Association of Micro RNA-223 with disease activity and severity in Rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 1% around the world. It is characterized by an inflammatory polyarthritis that preferentially affects the small joints leading to joint damage and eventual deformity and disability, and can also present with extra-articular manifestations. Micro RNA (miRNA) is a class of non-coding RNAs which negatively regulate messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. Objective: To evaluate the expression of miRNA-223 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its potential association with disease activity and severity. Methodology: Blood samples from 35 patients with RA, according to the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology/ European League against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) for RA1 and 35 apparently healthy volunteers as controls were allocated. Real-time PCR was used to determine the expression levels of miRNA 223. Results: miRNA 223 expression level was significantly higher in RA group compared with controls (RA group: 2.19± 1.28 vs 1.0± 0.02; P <0.001). There was significant association between serum miRNA 223 (RQ) level with Disease Activity Score 28 (p= 0.026). A significant positive correlation was found between miRNA 223 expression level and Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity Score activity (r=0.469, p =0.004). Conclusions: Plasma micro RNA223 level was significantly elevated in RA patients which clarifies its possible role in RA pathogenesis and correlates positively with disease severity and DAS-28. Targeting Micro RNA223 may provide a promising role in suppressing RA.