Role of microRNA in auxiliary diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To investigate the role and clinical value of microRNA-146a in auxiliary diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Western Blot method, indirect immunofluorescence method, stem ring RT real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to detect anti-ENA (Extractable Nuclear Antigen), ANA (antinuclear antibody) and microRNA -146a level in plasma of 33 SLE patients, 21 non-SLE patients in disease control group and 24 healthy cases in control group, the differences of detection index between three groups were compared; microRNA-146a expression differences of patients in stable or active stage, and the correlation between detection level of ANA and microRNA-146a were also compared. Results For SLE patients, the relative expression (RE) of microRNA-146a in active subgroup was higher than inactive subgroup (276.24±255.93) vs (102.76±59.55), P＜ 0.05; and the microRNA-146a RE of SLE group was higher than disease control group and normal control group (223.67±229.31) vs (10.38±4.49), (4.68±3.18), P＜ 0.01, while there was no statistical difference between two control groups. The correlation coefficient of level of microRNA-146a and ANA was r=0.043, P=0.801. Conclusion microRNA-146a can be used as a potential diagnostic marker of SLE, and it has important value in judging the severity of SLE and monitoring disease onset, development and the status of recovery.