Tissue and serum miR‐149‐3p/5p in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Correlation with disease severity and inflammatory markers

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of tissue and serum miR‐149‐3p and miR‐149‐5p in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A total of 35 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, 12 Crohn's disease (CD) patients, and 25 healthy controls were included in the study. The miRNAs expressions were measured in tissue and serum samples using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Inflammatory biomarkers were measured, including serum albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and fecal calprotectin. MiR‐149‐3p and miR‐149‐5p were significantly decreased in the inflamed areas of both CD and UC patients compared to tissue controls, which was consistent with decreased serum levels in IBD patients compared to healthy controls. When distinguishing UC patients from healthy controls, serum miR‐149‐3p showed 74% sensitivity and 96% specificity, while serum miR‐149‐5p exhibited 63% sensitivity and 96% specificity. In the CD versus healthy control comparison, miR‐149‐3p achieved 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity, while miR‐149‐5p demonstrated 92% sensitivity and 96% specificity. In the UC versus CD comparison, miR‐149‐5p showed 75% sensitivity and 77% specificity, while miR‐149‐3p displayed 67% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Significant correlations were identified between the tissue and serum expression of miR‐149‐3p/5p and disease activity scores, as well as inflammatory biomarkers in both CD and UC patients. Decreased expression of miR‐149‐3p and miR‐149‐5p is associated with disease activity in IBD patients. These miRNAs demonstrate diagnostic potential and may serve as biomarkers for monitoring disease activity in IBD.