Serum microRNA-381: A Potential Marker for Early Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the potential early diagnostic value of serum microRNA-381(miRNA-381) in patients with gastric cancer (GC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and early gastric cancer (EGC), as well as healthy individuals, were enrolled in this study. Expression of miRNA-381 in serum was detected using real-time quantitative PCR. Electrochemiluminescence analysis was used to investigate the expression of classic tumor markers, including carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199, CA724, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Finally, receiver operating characteristic curve and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to determine the value of miRNA-381 in clinical diagnosis of GC. RESULTS: miRNA-381 was differentially expressed among the study groups. AUC analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of serum miRNA-381 in the diagnosis of GC were superior to those of other tumor markers. Furthermore, low levels of miRNA-381 expression were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and AGC. Finally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that down-regulation of miRNA-381 was associated with lymph node metastasis and the development of GC. CONCLUSION: miRNA381, which was down-regulated in GC, might be a novel early diagnosis marker for patients with GC.

An Explorative Analysis for the Role of Serum miR-10b-3p Levels in Predicting Response to Sorafenib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The prognostic role of aberrant serum miRNA expression for predicting response to sorafenib treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients has not been well characterized. We aimed to identify specific serum miRNAs that are associated with positive radiologic responses or improved survival in sorafenib-treated HCC patients. miR-18a, miR-21, miR-139-5p, miR-221, miR-224, and miR-10b-3p, were selected for analysis. Serum samples from 24 patients with advanced stage HCC and 25 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) were analyzed. All of the miRNAs except miR-21 were found to be upregulated in serum samples from HCC patients. None of the miRNAs assayed differed significantly in terms of expression between the responder and non-responder groups among HCC patients. However, miR-10b-3p levels were significantly higher in the subgroup of HCC patients with worse overall survival (fold change = 5.8, P = 0.008). Serum miRNA-10b-3p was upregulated in the presence of macrovascular invasion (MVI), and those with higher serum miRNA-10b-3p had significantly shorter survival during treatment (P = 0.042). Although no single serum miRNA was predictive of response to sorafenib treatment, analysis of serum miR-10b-3p levels may be valuable for diagnosis of HCC and prediction of survival of sorafenib-treated patients.

Association of serum Mir-217 level with Sirt1 and HIF-1αin type 2 diabetic patients with different urinary albumin excretion rates / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To explore the associations of serum Mir-217 with silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1)and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)in type 2 diabetic patients with different urinary albumin excretion rates. Methods A total of 479 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into normoalbuminuric(D1, n=181), microalbuminuric(D2, n=165), and macroalbuminuric(D3, n=133)subgroups. 192 normal subjects served as control group. Serum level of Mir-217 was detected by realtime PCR. Serum Sirt1, HIF-1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with control subjects, serum Mir-217 level was significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patients and gradually increased in D1, D2, and D3 groups(P<0. 01). The parameters of age, diabetes duration, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistant index(HOMA-IR), HbA1C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol( LDL-C) , total cholesterol ( TC ) , triglyceride ( TG ) , serum uric acid ( SUA ) , blood urea nitrogen(BUN), HIF-1α, VEGF, and Mir-217 all were positively correlated with ACR(all P<0. 05). High density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C)and Sirt1 were negatively correlated with ACR(both P<0. 05). VEGF, HIF-1α, Mir-217, BUN, diabetes duration, LDL-C, Sirt1, and SUA were independent factors that influenced ACR(all P<0. 01). Additionally, diabetes duration, HOMA-IR, HbA1C, ACR, LDL-C, TC, TG, SUA, BUN, HIF-1α, and VEGF were positively correlated with Mir-217(all P<0. 05), while Sirt1 was negatively correlated with Mir-217(P<0. 01). Conclusion Serum Mir-217, as a possible biomarker for early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy, may be involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy by promoting chronic inflammatory reaction, renal fibrosis, and angiogenesis.

The relationship of serum miR-30a and heart failure in children with congenital heart disease / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To explore the relationship of serum miR-30a and cardiac function in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), and the diagnostic value of serum miR-30a to heart failure. Methods From January 2013 to June 2013, 65 children with CHD were enrolled, and divided into the HF group (patients with heart failure, n=40) and the Non-HF group (patients without heart failure, n=25) according to modified Ross score. The serum miR-30a expression level was quantified by real-time PCR. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was tested by echocardiography. The correlation between miR-30a and modified Ross score and LVEF were evaluated with Spearman's analysis. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for miR-30a was examined. Results The expression level of miR-30a in HF group was higher than that in Non-HF group, the LVEF was lower in HF group than that in Non-HF group (all P<0.001). The serum miR-30a level was positively correlated with modified Ross score (r=0.63, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with LVEF (r=-0.32, P<0.01). According to ROC analysis, the AUC of miR-30a for detection of HF was 0.7440. Conclusion The expression level of serum miR-30a was closely correlated with the cardiac function, which can be as a biomarker for indicating the heart failure in CHD.

Serum microRNA:a new class of biomarkers and targets of therapy / 国际儿科学杂志

MicroRNA (miRNA) are a class of small,non-coding,measuring 21-25 nucleotides in length RNA,which regulates protein levels post-transcriptionally through binding to 3'-untranslated region of target mRNA.miRNA involves in many physiological and pathological processes.Studies demonstrate that miRNA presents not only intracellular,but also in circulation and body fluids,e.g.urine,tear,ascetic fluid,and amniotic fluid,and these miRNA have become a novel biomarker and potential target of treatment,especially the serum miRNA.This review summarizes the recent advances of serum miRNA.