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Plasma miR-125a and miR-125b in sepsis: Correlation with disease risk, inflammation, severity, and prognosis
Danna Zhao1, Shilei Li2, Jie Cui2
1Department of Laboratory, Cangzhou People Hospital, Cangzhou, China.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the predictive value of microRNA (miR)-125a and miR-125b for sepsis risk, and their correlations with inflammation, disease severity, and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients.
Methods:
Totally, 150 sepsis patients and 150 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Plasma samples were separated from blood samples obtained from sepsis patients and HCs to detect miR-125a and miR-125b expressions by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Besides, the 28-day mortality of sepsis patients was assessed. MiR-125a and miR-125b expressions were elevated in sepsis patients compared with HCs, and further receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis displayed that miR-125a (area under the curve (AUC): 0.749, 95% CI: 0.695-0.803) and miR-125b (AUC: 0.839, 95% CI: 0.795-0.882) could predict sepsis risk. As for inflammation, no correlation of miR-125a with C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and IL-23 was observed in sepsis patients, while miR-125b was positively associated with CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23. Regarding disease severity, miR-125a and miR-125b were positively correlated with acute physiology and chronic health care evaluation II and sequential organ failure assessment score in sepsis patients. Besides, ROC curve analysis exhibited that miR-125a failed to predict 28-day mortality risk (AUC: 0.588, 95% CI: 0.491-0.685) in sepsis patients, while miR-125b had a potential value in predicting elevated 28-day mortality risk (AUC: 0.699, 95% CI: 0.603-0.795).
Conclusion:
Both miR-125a and miR-125b predict sepsis risk, while only miR-125b exhibits the potency for disease management and prognosis prediction in sepsis patients.
Insights
MicroRNA-125b shows promise in predicting sepsis risk and patient outcomes, unlike miR-125a. This study highlights miR-125b
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Sepsis remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating novel biomarkers for early detection and risk stratification.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of biological processes and potential diagnostic/prognostic indicators in various diseases, including sepsis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive capability of microRNA (miR)-125a and miR-125b for sepsis risk.
- To assess the correlation of these miRNAs with inflammatory markers, disease severity, and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients.
Main Methods:
- Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure plasma miR-125a and miR-125b levels in 150 sepsis patients and 150 healthy controls.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of the miRNAs.
- Inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23) and clinical severity scores (APACHE II, SOFA) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Both miR-125a and miR-125b were significantly elevated in sepsis patients compared to healthy controls.
- miR-125a and miR-125b demonstrated good predictive value for sepsis risk (AUCs 0.749 and 0.839, respectively).
- miR-125b positively correlated with inflammatory markers and disease severity scores, whereas miR-125a did not show a significant correlation with inflammation.
- miR-125b showed potential in predicting 28-day mortality (AUC 0.699), while miR-125a did not.
Conclusions:
- Both miR-125a and miR-125b are potential biomarkers for predicting sepsis risk.
- miR-125b is a more promising candidate for disease management and prognosis prediction in sepsis due to its association with inflammation, severity, and mortality.
