Elevated circulating miR-150 and miR-342-3p in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which regulate gene expression and are thus of interest as diagnostic markers, and as clues to etiology and targets of intervention. This pilot study examined whether circulating miRNAs are differentially expressed in patients with IBS.


METHODS
miRNA microarrays (NanoString) were run on the whole blood of 43 participants.


RESULTS
hsa-miR-150 and hsa-miR-342-3p were found to be significantly elevated (FDR adjusted p≤0.05, ≥1.6 fold change) in IBS patients compared to healthy controls. Neither of these miRNAs showed any relationship to race or sex. hsa-miR-150 is associated with inflammatory bowel disorders and pain, and interacts with a protein kinase (AKT2) through which it may affect inflammatory pathways. hsa-miR-342-3p is predicted to interact with mRNAs involved in pain signaling, colonic motility, and smooth muscle function.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study reports the association of two miRNAs, detected in whole blood, with IBS. These miRNAs link to pain and inflammatory pathways both of which are thought to be dysregulated in IBS. Larger sample sizes are needed to confirm their importance and potential as biomarkers.
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
Nicolaas H
NH
Fourie
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute National Institutes of Health Research Scholar, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States.
Ralph Michael
RM
Peace
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
Sarah K
SK
Abey
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
LeeAnne B
LB
Sherwin
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
Bridgett
B
Rahim-Williams
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
Paul A
PA
Smyser
Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
John W
JW
Wiley
Digestive Disorders Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States. Electronic address: hendersw@mail.nih.gov.
Wendy A
WA
Henderson
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
D005819:Genetic Markers; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C533097:MIR150, human; C546176:MIRN342 microRNA, human
Irritable bowel syndrome; MicroRNA; hsa-miR-342-3p; hsa-miRNA-150