MicroRNA Expression Profiling of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch Cohort for Identification of "Enviro-miRs" Associated With Deployment-Based Environmental Exposure

Clifton L Dalgard; Keith F Polston; Gauthaman Sukumar; Col Timothy M Mallon; Matthew D Wilkerson; Harvey B Pollard

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000764

MicroRNA Expression Profiling of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch Cohort for Identification of "Enviro-miRs" Associated With Deployment-Based Environmental Exposure

J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Aug;58(8 Suppl 1):S97-S103. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000764.

Authors

Clifton L Dalgard¹, Keith F Polston, Gauthaman Sukumar, Col Timothy M Mallon, Matthew D Wilkerson, Harvey B Pollard

Affiliation

¹ Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Dalgard, Mr Polston, Mr Sukumar, Drs Wilkerson, Pollard); Collaborative Health Initiative Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland (Drs Dalgard, Wilkerson, Pollard); The American Genome Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland (Drs Dalgard, Wilkerson, Pollard); and Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 (Dr Mallon). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the Uniformed Services University, the U.S. Departments of Defense, the Army and the Air Force, the 779th Aerospace Medical Squadron, the U.S. Army Public Health Center (Provisional), Emory University, Clarkson University, or the University of Rochester.

PMID: 27501110
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000764

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify serum microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers that indicate deployment-associated exposures in service members at military installations with open burn pits. Another objective was to determine detection rates of miRNAs in Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR) samples with a high-throughput methodology.

Methods: Low-volume serum samples (n = 800) were profiled by miRNA-capture isolation, pre-amplification, and measurement by a quantitative PCR-based OpenArray platform. Normalized quantitative cycle values were used for differential expression analysis between groups.

Results: Assay specificity, dynamic range, reproducibility, and detection rates by OpenArray passed target desired specifications. Serum abundant miRNAs were consistently measured in study specimens. Four miRNAs were differentially expressed in the case deployment group subjects.

Conclusions: miRNAs are suitable RNA species for biomarker discovery in the DoDSR serum specimens. Serum miRNAs are candidate biomarkers for deployment and environmental exposure in military service members.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants, Occupational
Cohort Studies
Environmental Exposure / analysis*
Humans
Incineration
MicroRNAs / blood*
Military Personnel*
Occupational Exposure / analysis*
Reproducibility of Results

Substances

Air Pollutants, Occupational
MicroRNAs