title: MicroRNAs as tools to predict glucocorticoid response in inflammatory bowel diseases.
abstract: In spite of the introduction in therapy of highly effective biological agents, glucocorticoids (GCs) are still employed to induce remission in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but considerable inter-individual differences in their efficacy and side effects have been reported. The effectiveness of these drugs is indeed very variable and side effects, particularly severe in pediatric patients, are common and often unpredictable: the understanding of the complex gene regulation mediated by GCs could shed light on the causes of this variability. In this context, microRNAs (miRNAs) represent a new and promising field of research. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that suppress gene expression at post-transcriptional level, and are fine-tuning regulators of diverse biological processes, including the development and function of the immune system, apoptosis, metabolism and inflammation. Emerging data have implicated the deregulated expression of certain miRNA networks in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as IBD. There is a great interest in the identification of the role of miRNAs in the modulation of pharmacological response; however, the association between miRNA and GC response in patients with IBD has not yet been evaluated in a prospective clinical study. The identification of miRNAs differently expressed as a consequence of GC treatment in comparison to diagnosis, represents an important innovative approach that could be translated into clinical practice. In this review we highlight the altered regulation of proteins involved in GC molecular mechanism by miRNAs, and their potential role as molecular markers useful for predicting in advance GC response.
authors.affiliation: Sara De Iudicibus, Stefano Martelossi, Chiara Pierobon, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, 34137 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Iudicibus
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucafò
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martelossi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pierobon
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Decorti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D018579:Patient Selection; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Glucocorticoids; Inflammatory bowel diseases; MicroRNA; Molecular markers; Pharmacogenomics