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Comparative Study
. 2018 Feb 28:13:741-751.
doi: 10.2147/COPD.S156865. eCollection 2018.

The effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of miRNAs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot clinical study

Peng-Fei Liu  1 , Peng Yan  1 , Da-Hui Zhao  1 , Wen-Fang Shi  1 , Song Meng  1 , Yang Liu  2 , Bin Liu  2 , Guo-Feng Li  2 , Li-Xin Xie  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of miRNAs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot clinical study

Peng-Fei Liu et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. .

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of microRNAs in the peripheral blood of migratory and local patients in northern People's Republic of China and on clinical symptoms of local patients in northern People's Republic of China with COPD.

Methods: A total of 118 patients in the northern region and 8 migratory patients were enrolled in this prospective study. We collected general information. Blood samples were collected from 9 patients in the Beijing group, from 8 patients in the migratory group and from 9 healthy control subjects. After extracting the total RNA from these 3 groups, serum miRNA was identified by Solexa sequencing. We collected COPD assessment test (CAT) and Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) scores at different levels of air pollution and also collected the number of exacerbations over the year prior to the baseline and in the year preceding the follow-up.

Results: In total 9 miRNAs were differentially expressed. When air quality index (AQI) >100, the CAT and mMRC scores at baseline were significantly higher than those when the AQI ≤100 (P<0.001). When AQI >100, the follow-up CAT and mMRC scores were significantly higher than those when AQI ≤100 (P<0.001). Follow-up mMRC scores were significantly higher than baseline scores (P=0.04). When AQI ≤100, the baseline CAT score of the group with fewer symptoms was 6.50 (4.00-8.75). However, when AQI >100, the baseline CAT score of this fewer symptoms group was 10.00 (6.25-12.00). The median CAT score was close to 10. When AQI ≤100, the follow-up CAT score of the fewer symptoms group was 8.00 (4.25-12.00). However, when AQI >100, the follow-up CAT score of the fewer symptoms group was 9.50 (6.00-16.75). The median CAT score was close to 10.

Conclusion: Environmental factors may cause differential expression of miRNAs in the peripheral blood of migratory and local patients in northern People's Republic of China. Air pollution may aggravate clinical symptoms of patients with COPD.

Keywords: CAT score; COPD; environment; mMRC; miRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A flowchart of chronic lung disease in the northern region. Abbreviations: CT, Computed tomography; FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The common and specific sequence statistics in the Beijing group (B) and the migratory group (H).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The common and specific sequence statistics in the Beijing group (B) and the healthy control group (D).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The common and specific sequence statistics in the migratory group (H) and the healthy control group (D).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Nine differentially expressed miRNAs (A–C). Notes: B, Beijing group; H, migratory group; D, healthy control group. TPM = Readcount*106/mapped reads and it represents the amount of expression.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The difference in baseline CAT scores between AQI ≤100 and AQI >100. Abbreviations: AQI, air quality index; CAT, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The difference in baseline mMRC scores between AQI ≤100 and AQI >100. Abbreviations: AQI, air quality index; mMRC, Modified British Medical Research Council.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The difference in follow-up CAT scores between AQI ≤100 and AQI >100. Abbreviations: AQI, air quality index; CAT, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The difference in follow-up mMRC scores between AQI ≤100 and AQI >100. Abbreviations: AQI, air quality index; mMRC, Modified British Medical Research Council.
Figure 10
Figure 10
The difference in baseline mMRC scores and follow-up mMRC scores. Abbreviation: mMRC, Modified British Medical Research Council.
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