Circulating levels of microRNAs 126-5p, 150-5p, 214-3p, and 452-5p decrease following splenectomy in dogs with...

To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) differentially expressed in the serum of dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma between preoperative and postoperative samples.

RNA was extracted from serum collected from dogs with hemangiosarcoma preoperatively, 24 to 48 hours postoperatively, and 10 to 30 days postoperatively. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was performed with differential expression analysis between sample time points for miRNA (miR)-126-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-452-5p, miR-494-3p, miR-497-5p, and miR-543 using miR-16-5p and miR-93-5p as controls.

Serum from 17 dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma (13 with stage II disease, 4 with stage I disease) was collected preoperatively (n = 17), 24 to 48 hours postoperatively (17), and 10 to 30 days postoperatively (5). MicroRNA-126-5p expression decreased at both postoperative time points compared to the preoperative time point. MicroRNA-150-5p and miR-214-3p expression decreased between the preoperative and 24- to 48-hour postoperative time point, although neither had a significant change in expression between the preoperative and the 10- to 30-day postoperative time point. MicroRNA-452-5p had decreased expression at the 10- to 30-day postoperative time point compared to the preoperative time point. There was no change in expression of miR-203a-3p, miR-494-3p, miR-497-5p, or miR-543 between any time points.

MiR-126-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-452-5p all showed a decrease in expression at at least one timepoint following splenectomy.

These miRNAs have been previously shown to have roles in angiogenesis and pathways known to be involved in the pathogenesis of hemangiosarcoma and may be prospective targets for a minimally invasive diagnostic panel for the presence of splenic hemangiosarcoma.