Marianne B Løvendorf1, John R Zibert2, Mette Gyldenløve3, Mads A Røpke2, Lone Skov3. 1. Department of Dermato-Allergology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark; LEO Pharma A/S, Industriparken 55, 2750 Ballerup, Denmark. Electronic address: mabelo01@geh.regionh.dk. 2. LEO Pharma A/S, Industriparken 55, 2750 Ballerup, Denmark. 3. Department of Dermato-Allergology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory skin disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that recently have been found in the blood to be relevant as disease biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore miRNAs potential as blood biomarkers for psoriasis. METHODS: Using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR we measured the global miRNA expression in whole blood, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. RESULTS: We identified several deregulated miRNAs in the blood from patients with psoriasis including miR-223 and miR-143 which were found to be significantly upregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls (FCH=1.63, P<0.01; FCH=2.18, P<0.01, respectively). In addition, miR-223 and miR-143 significantly correlated with the PASIscore (r=0.46, P<0.05; r=0.55, P<0.02, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis (ROC) showed that miR-223 and -143 have the potential to distinguish between psoriasis and healthy controls (miR-223: area under the curve (AUC)=0.80, miR-143: AUC=0.75). Interestingly, after 3-5 weeks of treatment with methotrexate following a significant decrease in psoriasis severity, miR-223 and miR-143 were significantly downregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that changes in the miR-223 and miR-143 expressions in PBMCs from patients with psoriasis may serve as novel biomarkers for disease activity in psoriasis; however, further investigations are warranted to clarify their specific roles.
BACKGROUND:Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory skin disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that recently have been found in the blood to be relevant as disease biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore miRNAs potential as blood biomarkers for psoriasis. METHODS: Using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR we measured the global miRNA expression in whole blood, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. RESULTS: We identified several deregulated miRNAs in the blood from patients with psoriasis including miR-223 and miR-143 which were found to be significantly upregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls (FCH=1.63, P<0.01; FCH=2.18, P<0.01, respectively). In addition, miR-223 and miR-143 significantly correlated with the PASIscore (r=0.46, P<0.05; r=0.55, P<0.02, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis (ROC) showed that miR-223 and -143 have the potential to distinguish between psoriasis and healthy controls (miR-223: area under the curve (AUC)=0.80, miR-143: AUC=0.75). Interestingly, after 3-5 weeks of treatment with methotrexate following a significant decrease in psoriasis severity, miR-223 and miR-143 were significantly downregulated in the PBMCs from patients with psoriasis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that changes in the miR-223 and miR-143 expressions in PBMCs from patients with psoriasis may serve as novel biomarkers for disease activity in psoriasis; however, further investigations are warranted to clarify their specific roles.