Mahi Hanieh, Yousefi Zahra, Toufan Fatemeh, Yarmohammadi Maryam, Jafarisani Moslem, Eskandari Nahid, Shams Mohammad-Hossein, Jafari Reza
Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
Schools of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
Cell J. 2023 Jul 25;25(7):505-512. doi: 10.22074/cellj.2023.1989941.1237.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common progressive autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation of the joints and damage to other organs. Previous studies have reported the important role of miRNA-146a in the pathogenesis of RA. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and modulatory effects of oleuropein (OLEU) on the expression pattern of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown in different diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate both the sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-146a and determine the potential effects of OLEU on the expression levels of miRNA-146a and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in RA patients.
The participants in this experimental study were divided into 2 groups: RA (n=45) and healthy controls (n=30). The isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with different concentrations of OLEU; and the level of TNF-α expression, anti-citrullinated protein, and miRNA-146a were determined using enzyme-linked immunoassay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-146a in RA patients.
Results revealed a positive correlation between the levels of miRNA-146a expression with the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in RA patients. In addition, OLEU treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α and miRNA-146a expression in treated PBMCs samples compared with untreated cells. The ROC curve analysis showed an 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity of miRNA-146a in RA patients.
Therefore, miRNA-146a can be used as a useful biomarker for RA diagnosis, particularly for early detection. In addition, OLEU could suppress inflammation in RA patients through the regulation of miRNA-146a.
类风湿关节炎（RA）是一种常见的进行性自身免疫性疾病，可导致关节慢性炎症及其他器官损伤。既往研究报道了miRNA - 146a在RA发病机制中的重要作用。此外，橄榄苦苷（OLEU）在不同疾病中对微小RNA（miRNA）表达模式的抗炎和调节作用已得到证实。因此，本研究旨在评估miRNA - 146a的敏感性和特异性，并确定OLEU对RA患者miRNA - 146a和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）表达水平的潜在影响。
本实验研究的参与者分为两组：RA组（n = 45）和健康对照组（n = 30）。分离的外周血单个核细胞（PBMCs）用不同浓度的OLEU处理；分别采用酶联免疫吸附测定法和实时聚合酶链反应测定TNF-α表达水平、抗瓜氨酸化蛋白及miRNA - 146a水平。此外，通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析评估miRNA - 146a在RA患者中的敏感性和特异性。
结果显示，RA患者中miRNA - 146a表达水平与血清C反应蛋白（CRP）和类风湿因子（RF）水平呈正相关。此外，与未处理细胞相比，OLEU处理降低了处理后PBMCs样本中TNF-α和miRNA - 146a的表达水平。ROC曲线分析显示，miRNA - 146a在RA患者中的敏感性为85%，特异性为100%。
因此，miRNA - 146a可作为RA诊断的有用生物标志物，尤其是用于早期检测。此外，OLEU可通过调节miRNA - 146a抑制RA患者的炎症反应。
