Discovery of microRNA expression profiles involved in regulating TGF-β2 expression in the tears of dry eye patients

Abstract

Background: To date, the difference in microRNA (miR) expression profiles in tears of dry eye patients and healthy people has not been reported. In current study, we evaluated the significance of miRs and transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-β2) in distinguishing dry eye.
Methods: 138 patients with dry eye from October 2017 to October 2018 were selected. During the same period, 138 healthy persons were collected. All patients were followed up for 12 months through outpatient, telephone or medical records, and the time of corneal injury was recorded.
Results: Compared with healthy people, TGF-β2 levels in dry eye patients were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Array analysis, predictive software, and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-450b-5p, miR-1283, and miR-3671 can target TGF-β2 expression. Tear miR-450b-5p, miR-1283, and miR-3671 levels were significantly higher in dry eye patients than healthy people. A logistic regression model combining miR-450b-5p, miR-1283, miR-3671, and TGF-β2 was performed. This model presented a high discriminating value (AUC: 0.907, 0.876-0.939, P<0.001) than any single indicator, and the sensitivity and specificity were 77.7% and 92.7%, respectively. Compared with the low miR-450b-5p, low miR-1283, low miR-3671 and high TGF-β2 groups, the high miR-450b-5p, high miR-1283, high miR-3671 and low TGF-β2 groups had a significantly higher probability of corneal injury (TGF-β2: χ2=5.762, P=0.016; miR-450b-5p: χ2=13.267, P<0.001; miR-1283: χ2=19.431, P<0.001; miR-3671: χ2=8.131, P=0.004).
Conclusion: Current model combining tear miR-450b-5p, miR-1283, miR-3671, and TGF-β2 had important values in the identification of dry eye and was of great value in evaluating the risk of corneal injury.

Conjunctival Intraepithelial Lymphocytes, Lacrimal Cytokines and Ocular Commensal Microbiota: Analysis of the Three Main Players in Allergic Conjunctivitis

“…An increase in IgE concentration is commonly seen in the tears of allergic conjunctivitis patients (23). In contrast, the decreased TGF-b2 is somewhat less studied, although the same decrease has been observed in dry eyes (24).…”

Key methodological challenges in detecting circulating miRNAs in different biofluids

“…48 Also, one can collect tears by adding 60 μL of 0.9% saline dripped into the conjunctival sac and mixing it with tears. 49 Schirmer's paper strips used to determine tear production can also be used for tear collection. The strip is placed in Eppendorf tubes containing 500 μL of water with RNase inhibitors, vortexed for 5 min, and stored at À80°C.…”

Tear Film MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers: A Review

“…Advances in miRNA quantitation, paired with the simple, non-invasive collection methods of tears [ 13 ], entice mass participant collection [ 14 ] and physician engagement [ 15 ], which is essential for biomarker validation. Moreover, the importance of studying the relationship between tear composition and ocular health has become more apparent in recent years, and a multitude of studies have reported variations in tear miRNA content across different pathologies [ 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The cohesive relationship between miRNAs, the tear film, and health makes tear miRNAs pertinent options as noninvasive and low-cost diagnostic markers for numerous pathologies [ 13 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

“…The cohesive relationship between miRNAs, the tear film, and health makes tear miRNAs pertinent options as noninvasive and low-cost diagnostic markers for numerous pathologies [ 13 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Several studies have identified tear miRNAs as potential biomarkers for ocular diseases including diabetic retinopathy [ 18 , 26 , 27 ], Sjögren’s syndrome [ 19 ], glaucoma [ 20 , 28 ], dry eye disease [ 21 , 29 , 30 ], diabetic macular edema [ 12 ], herpes epithelial keratitis [ 22 ], and vernal keratoconjunctivitis [ 31 ]. Furthermore, tear miRNA alterations have been associated with some non-ocular diseases, such as Alzheimer’s [ 16 ] and metastatic breast cancer [ 32 ].…”