Project description:Rationale: Currently, there are no blood-based biomarkers with clinical utility for acute ischemic stroke (IS). microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as disease markers due to their cell-type specific expression patterns and stability in peripheral blood. Objective: To identify circulating miRNAs associated with acute IS, determine their temporal course up to 90 days post-stroke, and explore their utility as an early diagnostic marker. Methods and Results: We used RNA sequencing to study expression changes of circulating miRNAs in a discovery sample of 20 IS patients and 20 matched healthy control subjects (HCs). We further applied qRT-PCR in independent samples for validation (40 IS patients and 40 matched controls), replication (200 IS patients, 100 HCs), and in 72 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Sampling of patient plasma was done immediately upon hospital arrival. We identified, validated, and replicated three differentially expressed miRNAs, which were upregulated in IS patients compared to both HCs (miR-125a-5p [1.8-fold; P=1.5x10-6], miR-125b-5p [2.5-fold; P=5.6x10-6], and miR-143-3p [4.8-fold; P=7.8x10-9]) and TIA patients (miR-125a-5p: P=0.003, miR-125b-5p: P=0.003, miR-143-3p: P=0.005). Longitudinal analysis of expression levels up to 90 days after stroke revealed a normalization to control levels for miR-125b-5p and miR-143-3p starting at day two, while miR-125a-5p remained elevated. Levels of all three miRNAs depended on platelet numbers in a platelet spike-in experiment, but were unaffected by chemical hypoxia in N2a cells and in experimental stroke models. In a random forest classification, miR-125a-5p, miR-125b-5p and miR-143-3p differentiated between HCs and IS patients with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90 (sensitivity: 85.6%; specificity: 76.3%), which was superior to multimodal cranial computed tomography obtained for routine diagnostics (sensitivity: 72.5%) and previously reported biomarkers of acute IS (neuron specific enolase: AUC=0.69, interleukin 6: AUC=0.82). Conclusions: A set of circulating miRNAs (miR-125a-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-143-3p) associates with acute IS and might have clinical utility as an early diagnostic marker.

Project description:Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive cancers that occur spontaneously (sporadic MPNST) or from pre-existing, benign plexiform neurofibromas in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients. MPNSTs metastasize easily, are resistant to therapeutic intervention and are frequently fatal. The molecular changes underlying the transition to malignancy in the NF1 setting are incompletely understood. Here we investigate the involvement of microRNAs in this process. Using an RT-PCR platform microRNA expression profiles were determined from a unique series of archival paired samples of plexiform neurofibroma and MPNST. At least 90 differentially expressed microRNAs (p<0.025; FDR<10%) were identified between the paired samples. Most microRNAs (91%) were found downregulated and 9% of the microRNAs were upregulated in MPNST. Based on the fold changes and statistical significance three downregulated microRNAs (let-7b-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-145-5p) and two upregulated microRNAs (miR135b-5p and miR-889-3p) were selected for further functional characterization. Their expression levels were validated in a relevant cell line panel and a series of unpaired fresh frozen tumor samples containing plexiform neurofibromas, atypical neurofibromas and MPNSTs. As part of the validation process we also determined and analyzed microRNA expression profiles of sporadic MPNSTs observing that microRNA expression discriminates NF1-associated and sporadic MPNSTs emphasizing their different etiologies. The involvement of microRNAs in tumorigenesis and cancer progression was examined in NF1-derived MPNST cell lines through modulating microRNA levels by transient transfection of microRNA mimics or inhibitors. The effects of microRNAs on cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and Wnt/ẞ-catenin signaling were determined. Our findings indicate that, some of the selected microRNAs affect migratory and invasive capabilities and Wnt signaling activity. It was observed that the functional effects upon microRNA modulation are distinct in different cell lines. From our study we conclude that miRNAs play essential regulatory roles in MPNST facilitating tumor progression.

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MicroRNA expression in serum samples of sulfur mustard veterans as a diagnostic gateway to improve care

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