Serum exosomal microRNAs as novel biomarkers for multiple myeloma

Abstract

Accumulating studies have focused on circulating microRNAs, which might be potential biomarkers for different malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of serum exosomal microRNAs to be novel serum biomarkers for smouldering myeloma (SMM) or even multiple myeloma (MM). The levels of serum exosomal microRNAs and serum circulating microRNAs were measured in healthy individuals and patients with SMM (n = 20) or MM (n = 20). Serum exosomal microRNAs and serum circulating microRNAs were extracted from serum, and the expression levels of selected microRNAs were quantified by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The levels of serum exosome‐derived miR‐20a‐5p, miR‐103a‐3p, and miR‐4505 were significantly different among patients with MM, patients with SMM, and healthy individuals, while there were differences in the levels of let‐7c‐5p, miR‐185‐5p, and miR‐4741 in patients with MM relative to those in SMM patients or healthy controls. Additionally, a significant correlation was rarely found between the levels of serum and exosomal microRNAs. This study shows that serum exosomal microRNAs can be used independently as novel serum biomarkers for MM.

Clinical relevance of extracellular vesicles in hematological neoplasms: from liquid biopsy to cell biopsy

“…Among them, they identified downregulation of let-7b, let-7e, miR-106a, miR-106b, miR-155, miR-16, miR-17, miR-18a, and miR-20a as significant predictors for shorter progression-free survival (PFS), whereas downregulation of let-7b and miR-18a as significant predictors for shorter overall survival (OS) [54]. MiR-155 levels were also reported to be significantly lower in a small cohort of MM patients at diagnosis compared to healthy subjects [15]; similarly, serum exosomal let-7c-5p, let-7d-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-425-5p, miR-4741, miR-4505, and miR-140-3p levels were significantly different among 20 MM patients at diagnosis, 20 SMM patients and healthy individuals [55].…”

The Non-Coding RNA Landscape of Plasma Cell Dyscrasias

“…Regarding exosomal miRNAs, the levels of serum exosome-derived miR-20a-5p, miR-103a-3p and miR-4505 were significantly different among patients with MM, patients with SMM and healthy individuals, while there were differences in the levels of let-7c-5p, miR-185-5p and miR-4741 in patients with MM relative to those in SMM patients or healthy controls [201].…”

Emerging Insights on the Biological Impact of Extracellular Vesicle-Associated ncRNAs in Multiple Myeloma

“…In particular, increasing evidence indicates that the analysis of ncRNA levels in serum/plasma EVs could be a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of patients with different gammopathies [104] and the prediction of patient outcomes [105]. For example, a comparison of the miRNAs in the vesicles of patients with MM and SMM and healthy subjects showed differences between the different groups; moreover, in the same study, it was found that the levels of miRNAs associated with vesicles are different from those circulating in serum [104]. Among miRNAs differentially packed in EVs of affected subjects, let-7c-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-140-3p, and miR-185-5p were consistently reduced in patients with MM than in those with SMM, while miR-4505 and miR-4741 were higher [101].…”