Serum miRNA signature in Moyamoya disease

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 5;9(8):e102382. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102382. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a cerebrovascular disease characterized by progressive stenosis of the intracranial internal carotid arteries and their proximal branches. However, the etiology of this rare disease remains unknown. Serum microRNA (miRNA) profiles have been screened to identify novel biomarkers of prognostic values. Here, we identified serum miRNAs that might play an important role in the pathogenesis of MMD. A genome-wide miRNA array analysis of two pooled serum samples from patients with MMD and controls revealed 94 differentially expressed serum miRNAs, including 50 upregulated and 44 downregulated miRNAs. In an independent MMD cohort, real-time PCR confirmed that miR-106b, miR-130a and miR-126 were significantly upregulated while miR-125a-3p was significantly downregulated in serum. GO analysis showed that the differentially expressed serum miRNAs were enriched in metabolic processes, transcription and signal transduction. Pathway analysis showed that the most enriched pathway was mTOR signaling pathway with 16 potential, functional targets. Finally, we found that 16 and 13 aberrant serum miRNAs coordinately inhibited RNF213 and BRCC3 protein expression at the posttranscriptional level, respectively, resulting in defective angiogenesis and MMD pathogenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify a serum miRNA signature in MMD. Modulation of the mechanism underlying the role of serum miRNAs in MMD is a potential therapeutic strategy and warrants further investigations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Microarray Analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Moyamoya Disease / blood*
  • Moyamoya Disease / genetics*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNF213 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • BRCC3 protein, human
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases

Grants and funding

This paper was financially supported by National Science Foundation of China (ISIS : 81271271, 81171093 and 81101906) and "1255" Discipline Construction Project of Changhai Hospital (CH125520105). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.