miRNA 511_5p is a potential biomarker for ocular toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Background Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is a frequent clinical manifestation due to infection by Toxoplasma gondii. It is characterized by an inflammatory process involving macrophages activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. The expression of microRNAs takes place during the inflammatory process and, among them, miRNA 511 regulates the activation of macrophages. This study evaluated the expression of miRNA 511_5p in patients with OT and healthy controls. Methods A total of 361 patients from the Hospital de Base of Fundação Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto were enrolled and divided into four groups: G1–patients with active ocular lesions and reagent serology for T. gondii; G2–patients with scars and reagent serology for T. gondii; G3–patients without ocular lesions or scars and reagent serology for T. gondii; G4–patients without ocular lesions or scars and non-reagent serology for T. gondii. All patients underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation to confirm the diagnosis of OT. Serology tests, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed. Results The miRNA 511_5p levels were compared among the groups. The G1 group showed a high blood plasma concentration of miRNA 511_5p (mean 22.34) compared with the G2 (4.65), G3 (8.91) and G4 (3.52) groups (p<0.0001). Conclusion These data suggest that miRNA 511_5p has significant potential as a biomarker for OT.