MicroRNA-1281 as a Novel Circulating Biomarker in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy
Marta Greco, Eusebio Chiefari, Francesca Accattato, Domenica Corigliano, Biagio Arcidiacono, Maria Mirabelli, Rossella Liguori, Francesco Brunetti, Salvatore A. Pullano, Vincenzo Scorcia, Antonino S. Fiorillo, Daniela Foti, Antonio Brunetti
Abstract
Objective: Recently, the role of circulating miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of diabetes microvascular complications has emerged. Herein, we aimed to: identify circulating miRNAs differentially expressed in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR); examine their predictive value; and understand their pathogenic impact. Methods: Pooled serum samples from randomly selected matched patients with type 2 diabetes, either with or without DR, were used for initial plasma miRNA profiling. Validation of the most relevant miRNAs was thereafter conducted by RT-qPCR in an extended sample of patients with DR and matched controls. Results: Following miRNA profiling, 43 miRNAs were significantly up- or down-regulated in patients with DR compared with controls. After individual validation, 5 miRNAs were found significantly overexpressed in patients with DR. One of them, miR-1281, was the most up-regulated and appeared to be specifically related to DR. Furthermore, secreted levels of miR-1281 were increased in high glucose-cultured retinal cells, and there was evidence of a potential link between glucose-induced miR-1281 up-regulation and DR. Conclusion: Our findings suggest miR-1281 as a circulating biomarker of DR. Also, they highlight the pathogenic significance of miR-1281, providing insights for a new potential target in treating DR.