Project description:Background: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory skin disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that recently have been found in the blood to be relevant as disease biomarkers. Objective: We aimed to explore miRNAs potential as blood biomarkers for psoriasis. Methods: Using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR we measured the global miRNA expression in whole blood, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. Results: We identified several deregulated miRNAs in the blood from patients with psoriasis including miR-223 and miR-143 which were found to be significantly upregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls (FCH=1.63, P<0.01; FCH=2.18, P<0.01, respectively). In addition, miR-223 and miR-143 significantly correlated with the PASI score (r = 0.46, P<0.05; r=0.55, P<0.02, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis (ROC) showed that miR-223 and -143 have the potential to distinguish between psoriasis and healthy controls (miR-223: Area under the curve (AUC) = 0.80, miR-143: AUC = 0.75). Interestingly, after 3-5 weeks of treatment with methotrexate following a significant decrease in psoriasis severity, miR-223 and miR-143 were significantly downregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis. Conclusion: We suggest that changes in the miR-223 and miR-143 expressions in PBMCs from patients with psoriasis may serve as novel biomarkers for disease activity in psoriasis; however, further investigations are warranted to clarify their specific roles. In the present study, we compared the global miRNA expression profile between whole blood samples obtained from 24 patients with psoriasis (5 samples were excluded due to poor quality control) compared with 15 healthy controls.
Project description:Background: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory skin disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that recently have been found in the blood to be relevant as disease biomarkers. Objective: We aimed to explore miRNAs potential as blood biomarkers for psoriasis. Methods: Using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR we measured the global miRNA expression in whole blood, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. Results: We identified several deregulated miRNAs in the blood from patients with psoriasis including miR-223 and miR-143 which were found to be significantly upregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls (FCH=1.63, P<0.01; FCH=2.18, P<0.01, respectively). In addition, miR-223 and miR-143 significantly correlated with the PASI score (r = 0.46, P<0.05; r=0.55, P<0.02, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis (ROC) showed that miR-223 and -143 have the potential to distinguish between psoriasis and healthy controls (miR-223: Area under the curve (AUC) = 0.80, miR-143: AUC = 0.75). Interestingly, after 3-5 weeks of treatment with methotrexate following a significant decrease in psoriasis severity, miR-223 and miR-143 were significantly downregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis. Conclusion: We suggest that changes in the miR-223 and miR-143 expressions in PBMCs from patients with psoriasis may serve as novel biomarkers for disease activity in psoriasis; however, further investigations are warranted to clarify their specific roles.
Project description:We used a multi-omics approach combining transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics to study the impact of over-expression and inhibition of the microRNA miR-223, a pleiotropic regulator of metabolic-related disease, in the RAW monocyte-macrophage cell line. We analyzed the levels of proteins, mRNAs, and metabolites in order to identify genes involved in miR-223 regulation, to determine candidate disease biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. We observed that both up- and down-regulation of miR-223 induced profound changes in the mRNA, protein and metabolite profiles in RAW cells. Microarray-based transcriptomics evidenced a change in 120 genes that were linked predominantly to histone acetylation, bone remodeling and RNA regulation. In addition, 30 out the 120 genes encoded long noncoding RNAs. The nanoLC-MS/MS revealed that 52 proteins were significantly altered when comparing scramble, pre- and anti-miR-223 treatments. Sixteen out of the mRNAs coding these proteins genes are predicted to have binding sites for miR-223. CARM-1, Ube2g2, Cactin and Ndufaf4 were confirmed to be miR-223 targets by western blotting. Analyses using Gene Ontology annotations evidenced association with cell death, splicing and stability of mRNAs, bone remodeling and cell metabolism. miR-223 alteration changed the expression of CARM-1, Ube2g2, Cactin and Ndufaf4 during osteoclastogenesis and macrophage, indicating that these genes are potential biomarkers of these processes. The most important discriminant metabolites found in the metabolomics study were found to be hydrophilic amino acids, carboxylic acids linked to metabolism and pyrimidine nucleotides, indicating that changes in miR-223 expression alter the metabolic profile of cells, and may affect their apoptotic and proliferative state.
Project description:Psoriasis is a systemic disease with cutaneous manifestations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that are differentially expressed in psoriatic skin, however; only few miRNAs have been localized to specific cells or regions of psoriatic lesions. We used laser capture microdissection (LCM) and next-generation sequencing to study the specific miRNA expression profiles in the epidermis (Epi) and dermal inflammatory aggregates (RD/ICs) of psoriatic skin. We identified 24 deregulated miRNAs in the Epi and 37 deregulated miRNAs in the RD/ICs of lesional psoriatic skin compared with non-lesional psoriatic skin (FCH>2, FDR<0.05). Interestingly, 9 of the 37 miRNAs, including miR-193b and miR-223 that have recently been described as deregulated in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis. Using flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, miR-193b and miR-223 were found to be expressed in Th17 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that LCM combined with small RNA sequencing provides a robust strategy to explore the global miRNA expression in the epidermal and dermal compartments of psoriatic skin. Furthermore, our results indicate that the altered local miRNA changes seen in the RD/ICs is reflected in the circulating immune cells, altogether emphasizing that miRNAs may contribute to a systemic component in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Examination of the global miRNA expression in epidermis (Epi) and dermis (RD/ICs) of paired (non-lesional vs. lesional) psoriatic skin using a combination of laser-capture microdissection and barcoded small RNA sequencing
Project description:Psoriasis is a systemic disease with cutaneous manifestations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that are differentially expressed in psoriatic skin, however; only few miRNAs have been localized to specific cells or regions of psoriatic lesions. We used laser capture microdissection (LCM) and next-generation sequencing to study the specific miRNA expression profiles in the epidermis (Epi) and dermal inflammatory aggregates (RD/ICs) of psoriatic skin. We identified 24 deregulated miRNAs in the Epi and 37 deregulated miRNAs in the RD/ICs of lesional psoriatic skin compared with non-lesional psoriatic skin (FCH>2, FDR<0.05). Interestingly, 9 of the 37 miRNAs, including miR-193b and miR-223 that have recently been described as deregulated in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis. Using flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, miR-193b and miR-223 were found to be expressed in Th17 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that LCM combined with small RNA sequencing provides a robust strategy to explore the global miRNA expression in the epidermal and dermal compartments of psoriatic skin. Furthermore, our results indicate that the altered local miRNA changes seen in the RD/ICs is reflected in the circulating immune cells, altogether emphasizing that miRNAs may contribute to a systemic component in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Project description:Next to genetic alterations, it is being recognized that the cellular environment also acts as a major determinant in onset and progression of disease. In cases where different cell types contribute to the final disease outcome, this imposes environmental challenges as different cell types likely differ in their extracellular dependencies. A number of skin diseases, including psoriasis is characterized by a combination of keratinocyte hyperproliferation and immune cell activation. Activation of immune cells involves increased glucose consumption thereby intrinsicly limiting glucose availability for other cell types. Thus, these type of skin diseases require metabolic adaptations that enable coexistence between hyperproliferative keratinocytes and activated immune cells in a nutrient-limited environment. Hsa-microRNA-31-5p (miR-31) is highly expressed in keratinocytes within the psoriatic skin. Here we show that miR-31 expression in keratinocytes is induced by limited glucose availability and enables increased survival of keratinocytes under limiting glucose conditions, by increasing glutamine metabolism. In addition, miR-31 induced glutamine metabolism results in secretion of specific metabolites (aspartate and glutamate) but also secretion of immuno-modulatory factors. We show that this miR-31-induced secretory phenotype is sufficient to induce Th17 cell differentiation, a hallmark of psoriasis. Inhibition of glutaminase (GLS) using CB-839 impedes miR31-induced metabolic rewiring and secretion of immuno-modulatory factors. Concordantly, pharmacological targeting of GLS alleviated psoriasis pathology in a mouse model of psoriasis. Together our data illustrate an emerging concept of metabolic interaction across cell compartments that characterizes disease development, which can be employed to design effective treatment options for disease, as shown here for psoriasis.
Project description:Here, we found that microRNA-223 (miR-223) was highly elevated in hepatocytes after high fat diet (HFD) feeding in mice and in human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) samples. Genetic deletion of the miR-223 induced a full spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice after long-term (up to one year) HFD feeding including NASH-related steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis and HCC. To better explore the mechanisms underlying the abnormalities observed in HFD-fed miR-223KO mice, we examined hepatic gene expression in 3-month-HFD-fed WT and miR-223KO mice by microarray analysis. Finally, we revealed that miR-223 plays a key role in controlling steatosis-to-NASH progression by inhibiting hepatic Cxcl10 and Taz expression.
Project description:MicroRNA-223, a principal myeloid-specific anti-inflammatory microRNA, is dysregulated in numerous inflammatory conditions and cancers. We found that miR-223 deficient zebrafish displayed augmented neutrophilic inflammation, which was due primarily to elevated activation of the canonical NF-B pathway. To our surprise, the NF-B over-activation was restricted to the basal epithelial cells, a squamous layer permeable to oxygen and chemicals. MiR-223 was expressed in epithelial cells and directly down-regulated multiple components in the NF-B signaling pathway in zebrafish and human. Both phagocytic and epithelial miR-223 suppressed neutrophil wound response and NF-B activation in the basal epithelial cells. Together, our data provide the mechanism of the multifaceted role of miR-223 and highlight the previously overlooked relevance of epithelial cells in miR-223 related diseases.
Project description:The efficacy of monoclonal antibodies against either interleukin (IL)-17 or the IL-17 receptor in psoriasis therapy provides strong evidence that IL-17 is the major inflammatory mediation in this disease. However, how IL-17 induces epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis remains largely unknown. Here, we show that IL-17 actives NF-kB in keratinocytes and initiates the NF-kB-dependent transcription of microRNA-31 (miR-31), one of the most abundant microRNAs in the epidermis of lesional skin of psoriasis and two related mouse models. Similar to IL-17 deficiency (IL-17-/-), knocking out miR-31 (miR-31-/-) or targeting it by antagomir-31 prevents keratinocytes Ki67 expression and inhibits acanthosis and dermal inflammation in psoriasis mouse model. Moreover, PPP6c, a negative regulator restricting G0/G1 to G2/M phase progression in the cell cycle, is diminished in human psoriatic epidermis and is directly targeted by miR-31. Inhibition of ppp6c is functionally important for the biological effects of miR-31 in the development of epidermal hyperplasia. Thus, our data define IL-17-inducede miR-31 and its target ppp6c as critical factors for hyperproliferative epidermis in psoriasis.
Project description:The efficacy of monoclonal antibodies against either interleukin (IL)-17 or the IL-17 receptor in psoriasis therapy provides strong evidence that IL-17 is the major inflammatory mediation in this disease. However, how IL-17 induces epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis remains largely unknown. Here, we show that IL-17 actives NF-kB in keratinocytes and initiates the NF-kB-dependent transcription of microRNA-31 (miR-31), one of the most abundant microRNAs in the epidermis of lesional skin of psoriasis and two related mouse models. Similar to IL-17 deficiency (IL-17-/-), knocking out miR-31 (miR-31-/-) or targeting it by antagomir-31 prevents keratinocytes Ki67 expression and inhibits acanthosis and dermal inflammation in psoriasis mouse model. Moreover, PPP6c, a negative regulator restricting G0/G1 to G2/M phase progression in the cell cycle, is diminished in human psoriatic epidermis and is directly targeted by miR-31. Inhibition of ppp6c is functionally important for the biological effects of miR-31 in the development of epidermal hyperplasia. Thus, our data define IL-17-inducede miR-31 and its target ppp6c as critical factors for hyperproliferative epidermis in psoriasis. Epidermis samples from affected ears derived from 3 CD18hypo PL/J mice (DIS) or normal ears derived from 3 CD18hypo C57BL/6J mice(2128) were used for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We sought to compare miRNA expression of normal skin from control and lesional skin.