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. 2023 Oct;17(4):1215-1220.
doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1761191. Epub 2023 Feb 22.

Differential Expression Profile of Salivary oncomiRNAs among Smokeless Tobacco Users

Natheer H Al-Rawi  1   2 , Zuha Rizvi  1   2 , Sarra Mkadmi  1 , Rawan Abu Kou  1 , Neibal Elmabrouk  1 , Mohammad S Alrashdan  1 , Aghila Rani Koippallil Gopalakrishnan  2
Affiliations

Differential Expression Profile of Salivary oncomiRNAs among Smokeless Tobacco Users

Natheer H Al-Rawi et al. Eur J Dent. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of selected salivary oncomiRNAs among smokeless tobacco users and nonsmokers.

Materials and methods: Twenty-five subjects with chronic smokeless tobacco habit (> 1 year) and 25 nonsmokers were selected for this study. MicroRNA was extracted from saliva samples using the miRNeasy Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The forward primers used in the reactions include hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-146a-3p, hsa-miR-155-3p, and hsa-miR-199a-3p. Relative expression of miRNAs was calculated using the 2-ΔΔCt method. Fold change is calculated by raising 2 to the power of the negative ΔΔCT value.

Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 5 software. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The four tested miRNAs were found overexpressed in saliva of subjects with smokeless tobacco habit when compared with saliva from nontobacco users. miR-21 expression was 3.74 ± 2.26 folds higher among subjects with smokeless tobacco habit compared to nontobacco users (p < 0.01). The expression for miR-146a (5.56 ± 8.3 folds; p < 0.05), miR-155 (8.06 ± 23.4 folds; p < 0.0001) and miR-199a (14.39 ± 30.3 folds; p < 0.05) was significantly higher among subjects with smokeless tobacco habit.

Conclusion: Smokeless tobacco leads to salivary overexpression of the miRs 21, 146a, 155, and 199a. Monitoring the levels of these four oncomiRs may provide insight about the future development of oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially in patients with smokeless tobacco habits.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Expression of miR-155 in saliva samples of smokeless tobacco (SLT) users in comparison to nonusers of smoke/smokeless tobacco. ( A ) Plot representing the delta cycle threshold (Ct) comparing the miR-155 expression in SLT users compared to nontobacco using controls. Horizontal bars represent the mean and range of the delta Ct for all the samples. ( B ) Fold change in expression of miR155 among SLT users compared to nontobacco using controls.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Expression of miR- 21, miR-199, and miR-146a in saliva samples of smokeless tobacco (SLT) users in comparison to nonusers of smoke/smokeless tobacco. Fold change in expression of ( A ) miR-21, ( B ) miR-199, and ( C ) miR-146a in the saliva samples of SLT users compared to nonusing controls.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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