Abnormal regulation of microRNAs and related genes in pediatric β-thalassemia

The clinical value of hsa-miR-190b-5p in peripheral blood of pediatric β-thalassemia and its regulation on BCL11A expression

BACKGROUND

The B cell CLL/lymphoma 11A (BCL11A) is a key regulator of hemoglobin switching in β-thalassemia (β-thal). Previous study has suggested that dysregulated microRNAs are involved in the regulation of BCL11A expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of hsa-miR-190b-5p in β-thal, and to confirm the regulatory effect of hsa-miR-190b-5p on BCL11A expression.

METHODS

The peripheral blood of 25 pediatric β-thal patients and 25 healthy controls were selected, and qRT-PCR was used to analyze the levels of hsa-miR-190b-5p and BCL11A mRNA. The relationship between hsa-miR-190b-5p expression and hematological parameters was assessed by Pearson's correlation test. The diagnostic power of hsa-miR-190b-5p was evaluated by ROC curves analysis. The direct integration between hsa-miR-190b-5p and BCL11A 3'-UTR was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

Hsa-miR-190b-5p expression in pediatric β-thal was upregulated, and negatively correlated with the MCH and HbA levels, but positively correlated with the HbF level. Hsa-miR-190b-5p showed a good diagnostic capability for pediatric β-thal equivalent to that of HbA2 (AUC: 0.760 vs. 0.758). Moreover, the levels of BCL11A mRNA in pediatric β-thal were decreased, and hsa-miR-190b-5p had a negative correlation with BCL11A mRNA expression (r = -0.403). BCL11A was a target gene of hsa-miR-190b-5p. The mRNA and protein levels of BCL11A were diminished by introduction of hsa-miR-190b-5p, whereas its expression was upregulated by knockdown of hsa-miR-190b-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

Hsa-miR-190b-5p expression was upregulated in pediatric β-thal and might be an effective diagnostic biomarker. BCL11A was negatively regulated by hsa-miR-190b-5p, which might provide new target for the treatment of pediatric β-thal.

Computational modeling and in vitro evaluation identified natural product-Z218 as a novel Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor to combat β-thalassemia

Aberrant activity of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is a known driver of several myeloproliferative disorders, including polycythemia vera, and thalassemia. Several inhibitors have been proposed to inhibit JAK2 activity in order to control the disease progression. Ruxolitinib and fedratinib that targets JAK2 kinase have been approved for use in myeloproliferative neoplasms patients. Experimental structures of JAK2 complexed with ruxolitinib provide insights into critical interactions of ruxolitinib. In this work, using a high-throughput virtual screening followed by experimental validations, we have identified a novel natural product from ZINC database that interacts with JAK2 in a manner similar to ruxolitinib and inhibits the activity of JAK2 kinase. Molecular dynamics simulations and MMPBSA method show binding dynamics and stability of our identified lead compound. Kinase inhibition assays show that our identified lead molecule inhibits JAK2 kinase at a nanomolar range, indicating a plausibility that the identified lead molecule can be further studied as natural product inhibitor of JAK2 kinase.

Let7i A key player and a promising biomarker in diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding single-stranded small RNAs that regulate gene expression by recognizing homologous sequences and interfering with transcriptional, translational or epigenetic processes. MiRNAs are involved in a variety of disease processes, and regulate the physiological and pathological status of diseases by modulating target cell activity, migration, invasion, apoptosis, autophagy and other processes. Among them, let-7i is highly expressed in various systems, which participates in the process of tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, fibrotic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and other diseases, and plays a positive or negative regulatory role in these diseases through different signal pathways and key molecules. Moreover, it can be used as an early diagnosis and prognostic marker for a variety of diseases and become a potential therapeutic target. As a biomarker, let-7i is frequently tested in combination with other miRNAs to diagnose multiple diseases and evaluate the clinical treatment or prognosis.

Circulating miRNAs in extracellular vesicles related to treatment response in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy

Background

Extracellular vesicle (EV)-microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for various renal diseases. This study attempted to identify the circulating EV-miRNA signature not only for discriminating idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) from idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), but also to predict the treatment response of patients with IMN.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 60 participants, including those with IMN (n = 19) and INS (n = 21) and healthy volunteers (HVs; n = 20) in this study. Using RNA sequencing, we assessed the serum EV-miRNA profiles of all participants. To identify the EV-miRNAs predictive of treatment response in IMN, we also analyzed EV-miRNAs among patients with IMN with and without clinical remission.

Results

The expression levels of 3 miRNAs differed between IMN patients, INS patients and HVs. In addition, compared to HVs, RNA sequencing revealed differential expression of 77 and 44 EV-miRNAs in patients with IMN without and with remission, respectively. We also identified statistically significant (|fold change ≥ 2, p < 0.05) differences in the expression levels of 23 miRNAs in IMN without remission. Biological pathway analysis of miRNAs in IMN without remission indicated that they are likely involved in various pathways, including renal fibrosis.

Conclusion

Our study identified EV-miRNAs associated with IMN as well as those associations with therapeutic response. Therefore, these circulating EV-miRNAs may be used as potential markers for the diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in patients with IMN.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03430-7.

Characteristic MicroRNAs Linked to Dysregulated Metabolic Pathways in Qatari Adult Subjects With Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Obesity-associated dysglycemia is associated with metabolic disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known regulators of metabolic homeostasis. We aimed to assess the relationship of circulating miRNAs with clinical features in obese Qatari individuals.

METHODS

We analyzed a dataset of 39 age-matched patients that includes 18 subjects with obesity only (OBO) and 21 subjects with obesity and metabolic syndrome (OBM). We measured 754 well-characterized human microRNAs (miRNAs) and identified differentially expressed miRNAs along with their significant associations with clinical markers in these patients.

RESULTS

A total of 64 miRNAs were differentially expressed between metabolically healthy obese (OBO) versus metabolically unhealthy obese (OBM) patients. Thirteen out of 64 miRNAs significantly correlated with at least one clinical trait of the metabolic syndrome. Six out of the thirteen demonstrated significant association with HbA1c levels; miR-331-3p, miR-452-3p, and miR-485-5p were over-expressed, whereas miR-153-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-433-3p were under-expressed in the OBM patients with elevated HbA1c levels. We also identified, miR-106b-3p, miR-652-3p, and miR-93-5p that showed a significant association with creatinine; miR-130b-5p, miR-363-3p, and miR-636 were significantly associated with cholesterol, whereas miR-130a-3p was significantly associated with LDL. Additionally, miR-652-3p's differential expression correlated significantly with HDL and creatinine.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNAs associated with metabolic syndrome in obese subjects may have a pathophysiologic role and can serve as markers for obese individuals predisposed to various metabolic diseases like diabetes.

Abnormal regulation of microRNAs and related genes in pediatric β-thalassemia

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the reactivation of γ‐globin expression in β‐thalassemia. However, the miRNA transcriptional profiles of pediatric β‐thalassemia remain unclear. Accordingly, in this study, we assessed miRNA expression in pediatric patients with β‐thalassemia.

Methods

Differentially expressed miRNAs in pediatric patients with β‐thalassemia were determined using microRNA sequencing.

Results

Hsa‐miR‐483‐3p, hsa‐let‐7f‐1‐3p, hsa‐let‐7a‐3p, hsa‐miR‐543, hsa‐miR‐433‐3p, hsa‐miR‐4435, hsa‐miR‐329‐3p, hsa‐miR‐92b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐6747‐3p and hsa‐miR‐495‐3p were significantly upregulated, whereas hsa‐miR‐4508, hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p, hsa‐let‐7b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐93‐5p, hsa‐let‐7i‐5p, hsa‐miR‐6501‐5p, hsa‐miR‐221‐3p, hsa‐let‐7g‐5p, hsa‐miR‐106a‐5p, and hsa‐miR‐17‐5p were significantly downregulated in pediatric patients with β‐thalassemia. After integrating our data with a previously published dataset, we found that hsa‐let‐7b‐5p and hsa‐let‐7i‐5p expression levels were also lower in adolescent or adult patients with β‐thalassemia. The predicted target genes of hsa‐let‐7b‐5p and hsa‐let‐7i‐5p were associated with the transforming growth factor β receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/AKT, FoxO, Hippo, and mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathways. We also identified 12 target genes of hsa‐let‐7a‐3p and hsa‐let‐7f‐1‐3p and 21 target genes of hsa‐let‐7a‐3p and hsa‐let‐7f‐1‐3p, which were differentially expressed in patients with β‐thalassemia. Finally, we found that hsa‐miR‐190‐5p and hsa‐miR‐1278‐5p may regulate hemoglobin switching by modulation of the B‐cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A gene.

Conclusion

The results of the study show that several microRNAs are dysregulated in pediatric β‐thalassemia. Further, the results also indicate toward a critical role of let7 miRNAs in the pathogenesis of pediatric β‐thalassemia, which needs to be investigated further.