Identification of a Distinct Exosomal microRNA Profile in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders by Next-generation Sequencing

Chen, C., Wu, Y., Cui, C., Zhao, Y., Sun, X., Wang, Y., Liu, C., Wu, H., Zhong, X., Kermode, A.G., Peng, L. and Qiu, W. (2020) Identification of a Distinct Exosomal microRNA Profile in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders by Next-generation Sequencing. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 26 (9). NP75-NP76.

Abstract

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are rare inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging biomarkers for inflammatory demyelinating diseases and have potential roles in cell-cell communication.

Methods: A total of 52 NMOSD patients with aquaporin-4 antibody serum-positive, 18 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. Total RNA was extracted from serum exosomes and subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS). To validate the NGS results, we selected 2 miRNAs (hsa-miR-122-3p and hsa-miR-200a-5p) for further analysis by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in another cohort, comprising 31 NMOSD patients (15 patients in the remission stage and 16 in the acute stage) and 14 HCs.

Results: NGS revealed an exosomal miRNA profile in patients with NMOSD distinct from that in patients with RRMS or HCs. Hsa-miR-122-3p and hsa-miR-200a-5p expression was significantly upregulated in relapsing NMOSD compared with that in remitting NMOSD. In addition, hsa-miR-122-3p had a positive correlation with disease severity in NMOSD and RRMS patients. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the MAPK, Wnt and Ras signalling pathways were enriched. Further biological function analysis demonstrated that these two miRNAs might be involved in the immunoregulation of NMOSD pathogenesis.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the serum exosomal miRNA profile in NMOSD patients was distinct from that in patients with RRMS or HCs. The expression of hsa-miR-122-3p and hsa-miR-200a-5p was significantly upregulated in patients with acute NMOSD compared with that in patients with remitting NMOSD; these miRNAs could be potential biomarkers for NMOSD.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Other Information:	Poster Session 10 @ PACTRIMS 2019
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/57362

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