Plasma Levels of miR-21b and miR-146a Can Discriminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Severity.

Rizk S. Sarhan, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, EgyptFollow
Amr M El-Hammady, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Yasmin M Marei, Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Sania K Elwia, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
Doaa M Ismail, Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
Emtethal AS Ahmed, Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.

Abstract

Objectives: This study tried to examine the ability of the estimated plasma gene-expression levels (PGEL) of microRNA (miR)-146a and miR-21b to distinguish patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) out of arthritis patients who did not fulfill the diagnostic spectrum of either RA or osteoarthritis (OA); the diagnostic Gray-Zone (GZ).

Patients & Methods: Enrolled patients underwent full diagnostic workup and were categorized as highseropositive and fulfilled the diagnostic spectrum for RA (RA-group), seronegative and fulfilling the diagnostic spectrum of OA (OA-group) and low-seropositive or seronegative patients who did not fulfill diagnostic criteria of RA or OA (GZ-group). Blood samples were obtained for quantification of PGEL of miR-146a and miR-21-b using the quantitative Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and results were related to patients' seropositivity and clinical data.

Results: The mean fold change of PGEL of miR-146a and miR-21b was significantly higher in patients than in control samples, in samples of high-seropositive patients than in other samples, and in samples of low-seropositive than in seronegative patients. Both markers showed a positive significant correlation with Disease Activity Score-28 for RA-activity and seropositivity. Using the ROC curve analysis, the PGEL of both microRNAs could identify high-seropositive among the studied arthritis patients, but Regression Analysis defined high PGEL of miR-146a as the most significant predictor to identify RApatients and predict their disease activity. Statistical analyses defined miR-146a as the significant parameter that could differentiate between early RA and OA patients among GZ patients.

Conclusion: Early arthritis that does not fulfill the diagnostic spectrum of a certain type of arthritis is not uncommon and challenges therapeutic decision-making. The estimated PGEL of MicroRNA-146a might enlighten this gray diagnostic zone and allow differentiation between patients with early RA and early OA, and help to stratify RA patients according to disease activity and severity.

Recommended Citation

Sarhan, Rizk S.; El-Hammady, Amr M; Marei, Yasmin M; Elwia, Sania K; Ismail, Doaa M; and Ahmed, Emtethal AS (2025) "Plasma Levels of miR-21b and miR-146a Can Discriminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Severity.," BioMedicine: Vol. 15 : Iss. 1 , Article 5.
DOI: 10.37796/2211-8039.1637

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