The Role of microRNA in Overactive Bladder: Relationship and Clinical Correlation

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between miRNAs and overactive bladder (OAB). We also aimed to reveal the diagnostic properties of miRNAs and their potential to predict responses to therapy. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients with OAB as the treatment group and 60 healthy individuals as the control group. The blood levels of 15 miRNAs in both groups were determined using PCR. Also, miRNAs with high diagnostic values were identified with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Finally, the Turkish-validated OAB questionnaire form was filled out before and after the treatment by the participants in the treatment group. In this way, the relationship between OAB score changes and miRNA levels was examined. Results: The let-7a, let-7c, let-7e, let-7f, and let-7g miRNA molecules in the treatment group were higher, with a high level of significance (p = 0.0001). Additionally, the miR-135b, miR-300, miR-372, miR-373, miR-381, miR-520a, miR-520d, and miR-520e miRNA molecules were found to be statistically higher in the control group (p = 0.0001). In addition, let-7c (area under curve [AUC] = 0.985) and the let-7c + miR-381 combination (area under curve [AUC] = 1) were the highest values in the ROC analysis. Finally, after treatment in the patient group, a significant difference was detected in both miRNAs (let-7f and miR-135b) in patients with clinical improvements of 50% and above in the OAB score. Conclusions: miRNAs may help elucidate the pathophysiology of OAB. They may shed light on diagnosis and evaluation of treatment effectiveness.