MicroRNA miR-21 and miR-146a expression in male with a combination of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with a combination of bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) crossed phenotype (CP) BA and COPD are a separate nosological group. CP BA and COPD is a multifactorial disease. There is a hypothesis that genetic control of CP BA and COPD development at the posttranscriptional level is carried out by regulation of gene expression involving microRNA (miR) miR-21 and miR-146a; these molecules can be considered as potential diagnostic markers of CP BA and COPD.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of miR-21, miR-146a in male with a combination of BA and COPD compared to those with isolated BA and COPD.

Materials. We examined male patients (n = 65) (n = 48: 19 patients with CP BA and COPD; 14 patients with BA and COPD) and control group (n = 17). All the patients underwent a comprehensive clinical-laboratory and instrumental examination. The expression of miR-21, miR-146a was estimated in peripheral blood by a real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results. CP BA and COPD have lower levels of miR-21 and miR-146a than the BA, COPD, and control groups. CP BA and COPD patients have low levels of miR-21 and miR-146a associated with shorter duration of the disease and the presence of comorbid pathology (hypertension, angina pectoris), revealed in patients with the disease debut at an older age. Low miR-21 was associated with lower reversibility of bronchial obstruction in these patients, despite eosinophilic inflammation in the bronchi.

Conclusion. It has been demonstrated that within the framework of complex diagnostics of CP BA and COPD in males it is reasonable to evaluate miR-146a and miR-21 expression in peripheral blood. MicroRNA miR-146a and miR-21 are promising molecular targets for phenotype-specific therapy in males with CP BA and COPD.

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