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Updated: Aug 12, 2025
Cerebrospinal Fluid MicroRNA Profiling Using Quantitative Real Time PCR
Published on: January 22, 2014
miRNA Signature in CSF From Patients With Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
María Muñoz-San Martín1, Imma Gómez1, Ana Quiroga-Varela1
1From the Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Group (M.M.-S.M., I.G., A.Q.-V., M.G.R., R.R.C., G.Á., A.M., E.Q., L.R.-T.), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Salt, Spain; CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya; Neurology Department (R.R.C., G.Á., L.R.-T.), Girona Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital and Santa Caterina Hospital; Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple (REEM) (R.R.C., E.Q., L.R.-T.) Medical Sciences Department (R.R.C., E.Q., L.R.-T.), University of Girona (UdG), Spain; Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) (M.B.), Spain; Immunology Department (L.M.V.), Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain; IRYCIS; and Unitat de Neuroimmunologia, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe.València (J.C.-V., B.C.).
Background And Objectives:
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) displays a highly variable disease progression with a characteristic accumulation of disability, what makes difficult its diagnosis and efficient treatment. The identification of microRNAs (miRNAs)-based signature for the early detection in biological fluids could reveal promising biomarkers to provide new insights into defining MS clinical subtypes and potential therapeutic strategies. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe PPMS miRNA profiles in CSF and serum samples compared with other neurologic disease individuals (OND) and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
Methods:
First, a screening stage analyzing multiple miRNAs in few samples using OpenArray plates was performed. Second, individual quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs) were used to validate specific miRNAs in a greater number of samples.
Results:
A specific profile of dysregulated circulating miRNAs (let-7b-5p and miR-143-3p) was found downregulated in PPMS CSF samples compared with OND. In addition, in serum samples, miR-20a-5p and miR-320b were dysregulated in PPMS against RRMS and OND, miR-26a-5p and miR-485-3p were downregulated in PPMS vs RRMS, and miR-142-5p was upregulated in RRMS compared with OND.
Discussion:
We described a 2-miRNA signature in CSF of PPMS individuals and several dysregulated miRNAs in serum from patients with MS, which could be considered valuable candidates to be further studied to unravel their actual role in MS.
Classification Of Evidence:
This study provides Class II evidence that specific miRNA profiles accurately distinguish PPMS from RRMS and other neurologic disorders.
