Significant Effect of Crocin on the Gene Expression of MicroRNA-21  and MicroRNA-155 in Patients with Osteoarthritis

Maryam Mohebbi; Mahdi Atabaki; Jalil  Tavakkol-Afshari; Zhaleh Shariati-Sarabi; Javad Poursamimi; Seyed Ahmad Mohajeri; Mojgan Mohammadi

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v21i3.9805

Maryam Mohebbi Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahdi Atabaki Clinical Immunology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Jalil Tavakkol-Afshari Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Zhaleh Shariati-Sarabi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Javad Poursamimi Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Seyed Ahmad Mohajeri Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mojgan Mohammadi Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v21i3.9805

Keywords: Clinical trial; Inflammation; MicroRNA; Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis associated with gradual joint destruction. The current treatment aims to alleviate pain and inflammation and improve the quality of life. Crocin is an active ingredient in saffron, with anti-inflammatory properties. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. We aimed to evaluate the effect of crocin on the gene expression of microRNA-146a, microRNA-155, microRNA-223, and microRNA-21 in OA patients and compare it with a placebo.

This study was approved and registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (2015021910507N2) and ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03375814. Forty OA patients were randomly divided into two equal groups, receiving either crocin or placebo. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and four months after the intervention. The pain was assessed using the visual analog scale, and laboratory tests included C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The expression levels of microRNA-146a, microRNA-155, microRNA-223, and microRNA-21 genes were evaluated by SYBR Green real-time PCR.

The results showed that the gene expression levels of microRNA-21 and microRNA-155 in patients receiving crocin were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. No significant changes were observed in microRNA-146a and microRNA-223 gene expression levels.

In conclusion, crocin's anti-inflammatory role might be partly attributed to its effects on the gene expression of microRNA-21 and microRNA-155.