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Differential expression profiling of circulation microRNAs in PTC patients with non-131I and 131I-avid lungs
Zhong-Ling Qiu1, Chen-Tian Shen1, Hong-Jun Song1
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
Loss of the ability to concentrate (131)I is one of the important causes of radioiodine-refractory disease in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Recent advantages of serum microRNAs (miRNAs) open a new realm of possibilities for noninvasive diagnosis and prognosis of many cancers. The aim of the current study was to identify differential expression profiling of circulation miRNAs in PTC patients with non-(131)I and (131)I-avid lungs metastases.
Methods:
The expressions of miRNAs were examined using miRNA microarray chip. The most significantly changed miRNAs from microarray were verified by using qRT-PCR. The potential miRNAs regulating target genes and their preliminary biological functions were forecasted by Bioinformatic analysis.
Results:
Compared to (131)I-avid lung metastases, 13 kinds of significantly differential serum miRNAs including 5 upregulated miRNAs (miR-1249, miR-106a, miR-503, miR-34c-5p, miR-1281) and 8 downregulated miRNAs (miR-1915, miR-2861, miR-3196, miR-500, miR-572, miR-33b, miR-554, miR-18a) in PTC patients with non-(131) I-avid lung metastases were identified. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that miR-106a was the core miRNA regulating 193 genes in the network. The results of validation confirmed the up-regulation of miR-106a in non-(131)I-avid lungs metastatic PTC patients.
Conclusion:
Differentially expressed serum miRNA profiles between PTC patients with non-(131)I and (131)I-avid lungs metastases were analyzed. These findings in our present study could represent new clues for the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in PTC patients with non-(131)I-avid metastatic disease.
Insights
Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) can help identify papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with non-radioiodine-avid lung metastases. Specific miRNA profiles, like upregulated miR-106a, may guide future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for refractory PTC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) can become refractory to radioiodine therapy due to loss of iodine uptake.
- Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as promising biomarkers for noninvasive cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
- Identifying biomarkers for radioiodine-refractory PTC is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify differential expression profiles of circulating miRNAs in PTC patients with non-radioiodine-avid versus radioiodine-avid lung metastases.
- To explore the potential of these miRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic indicators for refractory PTC.
- To investigate the role of specific miRNAs in the development of radioiodine resistance.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from PTC patients with varying iodine avidity in lung metastases.
- miRNA expression profiling was performed using miRNA microarray chips.
- Significantly altered miRNAs were validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and analyzed via bioinformatic approaches.
Main Results:
- Thirteen differentially expressed serum miRNAs were identified between the two groups.
- Five miRNAs were upregulated (e.g., miR-106a) and eight were downregulated in patients with non-radioiodine-avid lung metastases.
- Bioinformatic analysis highlighted miR-106a as a key regulator of 193 genes, with qRT-PCR validation confirming its upregulation.
Conclusions:
- Distinct serum miRNA expression profiles differentiate PTC patients with non-radioiodine-avid lung metastases from those with radioiodine-avid metastases.
- These findings suggest that specific miRNAs, such as miR-106a, could serve as novel biomarkers for non-radioiodine-avid metastatic disease.
- The identified miRNA profiles may offer new insights for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for radioiodine-refractory PTC.
