Aims: To examine the expression of miRNAs and mRNAs of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in patients with active intestinal Behcet's disease (BD).
Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from BD patients with active ileocecal ulcers or from healthy donors. Expression levels of four miRNAs were studied using real-time PCR. The levels of mRNAs of ho-1, bach1, and CD14 were measured by qRT-PCR. Serum levels of cytokines were analyzed by ELISA.
Results: Among four miRNAs, only levels of miR-196a2 were significantly decreased from BD patients with active ileocecal ulcers as compared with healthy controls. Moreover, level of mRNA ho-1 expression in PBMCs from patients with BD was reduced. No significant difference on bach1 and CD14 mRNA levels was observed. Levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α were higher in patients with active intestinal BD than those in healthy controls.
Conclusion: The present results suggest that miR-196a2 expression is decreased in active intestinal BD patients. Down regulated miR-196a2 may be involved in intestinal BD pathogenesis by targeting Bach1/ho-1. Consequently, pro-inflammatory cytokines are closely implicated in the evolution of intestinal BD.
Keywords: Bach1; Behcet’s disease (BD); heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); ileocolonic ulcer; microRNA (miRNA).
© 2016 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.