Up-regulation of MiR-146a-5p and MiR-155-5p are Involved in Inflammatory Immune Dysregulation in Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Abstract

BBackground. Helicobacter pylori (HP) is an infection related to metabolic and autoimmune disease Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). HP-modified microRNA (miRNA) expression leads to various disorders. We aimed to evaluate circulatory miR-146a-5p and miR-155-5p expression in HT and to investigate their correlations with the clinical profile of HT and HP infection. Methods: We enrolled 100 subjects; 50 participants as healthy control and 50 patients with HT. The diagnosis of HP- infection by HP antigen in stool and antibodies against cytotoxic-associated gene A (Cag-A). We tested serum antibodies against thyroid antigens. We used Quantitative real-time RT-PCR for the assessment of serum miR-146a-5p and miR-155-5p. Results: Among 100 studied participants, patients inf*. Concerning had significantly higher values of miR-146a-5p (3.94±0.8), compared to HT patients without HP infection (1.84±0.3) and control group (0.98±0.1), p value˂0.001*. Concerning miR-155-5p, there were statistically significant higher values in HP infection (3.61±2.2) compared to HT patients without HP infection (1.91±1.1) and control group (0.90±0.35), p value˂0.001*. There were significantly positive correlations with nausea, vomiting, heartburn, anti-TPO, anti-TG, TSH, HP antigen, and Cag-A. On the opposing, they were negatively correlated with FT3 and FT4. linear regression analyses revealed that the only variables independently associated with miR-146a-5p were anti-TPO and FT4. Whereas the only variables independent associated with miR-155-5p were anti-TPO and FT3, p value˂0.001*. Conclusion: miR-146a-5p and miR-155-5p overexpressed in patients with HT, more specifically in patients infected by HP and they were significantly correlated to gastrointestinal symptoms thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmunity.