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Published on: August 7, 2017
The Specific microRNA Profile and Functional Networks for Children with Allergic Asthma
Xiyan Zhang1, Xude Zhang1, Shaojie Feng1
1Department of Allergy, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, People's Republic of China.
Insights
This study identified microRNA (miRNA) profiles in children with allergic asthma. MiRNA-370-3p was found to target key molecules in the cGMP-PKG pathway, offering new insights into asthma pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Allergic asthma is common in children, often co-occurring with atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in immune and inflammatory disorders, including allergic inflammation.
- The specific miRNA profiles in pediatric allergic asthma require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the miRNA expression profile in children with allergic asthma.
- To construct a network of interactions between differentially expressed miRNAs and target mRNAs.
- To provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from children with acute asthma.
- Bioinformatics analyses (miRanda, GO, KEGG) for predicting miRNA-mRNA interactions and targets.
- Real-time quantitative PCR to validate aberrant miRNA expression.
Main Results:
- 161 differentially expressed miRNAs identified, including 140 conserved and 21 novel miRNAs.
- 8929 targeted mRNAs predicted, enriched in cGMP-PKG signaling, cholinergic synapse, and salivary secretion pathways.
- miRNA-370-3p identified as targeting PKG and MLCP in the cGMP-PKG pathway, implicating it in allergic asthma pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- The study delineated the miRNA profile in PBMCs of children with allergic asthma.
- miRNA-370-3p's targeting of PKG and MLCP in the cGMP-PKG pathway offers new insights into allergic asthma pathogenesis.
- This research identifies potential novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets for pediatric allergic asthma.
Background:
Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma and often occurs in early life with increasing comorbidities, including atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of numerous immune and inflammatory disorders, particularly allergic inflammation. The specific miRNA profiles of children with allergic asthma have not been fully delineated and still require in-depth study.
Objective:
This study aimed to identify the expression profile of miRNAs and constructed a network of the interactions between differentially expressed miRNAs and target mRNAs to provide novel insights into understanding the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Materials And Methods:
In this study, we performed high-throughput sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from children in the acute phase of asthma. Bioinformatics approaches, including miRanda, Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, were employed to predict novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets for allergic asthma. Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to detect the expression of aberrantly expressed miRNAs.
Results:
One hundred and sixty-one differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in children with allergic asthma, including 140 conserved miRNAs and 21 novel miRNAs. A total of 8929 targeted mRNAs (44,186 transcripts) associated with differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted and significantly enriched in the cGMP-PKG signalling pathway, cholinergic synapse, and salivary secretion. We also found that miRNA-370-3p targeted PKG and MLCP molecules in the cGMP-PKG signalling pathway and was involved in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Conclusion:
We identified the miRNA profile of PBMCs in children with allergic asthma and also found that miRNA-370-3p targeted PKG and MLCP molecules in the cGMP-PKG signalling pathway, which provides a novel insight into understanding the pathogenesis of allergic asthma and investigating new targets for the treatment of allergic asthma in children.
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