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Integrated transcriptomic analysis identifies tsRNA-mRNA regulatory axis in asthma pathogenesis.
Ying Zhou1, Hang Lin2, Dongmei Zhou3
1Department of Pediatrics Laboratory, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214023, China.
The World Allergy Organization Journal
|May 7, 2026
Summary
This study reveals tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) play a role in asthma by regulating gene expression in bronchial cells. These tsRNAs and their targets may offer new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues for asthma.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma pathogenesis involves complex, not fully understood, molecular mechanisms.
- tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a newly identified class of non-coding RNAs with roles in various diseases.
- The specific involvement of tsRNAs in asthma pathogenesis is largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of tsRNAs in the molecular mechanisms of asthma.
- To identify differentially expressed tsRNAs and their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in asthma.
- To construct a tsRNA-mRNA regulatory network to understand post-transcriptional regulation in asthma.
Main Methods:
- Integrated analysis of tsRNA and mRNA profiles from severe asthma patients and healthy controls.
- Identification of differentially expressed tsRNAs and mRNAs using MINTmap, DESeq2, miRanda, and TargetScan.
- Validation in an independent cohort and experimental confirmation in house dust mite-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells.
Main Results:
- Identified 58 dysregulated tsRNAs and 961 differentially expressed mRNAs in asthma.
- Constructed a regulatory network revealing 343 tsRNA-mRNA pairs, with 36 hub mRNAs validated.
- Confirmed the dysregulation of three candidate tsRNAs and the direct suppression of MYBL1 by tRF-21-Z4NY2V7KE.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first comprehensive tsRNA-mRNA regulatory network in asthma.
- Uncovered novel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in bronchial epithelial cells relevant to asthma.
- Identified potential tsRNA biomarkers and therapeutic targets for asthma.
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