Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026
mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation
Published on: May 1, 2021
miRNA-15a, miRNA-15b, and miRNA-499 are Reduced in Erythrocytes of Pre-Diabetic African-American Adults
Maurice B Fluitt1,2, Namita Kumari3, Gail Nunlee-Bland1,2,4
1Genetics and Human Genetics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA.
Aims:
The use of circulatory miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for T2DM is an explosive area of study. However, no study has investigated circulatory miRNA expression exclusively in African-American adults. The aim of this study was to identify the expression of nine selected miRNAs in erythrocytes of pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic African-American adults.
Main Methods:
Patients were recruited from the Howard University Hospital Diabetes Treatment Center following an 8 to 10 hour overnight fast. Expression of the nine selected miRNAs (miRNA-499, miRNA-146, miRNA-126, miRNA-223, miRNA-15a, miRNA-15b, miRNA-224, miRNA-326, and miRNA-375) was evaluated using quantitative real time PCR.
Key Findings:
miRNA-15a, miRNA-15b, and miRNA-499 were significantly reduced in erythrocytes of pre-diabetic African-American adults. In the T2DM group, we found significant correlations between miRNA-15a and BMI (r=0.59, p=0.04), miRNA-15a and weight (r=0.52, p=0.01), and miRNA-15b and diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.52, p=0.02). In the pre-diabetic group, we found significant correlations between miRNA-15b and weight (r=0.90, p=0.02) and miRNA-499 and HbA1c (r=-0.89, p=0.01).
Significance:
To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating miRNA expression in erythrocytes of non-diabetic high-risk obese--pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic African-American adults. The findings of this study are consistent with previous reports of reduced expression of miRNA-15a, miRNA-15b, and miRNA-499 in human plasma or serum and in animal models. The current findings support the use of circulating miRNA-15a, miRNA-15b, and miRNA-499 as potential biomarkers for T2DM in African-American adults.
More Related Videos
07:01Delivery of Exogenous Artificially Synthesized miRNA Mimic to the Kidney Using Polyethylenimine Nanoparticles in Several Kidney Disease Mouse Models
Published on: May 10, 2022
08:14MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier MSC for Lung Cancer Screening
Published on: October 26, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:22MicroRNAs
02:57piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs
01:22Lifecycle of Erythrocytes
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups....
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
01:29Structure and Function of Erythrocytes
The erythrocyte plasma membrane is associated with proteins such as spectrin, which forms a flexible cytoplasmic meshwork. This meshwork allows erythrocytes to twist, turn, become cup-shaped, and regain their biconcave shape as they pass through narrow capillaries. Additionally, erythrocytes can form...
02:01pre-mRNA Processing
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...