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. 2021 Jun 4;21(1):188.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-021-01550-2.

Downregulation of exosomal let-7d and miR-16 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Donato Lacedonia #  1   2 , Giulia Scioscia #  3   4 , Piera Soccio  3   4 , Massimo Conese  3 , Lucia Catucci  5 , Grazia P Palladino  6 , Filomena Simone  3 , Carla M I Quarato  3 , Sante Di Gioia  3 , Roberto Rana  3 , Francesco Sollitto  7 , Maria P Foschino-Barbaro  3   4
Affiliations

Downregulation of exosomal let-7d and miR-16 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Donato Lacedonia et al. BMC Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a degenerative interstitial lung disease with both a poor prognosis and quality of life once the diagnosis is made. In the last decade many features of the disease have been investigated to better understand the pathological steps that lead to the onset of the disease and, moreover, different types of biomarkers have been tested to find valid diagnostic, prognostic and therapy response predictive ones. In the complexity of IPF, microRNA (miRNAs) biomarker investigation seems to be promising.

Methods: We analysed the expression of five exosomal miRNAs supposed to have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease from serum of a group of IPF patients (n = 61) and we compared it with the expression of the same miRNAs in a group of healthy controls (n = 15).

Results: In the current study what emerged is let-7d down-regulation and, unexpectedly, miR-16 significant down-regulation. Moreover, through a cross-sectional analysis, a clustering of the expression of miR-16, miR-21 and miR-26a was found.

Conclusions: These findings could help the individuation of previously unknown key players in the pathophysiology of IPF and, most interestingly, more specific targets for the development of effective medications.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Exosomes; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; microRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum exosomes from patients with IPF versus controls. a miR-6; b miR-21; c miR-26a; d miR-210; e miR let-7d. miR-16 and let-7d reached statisitical significance. *p < 0.05
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Heat map of miRNA expression linkage in the IPF group. The strength of the relationship and colour’s darkness are inversely proportioned
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Clustering of miRNAs in the IPF group. The strength of correlation is inversely indicated by blue line’s length
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
ALIX and CD81 Western Blot analysis. Bands were obtained using an exposure time of 100 s
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Exosome size analysis. a and b represent two samples out of six analysed by intensity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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