Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be important for the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD). Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is an effective therapy for inducing remission in CD. We aimed to investigate the alteration of miRNAs expression profile in the terminal ileal mucosa of CD patients before and after EEN. Twenty-five patients and ten healthy individuals were included. MiRNAs expression profile was firstly assessed using microarray technology and then validation was performed by qRT-PCR. The correlations between miRNAs and CD activity index (CDAI) score and serum C–reactive protein (CRP) level were also evaluated. Microarray analysis showed that mucosal miRNAs expression profile after EEN therapy was significantly changed compared with inflamed mucosa before treatment, and was most similar to the healthy one among all CD groups. Altered expressions of hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-423-3p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-301a-5p, hsa-miR-495-5p, and hsa-let-7b-5p were confirmed by qRT-PCR. hsa-let-7b-5p was significantly correlated with serum CRP levels before and after EEN treatment (r = −0.518, p = 0.008, and r = −0.569, p = 0.003). Our study showed EEN induction therapy was associated with a trend for normalizing of the mucosal miRNAs expression profile, and expression of mucosal hsa-let-7b-5p was correlated with serum CRP level in patients with CD.
Highlights
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal track
It is believed that the environment–gene interactions play a major role in the pathogenesis of CD [1,2] Epigenetic factors could mediate environment–gene interactions involved in pathogenesis, and microRNA is one of the main epigenetic mechanisms [3]
It has been demonstrated that some dysregulated miRNAs contribute to the abnormal inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and loss of intestinal miRNAs leads to damaged intestinal barrier function and inflammation, which is similar to IBD [5,6]
Summary
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal track. MiRNAs play an important role in regulating intestinal barrier function and intestinal immune response. It has been demonstrated that some dysregulated miRNAs contribute to the abnormal inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and loss of intestinal miRNAs leads to damaged intestinal barrier function and inflammation, which is similar to IBD [5,6]. Cell type variations between samples and increased infiltration of inflammatory cells in CD may lead to the different expression of certain miRNAs in serum and mucosa [7]. These miRNAs expression profiles may be influenced by effective therapies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
