Specific Autoantibodies and Clinical Phenotypes Correlate with the Aberrant Expression of Immune-Related MicroRNAs in Dermatomyositis

Abstract

Aims. The serum concentrations of miRNAs, miR-23a-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-146b-5p, and miR-150-5p, were shown to be associated with the immune and inflammatory progressions. We assessed the expressions of these five miRNAs in association with clinical phenotypes and myositis-specific autoantibody-defined subgroups of dermatomyositis (DM). Methods. The present study included 49 patients with DM and 30 healthy controls. The serum concentrations of miR-23a-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-146b-5p, and miR-150-5p were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Associations between the serum concentrations of miRNAs and DM clinical immune phenotypes were examined as well. Results. The serum concentrations of miR-23b-3p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-150-5p were significantly downregulated in DM patients (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.002, respectively), while miR-146b-5p was remarkably upregulated in DM patients compared with healthy controls (P=0.039). Similarly, the expressions of miR-23b-3p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-150-5p were significantly downregulated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from DM patients. Further study indicated that the serum level of miR-23b-3p was significantly correlated with creatine kinase (CK) (r=−0.286, P=0.046) and the serum level of miR-146a-5p was evidently correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r=−0.358, P=0.012). Significant correlations were also observed between the serum levels of miR-146b-5p and CRP (r=−0.347, P=0.014) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=−0.287, P=0.046). In addition, the expression level of miR-146b-5p was upregulated in DM complicated by tumors compared with those without tumors (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Especially, miR-150-5p was significantly downregulated in DM patients with anti-MDA5 antibodies and anti-NXP2 antibodies compared with those without (P=0.017 and P=0.047, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the four serum microRNAs in patients with and without interstitial lung diseases (all P>0.05). Conclusion. The results suggest an association between the four immune-related microRNAs and different clinical immune-phenotypes, and this association may regulate the complexity of disease processes through multipathways in DM patients.

Enhanced expression of miR-21 and miR-150 is a feature of anti-mitochondrial antibody-negative primary biliary cholangitis

“…Bars indicate the mean ± SEM patients. The relation between serum level of this micro-RNA and antibody production was reported previously (Ye et al 2019). Significantly higher levels of diverse immunoglobulins classes were present in blood of miR-150 knockout mice (Xiao et al 2007).…”

Acacetin ameliorates insulin resistance in obesity mice through regulating Treg/Th17 balance via MiR-23b-3p/NEU1 Axis

“…MiRNAs have regulatory effects on Treg/Th17 balance in several autoimmune diseases [ 35 ]. The serum concentration of miR-23b-3p is associated with the immune and inflammatory progressions [ 36 ]. In our study, we found upregulated Th17 (IL-17) and downregulated Treg cell marker (Foxp3) in the model mice, suggesting that Treg/Th17 imbalance might also occur to obesity-induced IR mice.…”

Polishing the crystal ball: mining multi-omics data in dermatomyositis

“…Invitro human and mouse models demonstrated that TNF inhibited the expression of these miRNAs and blocked the differentiation of human and mouse myoblasts into myocytes (46). Finally, a relationship between miRNA expression and autoantibody status has been reported, specifically between miR-96-5p upregulation and anti-Jo-1 (44), and miR-150-5p downregulation and anti-MDA5 and anti-nuclear matrix protein-2 (NXP2) (51).…”