Expression profiling of miRNA-145 and miRNA-338 in serum and sputum of patients with COPD, asthma, and asthma–COPD overlap syndrome phenotype

Abstract

Background and objectivesA new phenotype with overlapping characteristics between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) called asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) is emerging among inflammation diseases. To date, there is no agreement on specific criteria to define this syndrome, and the current guidelines are insufficient to classify the analogy and differences between overlap and COPD or asthma phenotypes. It would be necessary to identify new biomarkers able to identify these diseases clearly. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify a serum and supernatant of sputum microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of miRNA-145 and miRNA-338 in patients with asthma (n=13), COPD (n=31), and ACOS (n=8) and controls (n=7).MethodsThe expression was evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). For statistical analysis, the ANOVA test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Spearman’s rank correlation were used.ResultsThe main finding of this work is that the expression of miRNA-338 is higher in the supernatant of different obstructive diseases than in peripheral blood, while miRNA-145 is higher only in the supernatant of asthma patients. The expression of both selected miRNAs is higher in the supernatant of asthma and COPD patients than in controls.ConclusionDifferences in sputum miRNA expression profile were observed between patients with ACOS and asthma or COPD, which underline the potential role of miRNA as a biomarker that is able to discriminate patients with ACOS, asthma, and COPD.

Circulating miRNAs as diagnostic tool for discrimination of respiratory disease: Asthma, asthma‐chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap and COPD

“…[6][7][8] Nevertheless, the field of miRNAs as biomarkers for these diseases is still scarce, since it has only been described that COPD, ACO and asthma show higher sputum levels of miR-145 and miR-338 compared with healthy subjects. 9 Here, we show that serum miRNAs are promising biomarkers of respiratory diseases, with high values of sensitivity and specificity. We previously described a specific miRNAs profile that was upregulated in asthma compared with healthy controls.…”

miR‑152 may function as an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and patients with cervical cancer

“…Previous studies have indicated that circulating miRNAs possess diagnostic value and suitability for the detection of tumors (12,14). For instance, the abnormal expression of miRNA-145 and miRNA-338 was identified in serum and sputum samples of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma (15). In addition, decreased miR-433 and miR-133b levels in the blood may predict the progression of Parkinson's disease (16).…”

MicroRNA‐497 functions as an inflammatory suppressor via targeting DDX3Y and modulating toll‐like receptor 4/NF‐κB in cigarette smoke extract‐stimulated human bronchial epithelial cells

“…9 In addition to the key genes related to COPD pathogenesis, non-coding RNAs containing microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be concerned with COPD. 10,11 miRNAs, with [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] nucleotides, are a series of small endogenous nucleotide RNAs that participate in various biological processes by negatively modulate genes expression under post-transcriptional level. 12,13 The dysregulation of miRNAs are involved in multifarious diseases including COPD, which are often utilized as biomarkers for exposure to environmental factors.…”