Research Article Analysis of microRNAs -15b, -16, -21, -221 and -222 as molecular markers in the blood of rats submitted to focal cerebral ischemia associated with alcoholism

Abstract

P.C. Novais et al. 2 (IR), Alcoholic (A); Alcoholic and ischemic (I + A); Ischemiareperfusion and Alcoholic (IR+A). The blood samples were collected for gene expression analysis of some serum miRNAs by PCR in real time. The serum expression of miRNA-16 was higher in the IR group compared to C and S groups (P < 0.05) but no association with chronic alcoholism was found. The serum expressions of miRNA-21,-221 and-222 were low in all groups and were not correlated with ischemic injury and/or chronic alcoholism. The serum expressions of miRNA-15b,-21,-221 and-222 were similar among the experimental groups, with no correlation with ischemia, with or without reperfusion, and/or alcoholism. The overexpression of miRNA-16 in the blood of I and IR groups demonstrated a correlation with the ischemic process, mainly after reperfusion for 48 hours, associated or not with alcoholism.