases

“…Many of the asthma candidate miRNAs emerged as players in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, suggesting that miRNA pathways may be de-regulated in the skin in an analogous manner to the airways in asthma. Along these lines, Lambert et al [5] reviewed the current literature on miRNAs in eosinophilic esophagitis, a relatively new disease whose pathogenesis is poorly characterized. A panel of miRNAs was found to be de-regulated in inflamed esophageal tissue, and mechanistic studies suggest that they regulate allergic cytokine signaling.…”