title: Circulating microRNA Profiles as Liquid Biopsies for the Characterization and Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
abstract: This work was aimed at investigating the circulating microRNA (miRNA) profiles in serum and saliva of patients affected by fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), correlating their expression values with clinical and clinimetric parameters and to suggest a mathematical model for the diagnosis of FM. A number of 14 FM patients and sex- and age-matched controls were enrolled in our study. The expression of a panel of 179 miRNAs was evaluated by qPCR. Statistical analyses were performed in order to obtain a mathematical linear model, which could be employed as a supporting tool in the diagnosis of FM. Bioinformatics analysis on miRNA targets were performed to obtain the relevant biological processes related to FM syndrome and to characterize in details the disease. Six miRNAs were found downregulated in FM patients compared to controls. Five of these miRNAs have been included in a linear predictive model that reached a very high sensitivity (100 %) and a high specificity (83.3 %). Moreover, miR-320b displayed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.608 and p = 0.036) with ZSDS score. Finally, several biological processes related to brain function/development and muscular functions were found potentially implicated in FM syndrome. Our study suggests that the study of circulating miRNA profiles coupled to statistical and bioinformatics analyses is a useful tool to better characterize the FM syndrome and to propose a preliminary model for its diagnosis.
authors: Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Gene Expression-Microarrays Laboratory, V.le di San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Masotti
authors: Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Gene Expression-Microarrays Laboratory, V.le di San Paolo 15, 00146, Rome, Italy.
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Baldassarre
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Paola
authors: MP
authors: Guzzo
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Iannuccelli
authors: Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), National Research Council (CNR), Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64 00143, Rome, Italy. christian.barbato@cnr.it.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Barbato
authors: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. manuela.difranco@uniroma1.it.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Di Franco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D000074166:Circulating MicroRNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D000073890:Liquid Biopsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000074166:Circulating MicroRNA
keywords: Biomarkers; Circulating miRNAs; Depression; Fibromyalgia syndrome; Liquid biopsies; Pain