Expression of TGF-β1 and miRNA-145 in patients with diabetic foot ulcers

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and microRNA (miRNA)-145 in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). A total of 26 patients with DFUs requiring amputation were enrolled in the study between January 2013 and August 2014. In addition, 15 trauma patients undergoing amputation over the same time period were included as a control group. Samples were collected from the blood, the dorsalis pedis arteries and muscles of the amputated limbs. The expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and miRNA-145 in these samples was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of TGF-β1 protein were evaluated using western blot analysis. In comparison with the control, the protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 in the DFU patients was significantly higher in the serum and the dorsalis pedis arteries, and significantly lower in the muscles with ulcers. In contrast, the expression levels of miRNA-145 was significantly lower in the blood and the dorsalis pedis arteries, and significantly higher in the muscles with ulcers in DFU patients compared with the control. The results of the present study suggested that there exists an inverse correlation between the expression levels of miRNA-145 and TGF-β1 in patients with DFU; thus suggesting that miRNA-145 may regulate the expression of TGF-β1 in patients with DFUs.