Host serum miR-223 is a potential new biomarker for Schistosoma japonicum infection and the response to chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various human diseases. Hence, serum miRNAs are considered to be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of human diseases. This study examined whether several miRN...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasites & vectors 2013-09, Vol.6 (1), p.272-272, Article 272
Main Authors: He, Xing, Sai, Xue, Chen, Chao, Zhang, Yuanbin, Xu, Xindong, Zhang, Dongmei, Pan, Weiqing
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Animals
bioinformatics
Biological markers
Biomarkers
Biomarkers - blood
blood serum
Buffaloes
Cancer
Care and treatment
Chemotherapy
Diagnosis
DNA
Eggs
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation
Genetic aspects
Genetic transcription
Health aspects
hepatocytes
hosts
human diseases
Humans
hydroxyproline
Hydroxyproline - metabolism
Infection
Kupffer cells
Liver
Liver diseases
Male
Medical genetics
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
MicroRNA
MicroRNAs - genetics
MicroRNAs - metabolism
Military medicine
Mortality
Parasites
Parasitic diseases
pathogenesis
praziquantel
quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Rabbits
Schistosoma japonicum
Schistosoma japonicum - physiology
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis japonica - blood
Schistosomiasis japonica - drug therapy
Schistosomiasis japonica - parasitology
Schistosomicides - therapeutic use
transcription factors
Tropical diseases
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Summary:BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various human diseases. Hence, serum miRNAs are considered to be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of human diseases. This study examined whether several miRNAs known to be commonly deregulated in liver diseases are deregulated in the serum of hosts with hepatic schistosomiasis, and thus whether they could serve as potential markers for detection of schistosome infection and evaluation of the effectiveness of chemotherapy. METHODS: We analyzed the serum levels of six selected candidate miRNA molecules (miR-146b, miR-122, miR-223, miR-199a-5p, miR-199a-3p, miR-34a) from mice, rabbits, buffalos and humans infected with Schistosoma japonicum using qPCR. We evaluated liver pathology by determining the hydroxyproline content in liver tissues. Primary resident liver cells were isolated to quantify the expression level of deregulated miRNAs. Bioinformatics analyses were also conducted to assess the potential function of miR-223. RESULTS: Using a mouse model of Schistosoma japonicum infection, we found that the expression level of serum miR-223 was significantly elevated after infection, but returned to near normal levels after the treatment with praziquantel (PZQ). Importantly, the level of serum miR-223 reflected the extent of liver pathology post-infection. We validated the elevated level of the circulating miR-223 in serum samples of other host species including rabbits, buffalos and humans. In addition, our results showed that miR-223 was primarily located in the Kupffer cells, but its expression levels were significantly up-regulated in hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells after infection. Bioinformatics analyses revealed a potential functional role of miR-223 in transcription regulator activity, transcription factor activity and DNA binding. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the circulating miR-223 could serve as a potential new biomarker for the detection of schistosome infection and the assessment of the response to chemotherapy.
ISSN:1756-3305
1756-3305
DOI:10.1186/1756-3305-6-272