Immune-related miRNA expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells differ in multiple sclerosis relapse and remission.

MiRNAs were shown to participate in development of autoimmune inflammatory process in multiple sclerosis (MS). To investigate miRNAs involvement in relapse-remission MS course, we analyzed expression of immune-related miRNAs in PBMC of treatment-naïve relapsing and remitting MS patients and healthy controls. The upregulation of miR-126-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-155, miR-196a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-326 and miR-379-5p in remission compared to relapse was observed; when apply gender stratification, miR-223-3p and miR-379-5p were upregulated only in men. Therefore, miRNAs play essential role in maintaining stable MS course and this process has certain gender-specific differences.