Expression of miR-21 in peripheral blood serum and mononuclear cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its clinical significance / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To explore expression of miR-21 in peripheral blood serum and mononuclear cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to discuss the significance and underlying mechanisms.
@*METHODS@#The subjects were divided into a healthy control group (n=41) and a COPD group (n=49). The miR-21 level was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The correlations between miR-21 and lung function or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were analyzed.
@*RESULTS@#The expression levels of miR-21 in the serum and mononuclear cells in the COPD group were significantly elevated compared with those in the healthy group (P<0.05). The expression of miR-21 was correlated with the lung function of COPD patients. The expression level of miR-21 in the COPD patients was positively correlated with FEV1. 
@*CONCLUSION@#The upregulation of miR-21 in peripheral blood serum and mononuclear cells of COPD patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD and the severity of this disease.