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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier MSC for Lung Cancer Screening
Published on: October 26, 2017
Expression of microRNAs in leukocytes and serum of asbestosis patients
Vivien Kauschke1, Monika Philipp-Gehlhaar2, Joachim Schneider2
1Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg, Aulweg 129, 35392, Giessen, Germany. Vivien.Kauschke@arbmed.med.uni-giessen.de.
Background:
Although asbestos use is banned in many countries, long latency of asbestos-related diseases like pleural plaques or asbestosis mean it is still a public health issue. People suffering from these diseases have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma or lung cancer, which can progress quickly and aggressively. MicroRNAs were suggested as potential biomarkers in several diseases. However, in asbestosis, blood microRNAs are less explored. Since miR-32-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-145-5p, miR-146b-5p, miR-204-5p and miR-451a are involved in fibrotic processes and in cancer, expression of these microRNAs was analyzed in leukocytes and serum of asbestosis patients.
Methods:
MicroRNA expression was analyzed in leukocytes and serum of 36 patients (26 affected by pleural plaques and 10 by asbestosis) and 15 healthy controls by real-time RT-PCR. Additionally, data analyses were performed regarding disease severity based on ILO classification.
Results:
MicroRNA miR-146b-5p was significantly down-regulated in leukocytes of patients suffering from pleural plaques with a large effect indicated by η2p = 0.150 and Cohen's f = 0.42, a value of difference of 0.725 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.070-1.381. In patients suffering from asbestosis miR-146b-5p was not significantly regulated. However, data analyses considering disease severity only, revealed that miR-146b-5p was significantly down-regulated in leukocytes of mildly diseased patients compared to controls with a large effect indicated by η2p = 0.178 and Cohen's f = 0.465, a value of difference of 0.848 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.097-1.599. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and an area under the ROC curve value of 0.757 for miR-146b-5p indicated acceptable discrimination ability between patients suffering from pleural plaques and healthy controls. Less microRNAs were detectable in serum than in leukocytes, showing no significant expression differences in all participants of this study. Moreover, miR-145-5p was regulated significantly differently in leukocytes and serum. An R2 value of 0.004 for miR-145-5p indicated no correlation in microRNA expression between leukocytes and serum.
Conclusion:
Leukocytes seem more suitable than serum for microRNA analyses regarding disease and potentially cancer risk assessment of patients suffering from asbestos-related pleural plaques or asbestosis. Long-term studies may reveal whether down-regulation of miR-146b-5p in leukocytes might be an early indicator for an increased cancer risk.
Insights
MicroRNA miR-146b-5p is down-regulated in leukocytes of patients with asbestos-related pleural plaques. Leukocytes are more suitable than serum for detecting these microRNA biomarkers for asbestos-related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biomarkers and diagnostics
- Pulmonary medicine
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Asbestos-related diseases, such as pleural plaques and asbestosis, remain a public health concern due to their long latency and association with increased cancer risk.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as potential biomarkers, but their role in asbestos-related diseases, particularly in blood, is underexplored.
- Specific miRNAs (miR-32-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-145-5p, miR-146b-5p, miR-204-5p, miR-451a) are implicated in fibrotic processes and cancer, warranting investigation in asbestos-exposed individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of selected miRNAs in leukocytes and serum of patients with asbestos-related pleural plaques or asbestosis.
- To assess the potential of these miRNAs as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and risk assessment.
- To compare the suitability of leukocytes versus serum for miRNA analysis in this context.
Main Methods:
- Real-time RT-PCR was used to analyze miRNA expression in leukocytes and serum samples from 36 patients (26 with pleural plaques, 10 with asbestosis) and 15 healthy controls.
- Data analysis included consideration of disease severity based on the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of identified miRNAs.
Main Results:
- MicroRNA miR-146b-5p was significantly down-regulated in leukocytes of patients with pleural plaques and mildly diseased patients compared to controls, exhibiting large effect sizes.
- The ROC curve analysis for miR-146b-5p showed acceptable discrimination ability between patients with pleural plaques and healthy controls (Area under the curve = 0.757).
- Fewer miRNAs were detectable in serum than in leukocytes, with no significant expression differences observed in serum. miR-145-5p showed differential regulation in leukocytes and serum, but no correlation between the two compartments.
Conclusions:
- Leukocytes are a more suitable source than serum for miRNA analysis in patients with asbestos-related pleural plaques or asbestosis, potentially aiding in disease and cancer risk assessment.
- The down-regulation of miR-146b-5p in leukocytes may serve as an early indicator of increased cancer risk in individuals exposed to asbestos.
- Further long-term studies are recommended to validate these findings and explore the predictive value of miR-146b-5p.
