The article provides brief information on the history of microRNA studies. Today, their role in human pathology is regarded as key regulators of the expression of genes and the proteins encoded by them: miRNA molecules perform important physiological functions in cells and tissues of various organs. The specific mechanisms of their participation in the pathological process are insufficiently known. MicroRNAs were the first to be studied in patients with spinal muscular atrophy and leukemia. Publications devoted to the study of miRNAs and their role in the life of the eye appeared in 2002. Initially, miRNAs were studied in the tissues of the animals’ eyes (mice and zebras), and later the role of miRNAs of retinal pigment epithelium in inflammatory changes was studied in the experiment. The first information on the searches and isolation of microRNAs, their quantitative characterization in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, autoimmune uveitis was analyzed. Encouraging results were obtained and the prospects of such studies in revealing the pathogenesis and the possibility of targeted treatment. Preliminary judgments were made about the role of miRNAs in the formation of various clinical forms of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (endocrine ophthalmopathy), which also gives hope for the emergence of targeted therapy for this disease. More publications have been devoted to the importance of miRNAs in the development of primary malignant intraocular tumors (retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma). Considerable attention is paid to retinoblastoma: the results of a study of various miRNAs as biomarkers of this tumor for early diagnosis with final access to targeted therapy, both in case of local lesion and in conditions of its metastasis, are presented. Most studies are limited to the study of miRNAs in tumor tissues. Over the past 5 years, a number of studies have been performed to highlight the spectrum of circulating miRNAs that have potential diagnostic value for early detection of metastases of uveal melanoma. The number of observations or experiments in the analyzed works is small, the studies are exploratory in nature and the publications all end almost with the phrase: “Further research is required”.
MicroRNAs (miRNA, miR) - regulate gene expression, take part in the regulation of cell life, proliferation and apoptosis. There are not enough publications on the study of microRNA in the plasma of patients with choroidal melanoma (CM) and the presented data are contradictory. An increase in the level of microRNA-146a in blood plasma was noted in patients with cancer of the lung, esophagus and breast. In the present study, we used microRNA-146a in the blood plasma of patients with CM. Purpose. To determine the possibility and reliability of detecting microRNA-146a in the blood plasma of patients with CM, taking into account the localization of the tumor and its size. Material and methods. The blood plasma of 84 patients was studied mean age 63.4±1.2 years. A control group of 28 people who did not have tumor or chronic autoimmune diseases mean age 63.25±1.43 years. The expression level of miRNA-146a was determined by quantitative PCR. Results. An increase in the level of microRNA-146a was shown, which correlates with the localization and thickness of the tumor. The results were confirmed by statistical analysis. Conclusion. MicroRNA-146a, which increases in plasma levels in patients with CM as its size increases, can be used as a biomarker of aggressive tumor course in terms of hematogenous metastasis. Key words: choroidal melanoma, microRNA-146a, biomarkers.
Almost 50 % of microRNAs (a family of small noncoding RNAs) are associated with the regions of the genome responsible for the development of tumors. These microRNAs play the role of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. In 2008, there were reports of the possibility of using microRNA as a predictive biomarker of the metastatic risk of uveal melanoma. Initially, microRNAs were investigated in melanoma samples; later, the possibility of using blood plasma for these purposes was shown.Purpose: to study the character of expression of miRNA- 146a, miRNA-155, miRNA-223, miRNA-126, miRNA-27b in the blood plasma of patients with choroidal melanoma (CM) and determine their significance in predicting possible hematogenous metastases. Material and methods. The study included 84 patients with CM aged 35–86 (ave 63.4 ± 1.2 yrs). The thickness of the CM varied in the range of 0.77–17.19 mm (ave 7.21 ± 0.43 mm). The control group consisted of 28 volunteers aged 45-78 (62.90 ± 1.42 yrs). MicroRNA expression levels were determined by quantitative PCR.Results. An increase in the expression level of miRNA-155, miRNA-146a, miRNA-126, miRNA-223, and miRNA-27b in blood plasma in all 84 patients with CM was revealed.Conclusion. The study of miRNA levels (miRNA-146, miRNA-155, miRNA-223, miRNA-126 and miRNA-27b) in the blood plasma of patients with CM can be used both to confirm the diagnosis of CM in difficult diagnostic cases and to determine the aggressiveness of the course tumor and prediction of metastasis.
Epigenetic studies of the level of microRNAs in human oncogenesis indicate their signifi cant role in the development and growth of malignant tumors of various origins. The fi rst works on the role of microRNAs in patients with uveal melanoma appeared in 2008.The aim: to analyze the expression level of miRNA-126 and miRNA-223 in the plasma blood of patients and to determine their signifi cance in the refi ned diagnosis of choroidal melanoma. Materials and methods. We examined 84 patients with choroidal melanoma (CM), mean age – 63.4 ± 1.2 (35–86 y.o.). Localization – a single CM node with a thickness of 0.77–17.19 mm. The control group consisted of 28 volunteers, age – 62.9 ± 1.42 (45–78 y.o.). Plasma miRNA expression levels were determined by real-time PCR.Results. An increase in the level of expression of miRNA-223 and miRNA-126 in blood plasma was confi rmed in all 84 patients with choroidal melanoma N0M0 compared with the control group. An increase in the expression of miRNA-223 and miRNA-126 was proved with an increase in tumor prominence.Conclusion. The obtained results of an increase in the expression of miRNA-223 indicate an increase in cell proliferation, and an increase in the expression of miRNA-126 on the activation of angiogenesis in a growing tumor, which makes it possible to recommend a study of the level of miRNA-223 and miRNA-126 for a more accurate diagnosis of small CM in cases of difficulty of differential diagnosis with other tumor-like diseases of the choroid.
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