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Plasma microRNAs characterising patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Bin Zuo, Juping Zhai, Lifang You
1Yang He, MOH Key Lab of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China, Tel.: +86 512 6778 1379, Fax: +86 512 6510 1708,
Abstract:
Altered microRNA (miRNA) expression has been reported in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). However, the detailed expression profiling of cell-free circulating miRNAs in ITP patients has not been fully investigated. In this study, we aimed to examine plasma miRNAs in ITP patients and evaluate their diagnostic values. Plasma samples from 74 ITP patients and 58 healthy controls were obtained and allocated into discovery, validation, and therapy-response sets. Initial screen with a miRNA microarray assay identified 23 miRNAs with different levels between ITP patients and healthy controls (>1.5-fold changes; p<0.01). Subsequent quantitative real-time PCR confirmed eight up-regulated miRNAs (miR-320c, miR-642b-3p, miR-1275, miR-3141, miR-4270, miR-4499, miR-4739 and miR-6126) and three down-regulated miRNAs (miR-144-3p, miR-1281 and miR-3162-3p) in ITP patients. The levels of these circulating miRNAs varied, depending on ITP subtypes, i.e. newly-diagnosed, persistent and chronic ITP, and between treatment responders and non-responders. In receiver operator characteristic analysis, 10 miRNAs had positive diagnostic values (p<0.05) when tested individually. The diagnostic value improved when the miRNAs were analysed as a panel or together with the analysis of anti-platelet autoantibodies. Plasma miR-3162-3p levels were also found to positively correlate with platelet counts in ITP patients (r=0.338, p=0.01). Our results indicate that plasma miRNA profiles are altered in ITP patients and that the differentially expressed miRNAs may be used as biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of ITP.
Insights
Altered plasma microRNA (miRNA) profiles are evident in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. These specific circulating miRNAs show diagnostic potential for ITP, aiding in disease identification.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Altered microRNA (miRNA) expression is implicated in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
- Detailed expression profiling of cell-free circulating miRNAs in ITP patients remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma miRNA expression profiles in ITP patients.
- To evaluate the diagnostic value of circulating miRNAs for ITP.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples from 74 ITP patients and 58 healthy controls were analyzed.
- miRNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR were employed for expression profiling.
- Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess diagnostic values.
Main Results:
- Twenty-three differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between ITP patients and controls.
- Eight miRNAs were upregulated and three were downregulated in ITP patients.
- A panel of 10 miRNAs demonstrated significant diagnostic value, enhanced when combined with autoantibody analysis.
Conclusions:
- Plasma miRNA profiles are significantly altered in ITP patients.
- Specific circulating miRNAs hold potential as diagnostic biomarkers for ITP.
- miRNA expression levels correlate with ITP subtypes and treatment response.
