Exosomal MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Allergic Asthma

Sahar  Rostami Hir; Zahra Alizadeh; Marzieh Mazinani; Maryam Mahlooji Rad; Mohammad Reza  Fazlollahi; Anoushiravan Kazemnejad; Ahmad  Zavaran Hosseini; Mostafa Moin

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v20i2.6049

Sahar Rostami Hir Department of Medical Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Alizadeh Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Marzieh Mazinani Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Mahlooji Rad Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Fazlollahi Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Anoushiravan Kazemnejad Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini Department of Medical Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Mostafa Moin Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v20i2.6049

Keywords: Asthma; Exosomes; MicroRNAs; Plasma

Abstract

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are involved in intracellular communication and different biological processes. Recently, the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes has been considered as biomarkers in asthma diagnosis. This study aimed to determine the expression of selective miRNAs from plasma-derived exosomes in moderate and severe asthmatic patients compared with healthy controls. Forty-six subjects including 22 patients with severe and mild to moderate allergic asthma and 24 healthy controls have entered this study. MiRNAs were extracted from the plasma exosomes and selective miRNAs (miR-21, miR-16, miR-Let7, miR-148a, miR-155, miR-125, miR-150, miR146a, miR-223, miR-126) expressions levels were determined; using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In this study, we found a significant up-regulation of miR-223 and miR-21 in moderate asthmatic patients compared to the healthy controls (p=0.002, p=0.006). MiR-223 and miR-21 had the probability of 83% and 76% diagnosis estimation in moderate asthmatic patients respectively. Therefore, they could be used as biomarkers in these patients. No expression of miR-125, miR-126, and miR-155 was found in plasma exosomes by qPCR in this study. The other miRNAs had no significant expression between different groups. Based on our findings, miR-223 and miR-21 may be considered biomarkers or used for targeted immunotherapies in asthma.