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Background: miR-210, a key hypoxamiR, regulates hypoxia and inflammation-linked hypoxia. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease, is responsible for many pathological disorders, including photosensitivity., Objective: This study aimed to find the correlation between circulating miR-210/HIF-1α levels and photosensitivity in SLE patients and other SLE-associated pathological complications in a single-center case-control study., Methods: The study population comprised 104 SLE Egyptian patients with photosensitivity, 32 SLE patients without photosensitivity, and 32 healthy subjects. SLE activity was assessed for all patients using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Clinical complications/manifestations and hematological/serological analyses were recorded. HIF-α concentration was investigated by ELISA, and miR-210 expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR., Results: The results revealed that circulating miR-210 was significantly increased in the SLE/photosensitivity group versus the SLE and control groups. The additional occurrence of malar rash, oral ulcers, renal disorders, or hypertension resulted in a higher expression of miR-210. SLEDAI activity status showed no effect on miR-210. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, patient age, and disease duration were positively correlated with circulatory miR-210. HIF-α concentration was significantly induced in the SLE/photosensitivity group versus the SLE and control groups. In SLE/photosensitivity, the presence of renal disorders and hypertension resulted in the highest HIF-α concentrations. A strong positive correlation was recorded between HIF-α concentration and circulatory miR-210 in SLE/photosensitivity patients (r = 0.886)., Conclusion: The dysregulation of circulating miR-210/HIF-1α levels in SLE/ photosensitivity patients is controlled by the presence of additional pathological complications, and results suggest that the hypoxia pathway might interact positively with the pathogenesis and disease progression of SLE., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

microRNA-146a (miR-146a) plays an essential role in immune anomalies and organ injury of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by regulating the disease's inflammation and complications. Here, we analyzed the expression of miR-146a in SLE and a panel of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α). Association between all measured parameters and the disease's clinical manifestation and response to treatment was monitored. Our study populations were 113 SLE patients and 104 healthy volunteers. miR-146a expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The content of the plasma cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Compared with healthy controls, miR-146a expression was significantly increased ( p < 0.05) in lupus patients. The analysis of the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) of miR-146a showed 91% sensitivity and 70% specificity. IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 cytokines were significantly increased ( p < 0.001), while IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly decreased ( p < 0.001) in SLE patients against controls. The expression of miR-146a and TNF-α was upregulated considerably in SLE patients with severe disease activity. miR-146a expression was positively correlated with IL-6. Our results pointed to the elevation of miR-146a as a trade marker of SLE patients. Reduction of IL-8 and TNF-α in combination with an elevation of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 might refer to miR-146a's dual effect in controlling inflammation in lupus. Although we shed some light on the role of miR-146a in SLE, further study is recommended to improve our results.

Objective: MicroRNAs are fine regulators for gene expression during the post-transcriptional stage in many autoimmune diseases. HypoxamiRs (miR-210 and miR-21) play an important role in hypoxia and in inflammation-associated hypoxia. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that would potentiate many pathological complications, including hemolytic anemia. This study aimed to investigate the role of hypoxamiRs in SLE/hemolytic anemia patients., Methods: This work was designed to analyze the circulating levels of↱ the miR-210 and miR-21 expressions and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-α) in SLE/hemolytic anemia patients. SLE activity was evaluated for all patients by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Clinical manifestations/complications and serological/hematological investigations were reported. HIF-α concentration was assayed by ELISA and expression of miR-21 and miR-210 was analyzed by qRT-PCR., Results: The results indicated that the fold change of the miR-210/miR-21 expressions in plasma was significantly elevated in SLE/hemolytic anemia patients. A strong positive correlation between the miR-210 and miR-21 expression levels was also recorded. Among the associated-disease complications, hypertension, arthritis, oral ulcers, and serositis were associated with a high circulating miR-210 expression, while the occurrence of renal disorders was associated with the increased miR-21 expression. Furthermore, the HIF-α level was remarkably elevated in SLE/hemolytic anemia patients. A high positive correlation was recorded between the HIF-α concentration and miR-210/miR-21 expression levels. The occurrence of oral ulcers, arthritis, and hypertension was associated with the increased HIF-α concentration. On the other hand, SLEDAI and white blood cell count were positively correlated with miR-21/ miR-210. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was positively correlated with miR-21., Conclusion: The dysregulation of the circulating miR-210/miR-210/HIF-1α levels in SLE/hemolytic anemia patients advocated that the hypoxia pathway might have an essential role in the pathogenesis and complications of these diseases., (© 2022. Huazhong University of Science and Technology.)

miRNAs are noncoding RNA that play a critical role as fine regulators of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level within cells in numerous autoimmune diseases. miR-221/222 play a role in cancer by regulating cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. However, there have been insufficient studies on their role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This work is designed to analyze the miR-221/222 expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with RA in comparison with healthy controls using quantitative RT-PCR, in a group of 30 RA patients and 20 healthy controls. The fold change of miR-221/222 expression in PBMCs was significantly elevated (p < 0.01) in RA patients compared with healthy controls. A positive correlation between expression levels of miR-221 and miR-222 was recorded (r = 0.303; p < 0.05). High miR-221/222 expression levels appeared to be elevated with high activity. miR-222 expression in high activity group of RA patients was significantly increased in relation to moderate (p < 0.01) and low (p < 0.001) activity ones with positive correlation (r = 0.363; p < 0.05) between the progress of disease activity and change in miR-222 expression level. ROC analysis showed a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 75% for miR-221. In miR-222, the sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 70% were recorded. Our data shed some light on the role of miR-221/222 expression in RA patients, and their great potential value as new novel noninvasive biomarkers for disease detection. Therefore; further investigations are warranted to fully elucidate their role in rheumatoid.