title: Analysis of Circulating MicroRNAs In Vivo following Administration of Dexamethasone and Adrenocorticotropin.
abstract: Purpose. The interaction of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis and adrenal cortex-associated circulating microRNAs is mostly unknown. We have studied the effects of dexamethasone and adrenocorticotropin on the expression of five circulating microRNAs (hsa-miR-27a, hsa-miR-200b, hsa-miR-214, hsa-miR-483-5p, and hsa-miR-503) reported to be related to the adrenal cortex in plasma samples. Methods. Expression of microRNAs was studied in plasma samples of 10 individuals examined by 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test and another 10 individuals stimulated by 250 μg tetracosactide (adrenocorticotropin). Total RNA was isolated and microRNA expression was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction normalized to cel-miR-39 as reference. Results. Only circulating hsa-miR-27a proved to be significantly modulated in vivo by hormonal treatments: its expression was upregulated by dexamethasone whereas it was suppressed by adrenocorticotropin. Secreted hsa-miR-27a was significantly induced by dexamethasone in vitro in NCI-H295R cells, as well. The expression of hsa-miR-483-5p proposed as diagnostic marker for adrenocortical malignancy was not affected by dexamethasone or tetracosactide administration. Conclusions. hsa-miR-27a expression is modulated by hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis both in vitro and in vivo. The biological relevance of hsa-miR-27a modulation by hormones is unclear, but the responsiveness of circulating microRNAs to hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis is noteworthy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Szent Imre Teaching Hospital, Tétényi Street 12-16, Budapest 1115, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igaz
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nyírő
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Henriett
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Butz
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary ; "Lendület-2013" Hereditary Endocrine Tumors Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Pál
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perge
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Szent Imre Teaching Hospital, Tétényi Street 12-16, Budapest 1115, Hungary.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary ; 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rácz
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Igaz
authors.affiliation: "Lendület-2013" Hereditary Endocrine Tumors Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi Street 46, Budapest 1088, Hungary.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patócs