MicroRNA expression profiling in human acute organophosphorus poisoning and functional analysis of dysregulated miRNAs.

Haijun Yuan,Mei Yuan,Xiangyang Zhan,Yonghong Tang,Biao Wang

doi:10.4314/ahs.v18i2.18

Abstract

Acute organophosphorus(OP) pesticide poisoning is associated with dysfunctions in multiple organs, especially skeletal muscles, the nervous system and the heart. However, little is known about the specific microRNA (miRNA) changes that control the pathophysiological processes of acute OP poisoning damage. We aimed to explore miRNA expression profiles and gain insight into molecular mechanisms of OP toxic effects. MicroRNA expression was analyzed by TaqMan Human MicroRNA Array analysis and subsequent validated with quantitive PCR. The targets of the significantly different miRNAs were predicted with miRNA prediction databases, and pathway analysis of the predicted target genes was performed using bioinformatics resources. 37 miRNAs were significantly different in the sera of poisoned patients compared to the healthy controls, including 29 miRNAs that were up-regulated and 8 miRNAs that were down-regulated. Functional analysis indicated that many pathways potentially regulated by these miRNAs are involved in skeletal muscle, nervous system and heart disorders. This study mapped changes in the serum miRNA expression profiles of poisoning patients and predicted functional links between miRNAs and their target genes in the regulation of acute OP poisoning. Our findings are an important resource for further understanding the role of these miRNAs in the regulation of OP-induced injury.

Highlights

Acute OP poisoning is a threat to human health worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries
We used a TaqMan Human MicroRNA Array from Applied Biosystems to analyse the miRNA expression profiles of serum samples obtained from acute OP poisoning patients compared to normal, healthy participants. 8 differentially expressed miRNAs were selected for further validation using qRT-PCR
Results miRNA expression The TaqMan Human MicroRNA Array showed 232 miRNAs that were expressed in the sera of the patients and the healthy controls at different levels

Summary

Introduction

Acute OP poisoning is a threat to human health worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Patients exposed to these pesticides suffer from several health problems and deaths, mainly cholinergic system dysfunction, neurological abnormalities, paralysis, muscle damage and cardiac abnormalities. We hypothesised that circulating miRNA signatures may be used as a novel tool to study OP-induced injury. We used a TaqMan Human MicroRNA Array from Applied Biosystems to analyse the miRNA expression profiles of serum samples obtained from acute OP poisoning patients compared to normal, healthy participants. 8 differentially expressed miRNAs were selected for further validation using qRT-PCR. Our research provides information on the miRNA expression in the human acute OP poisoning

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion