Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
Published on: November 30, 2016
Circulating miR-181a as a novel potential plasma biomarker for multimorbidity burden in the older population
Francesca Iannone1, Paolina Crocco1, Serena Dato1
1Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, CS, Italy.
Background:
Chronic low-level inflammation is thought to play a role in many age-related diseases and to contribute to multimorbidity and to the disability related to this condition. In this framework, inflamma-miRs, an important subset of miRNA able to regulate inflammation molecules, appear to be key players. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of the inflamma-miR-181a in relation to age, parameters of health status (clinical, physical, and cognitive) and indices of multimorbidity in a cohort of 244 subjects aged 65- 97.
Methods:
MiR-181a was isolated from plasma according to standardized procedures and its expression levels measured by qPCR. Correlation tests and multivariate regression analyses were applied on gender-stratified groups.
Results:
MiR-181a levels resulted increased in old men, and significantly correlated with worsened blood parameters of inflammation (such as low levels of albumin and bilirubin and high lymphocyte content), particularly in females. Furthermore, we found miR-181a positively correlated with the overall multimorbidity burden, measured by CIRS Comorbidity Score, in both genders.
Conclusions:
These data support a role of miR-181a in age-related chronic inflammation and in the development of multimorbidity in older adults and indicate that the routes by which this miRNA influence health status are likely to be gender specific. Based on our results, we suggest that miR-181a is a promising biomarker of health status of the older population.
Insights
Plasma miR-181a levels are elevated in older men and linked to inflammation and multimorbidity in aging adults. These findings suggest miR-181a may be a biomarker for health status in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic low-level inflammation is implicated in age-related diseases and multimorbidity.
- Inflamma-microRNAs (miRNAs), such as miR-181a, regulate inflammatory molecules and are key players in aging.
- Understanding miR-181a's role is crucial for addressing age-related health decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma levels of miR-181a in relation to age.
- To assess the correlation of miR-181a with health status parameters (clinical, physical, cognitive).
- To evaluate the association of miR-181a with multimorbidity indices in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Plasma miR-181a expression was measured using quantitative PCR (qPCR).
- Correlation tests and multivariate regression analyses were performed on gender-stratified groups.
- The study included 244 subjects aged 65-97.
Main Results:
- miR-181a levels were increased in older men.
- miR-181a correlated with poorer inflammatory markers (low albumin, low bilirubin, high lymphocytes), especially in females.
- miR-181a positively correlated with the overall multimorbidity burden (CIRS Comorbidity Score) in both genders.
Conclusions:
- miR-181a plays a role in age-related chronic inflammation and multimorbidity development.
- The pathways influenced by miR-181a may be gender-specific.
- miR-181a shows promise as a biomarker for health status in the aging population.
