Identification of a miRNA signature in neutrophils after traumatic injury

Traumatic injury is the cause of significant mortality and morbidity. The molecular mechanisms underlying traumatic injury logically involve changes in gene expression that may be regulated through microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the association between miRNA deregulation and traumatic injury is largely unknown. The purpose of the present study is to address this issue. In this study, we used microarray profiling to evaluate the differential expressions of miRNAs in neutrophils obtained from patients with major trauma (injury severity scores >16), relative to healthy individuals. This neutrophilic miRNA signature was further validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Genes and signaling pathways related to trauma-induced deregulated miRNAs were investigated in silico using the ontology-based and network mapping algorithms of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes or Genomes. Results showed that 13 miRNAs in neutrophils of major trauma patients were significantly and differentially expressed compared with the miRNA profiles of healthy controls. The results of qRT-PCR and in silico analysis revealed that miR-23a-5p, miR-30e-3p, miR-223-5p, miR-3945, miR-155-5p, and miR-150-5p were likely participants in the traumatic pathogenesis of these patients. In conclusion, neutrophils associated with traumatic injury were found to have a unique miRNA signature. Changes in signaling pathways due to deregulated miRNAs may be involved in the pathological processes of traumatic injury.