Next-generation sequencing reveals broad down-regulation of microRNAs in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis CD4+ T cells

• Published in: Clinical epigenetics 2016-08, Vol.8 (1), p.87-87, Article 87
• Main Authors: Sanders, Katherine A, Benton, Miles C, Lea, Rod A, Maltby, Vicki E, Agland, Susan, Griffin, Nathan, Scott, Rodney J, Tajouri, Lotti, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; DNA sequencing; Down-Regulation; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling - methods; Genetic aspects; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - methods; Humans; Male; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Nucleotide sequencing; Risk factors; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins - genetics
• ISSN: 1868-7075; 1868-7083
• DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0253-y

Immunoactivation is less evident in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) compared to relapsing-remitting disease. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is integral to the regulation of gene expression; determining their impact on immune-related cell functions, especially CD4+ T cells, during disease progression will advance our understanding of MS pathophysiology. This study aimed to compare miRNA profiles of CD4+ T cells from SPMS patients to healthy controls (HC) using whole miRNA transcriptome next-generation sequencing (NGS). Total RNA was extracted from CD4+ T cells and miRNA expression patterns analyzed using Illumina-based small-RNA NGS in 12 SPMS and 12 HC samples. Results were validated in a further cohort of 12 SPMS and 10 HC by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The ten most dysregulated miRNAs identified by NGS were selected for qPCR confirmation; five (miR-21-5p, miR-26b-5p, miR-29b-3p, miR-142-3p, and miR-155-5p) were confirmed to be down-regulated in SPMS (p