title: [Expression of miR-146a and miR-16 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their correlation to the disease activity].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression levels of miR-146a and miR -16 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their correlation to the disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression levels of miR-146a and miR-16 in the in PBMCs were measured using real-time RT-PCR in 40 RA patients and 16 healthy individuals. The correlations of miR-146a and miR-16 expressions to the disease activity of RA were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of miR-146a and miR-16 in the PBMCs of RA patients increased significantly compared to those in the healthy individuals (P<0.05). Their expression levels was significantly higher in active RA patients than in patients with disease remission (P<0.05) and healthy individuals (P<0.01). The expression levels of miR-146a and miR-16 were positively correlated to ESR, CRP and the disease activity scores in 28 joints (DAS28) (P<0.01), but not to RF (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The elevated expression levels of miR-146a and miR-16 are correlated to RA disease activity, suggesting their value in assessment of the clinical disease activity of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. fengzhitao2008@126.com
authors.forename: Zhi-tao
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; C505362:MIRN16 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs