Research of the methylation status of miR-124a gene promoter among rheumatoid arthritis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the methylation status of miR-124a loci in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP).


METHODS
DNA obtained from the frozen tissue of 7 RA samples, 6 osteoarthritis (OA) samples, and 3 healthy controls were undergoing bisulfite conversion and then analyzed for miR-124a promoter methylation using MSP assay.


RESULTS
miR-124-a1 and miR-124-a2 promoter methylation were both seen in 71.4% of RA samples compared to 16.7% of OA samples. miR-124-a3 promoter methylation was seen in 57.1% of RA samples and 0% of OA samples. All the three loci were unmethylated in 3 healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The methylation status of miR-124a seen in this study concurs with that reported in tumor cells, indicating epigenetic dysregulation constituents, a mechanism in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Department of Rheumatology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, No. 32 West Section 2, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China.
Qiao
Q
Zhou
Li
L
Long
Guixiu
G
Shi
Jing
J
Zhang
Tong
T
Wu
Bin
B
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
C509207:MIRN124 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs