title: Identification of circulating microRNAs for the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which may be misdiagnosed with atypical conditions such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), due to overlapping clinical features. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with a key role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. We hypothesized that identification of a distinct set of circulating miRNAs (cmiRNAs) could distinguish patients affected by PD from MSA and healthy individuals. Results. Using TaqMan Low Density Array technology, we analyzed 754 miRNAs and found 9 cmiRNAs differentially expressed in PD and MSA patients compared to healthy controls. We also validated a set of 4 differentially expressed cmiRNAs in PD and MSA patients vs. controls. More specifically, miR-339-5p was downregulated, whereas miR-223(*), miR-324-3p, and mir-24 were upregulated in both diseases. We found cmiRNAs specifically deregulated in PD (downregulation of miR-30c and miR-148b) and in MSA (upregulation of miR-148b). Finally, comparing MSA and PD, we identified 3 upregulated cmiRNAs in MSA serum (miR-24, miR-34b, miR-148b). Conclusions. Our results suggest that cmiRNA signatures discriminate PD from MSA patients and healthy controls and may be considered specific, non-invasive biomarkers for differential diagnosis.
authors: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department for Parkinson's Disease, IRCCS Hospital San Camillo Venice, Italy.
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Vallelunga
authors: Unit of Molecular, Genome and Complex Systems BioMedicine, Department Gian Filippo Ingrassia, University of Catania Catania, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Ragusa
authors: Unit of Molecular, Genome and Complex Systems BioMedicine, Department Gian Filippo Ingrassia, University of Catania Catania, Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Di Mauro
authors: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds Leeds, UK.
authors: Tommaso
authors: T
authors: Iannitti
authors: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department for Parkinson's Disease, IRCCS Hospital San Camillo Venice, Italy.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Pilleri
authors: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department for Parkinson's Disease, IRCCS Hospital San Camillo Venice, Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Biundo
authors: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department for Parkinson's Disease, IRCCS Hospital San Camillo Venice, Italy.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Weis
authors: Unit of Molecular, Genome and Complex Systems BioMedicine, Department Gian Filippo Ingrassia, University of Catania Catania, Italy.
authors: Cinzia
authors: C
authors: Di Pietro
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Padua Padua, Italy.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: De Iuliis
authors: Section of Neuroscience University of Catania, Department GF Ingrassia, University of Catania Catania, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Nicoletti
authors: Section of Neuroscience University of Catania, Department GF Ingrassia, University of Catania Catania, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Zappia
authors: Unit of Molecular, Genome and Complex Systems BioMedicine, Department Gian Filippo Ingrassia, University of Catania Catania, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Purrello
authors: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department for Parkinson's Disease, IRCCS Hospital San Camillo Venice, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Antonini
keywords: Multiple System Atrophy; Parkinson's disease; atypical parkinsonian disorders; circulating microRNAs; early diagnosis; microRNAs