title: Altered Expressions of miR-1238-3p, miR-494, miR-6069, and miR-139-3p in the Formation of Chronic Brucellosis.
abstract: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that is still endemic in developing countries. Despite early diagnosis and treatment of patients, chronic infections are seen in 10-30% of patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the immunological factors that play roles in the transition of brucellosis from acute infection into chronic infection. Here, more than 2000 miRNAs were screened in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with acute or chronic brucellosis and healthy controls by using miRNA array, and the results of the miRNA array were validated through qRT-PCR. Findings were evaluated using GeneSpring GX (Agilent) 13.0 software and KEGG pathway analysis. Four miRNAs were expressed in the chronic group but were not expressed in acute and control groups. Among these miRNAs, the expression level of miR-1238-3p was increased while miR-494, miR-6069, and miR-139-3p were decreased (p< 0.05, fold change > 2). These miRNAs have the potential to be markers for chronic cases. The differentially expressed miRNAs and their predicted target genes involved in endocytosis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, MAPK signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and its chemokine signaling pathway indicate their potential roles in chronic brucellosis and its progression. It is the first study of miRNA expression analysis of human PBMC to clarify the mechanism of inveteracy in brucellosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Budak
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salih Haldun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulcin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tezcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akalın
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Guher
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goral
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haluk Barbaros
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0463-6818
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Oral
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000608595:MIRN1238 microRNA, human; C555098:MIRN139 microRNA, human; C547168:MIRN494 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs