Circulating microRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers in pediatric patients with celiac disease.

Summary: Celiac disease is an enteropathy induced by ingestion of gluten triggering an immune response in genetically predisposed individuals. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that have a role as regulators of gene expression at the post transcriptional level. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using circulating miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers in pediatric patients with celiac disease. In addition, we examine the effect of a gluten-free diet on the expression of these miRNAs in serum of CD patients. The expression pattern of miR-21 and miR-31 was estimated in serum of 25 untreated CD patients (recently diagnosed), 25 treated CD patients (on gluten-free diet) and 20 healthy controls using qRT-PCR. Our results demonstrated the significant up-regulation of microRNA-21 in the untreated celiac patients in comparison with the treated group and healthy controls. Moreover, miR-31 expression was significantly under-expressed in the untreated celiac patients in comparison with the treated group and healthy controls. Furthermore, the results showed that miR-21 expression level was significantly positively correlated with the tTG IgA auto-antibodies. In conclusion, circulating miRNA-21 and miRNA-31 could serve as potential non-invasive biomarkers for pediatric CD patients.

Prevalence of celiac disease in Egyptian children disputes the east-west agriculture-dependent spread of the disease.

OBJECTIVES: Celiac disease (CD) seems to be a common disorder in north Africa; however, to our knowledge no data are yet available on its prevalence in Egypt. This study was undertaken to investigate the frequency of CD in Egyptian children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated a sample of the general pediatric population (1500 individuals, 656 girls and 844 boys, age range 7 months to 18 years, median age 8.0 years) (group A); 150 children (age range 6 months to 13 years, median age 16 months) admitted for diarrhea or failure to thrive (group B); and 250 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (group C). The screening test was serum class A anti-transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibody; immunoglobulin A (IgA) antiendomysium, total IgA, and IgG anti-tTG, and small bowel biopsy was performed for confirmation of diagnosis. RESULTS: In group A, 8 of 1500 children fulfilled the criteria for CD diagnosis; the prevalence of CD was at least 1 in 187 individuals (0.53%; 95% CI 0.17%-0.89%). In group B, 7 of 150 children had CD (4.7%, 95% CI 1.4-7.9). In group C, 16 of 250 sera showed positive results to both the IgA anti-tTG and the IgA antiendomysium test (6.4%; 95% CI 3.4-9.4). CONCLUSIONS: Celiac disease is a frequent disorder among Egyptian children, both in the general population and in at-risk groups. Therefore, our data do not support the theory of a Middle East-Europe CD prevalence gradient secondary to the pattern of agriculture spreading from the so-called Fertile Crescent.

Endocrine profiles in pediatric andrology. II. Insulin-dependent diabetic adolescents.

Seventy-five diabetic male and female children and 75 matched controls were classified according to pubertal staging. Blood samples were assayed for gonadotropins and gonadal hormones. The ultimate adult height in diabetic patients was 5 cm less than that of controls. Almost all diabetic children had a retarded bone age. Levels of serum gonadotropins and gonadal hormones did not differ markedly between diabetic and healthy children. The delay in growth and maturation was not due to hormonal failure, but probably to chronic undernutrition of body cells and failure to utilize the amino acids for protein anabolism related to relative insulin deficiency.