miR-451a and miR-486-5p: biomarkers for benzene-induced hematotoxicity

The hematopoietic system is the primary target of benzene exposure. Whether peripheral blood miRNA can serve as sensitive biomarkers for benzene-induced hematopoietic damage has attracted considerable attention. This study focuses on exploring the role of miR-451a and miR-486-5p in benzene-induced erythroid damage and assessing their potential as biomarkers of benzene-induced hematotoxicity. Animal experiments and human studies were conducted to reveal expression patterns of miR-451a and miR-486-5p in bone marrow and peripheral blood after benzene exposure, along with their correlations with erythrocyte indices. In C57BL/6J mice exposed to benzene, the expression levels of miR-451a and miR-486-5p in bone marrow decreased, which also positively correlated with red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (HCT). Conversely, in peripheral blood of C57BL/6J mice, the expression levels of the two miRNAs increased and showed a negative correlation with the three erythroid indices. Subsequent validation in bone marrow samples of chronic benzene poisoning patients and peripheral blood of workers from petrochemical plant confirmed significant correlations between miR-451a and miR-486-5p expression levels and red blood cell parameters. Furthermore, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that miR-451a emerged as a potential biomarker for benzene-induced hematotoxicity, exhibiting superior discriminatory power compared to miR-486-5p and conventional erythroid indices. Additionally, in vitro experiments using K562 cells revealed differential regulatory effects of benzene metabolite hydroquinone (HQ) on miR-451a expression based on erythroid differentiation status. These findings emphasized the important role of miR-451a and miR-486-5p in benzene-induced erythrogenesis disruption, offering valuable insights for biomarker development and therapeutic interventions.