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. 2023 Jul;270(7):3574-3582.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-023-11707-0. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Gender differences in microRNA expression in levodopa-naive PD patients

A Vallelunga  1 , T Iannitti  2 , G Somma  3 , M C Russillo  3 , M Picillo  3 , R De Micco  4 , L Vacca  5 , R Cilia  6 , C E Cicero  7 , R Zangaglia  8 , G Lazzeri  9 , S Galantucci  10 , F G Radicati, A De Rosa  5   11 , M Amboni  3 , C Scaglione  12 , A Tessitore  4 , F Stocchi  5   13 , R Eleopra  6 , A Nicoletti  7 , C Pacchetti  8 , A Di Fonzo  9 , M A Volontè  10 , P Barone  3 , M T Pellecchia  14
Affiliations

Gender differences in microRNA expression in levodopa-naive PD patients

A Vallelunga et al. J Neurol. 2023 Jul.

Erratum in

  • Correction to: Gender differences in microRNA expression in levodopa‑naive PD patients.
    Vallelunga A, Iannitti T, Somma G, Russillo MC, Picillo M, De Micco R, Vacca L, Cilia R, Cicero CE, Zangaglia R, Lazzeri G, Galantucci S, Radicati FG, De Rosa A, Amboni M, Scaglione C, Tessitore A, Stocchi F, Eleopra R, Nicoletti A, Pacchetti C, Di Fonzo A, Volontè MA, Barone P, Pellecchia MT. Vallelunga A, et al. J Neurol. 2023 Jul;270(7):3583. doi: 10.1007/s00415-023-11750-x. J Neurol. 2023. PMID: 37154896 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Gender is an important factor influencing epidemiological and clinical features of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to evaluate gender differences in the expression of a panel of miRNAs (miR-34a-5p, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-29a, miR-106a) possibly involved in the pathophysiology or progression of disease. Serum samples were obtained from 104 PD patients (58 men and 46 women) never treated with levodopa. We measured levels of miRNAs using quantitative PCR. Correlations between miRNA expression and clinical data were assessed using the Spearman's correlation test. We used STRING to evaluate co-expression relationship among target genes. MiR-34a-5p was significantly upregulated in PD male patients compared to PD female patients (fc: 1.62; p < 0.0001). No correlation was found with age, BMI, and disease severity, assessed by UPDRS III scale, in male and female patients. MiR-146a-5p was significantly upregulated in female as compared to male patients (fc: 3.44; p < 0.0001) and a significant correlation was also observed between disease duration and mir-146a-5p. No differences were found in the expression of miR-29a, miR-106a-5p and miR-155 between genders. Predicted target genes for miR-34a-5p and miR-146-5p and protein interactions in biological processes were reported. Our study supports the hypothesis that there are gender-specific differences in serum miRNAs expression in PD patients. Follow-up of this cohort is needed to understand if these differences may affect disease progression and response to treatment.

Keywords: Gender differences; Parkinson’s disease; Target genes; miRNAs.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Box plots showing significant upregulation of miR-34a-5p (A) and miR-146a-5p (B) in PD male patients compared with PD female patients (fc: 1.62; p < 0.0001; fc: 3,44; p < 0.0001, respectively)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Co-expression relationships among target genes of miR-34a-5p derived from the search tool for retrieval of interacting genes (STRING)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Target genes of miR-34a-5p associated to PD obtained using open target platform
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Co-expression relationships among target genes of miR-146a-5p derived from the search tool for retrieval of interacting genes (STRING)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Target genes of miR-146a-5p associated to PD obtained using open target platform
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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