Association of microRNA-125a with the clinical features, disease activity and inflammatory cytokines of juvenile-onset lupus patients.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with marked variation in its clinical presentation. Juvenile-onset SLE (jSLE) exhibits an aggressive clinical phenotype and severe complications. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRs) in immune cells from patients with SLE has been found. We aim to evaluate the association of miR-125a with the clinical and laboratory characteristics, disease activity and inflammatory cytokines of jSLE patients. METHODS: 60 jSLE patients and 25 normal controls were involved in the study. The expression pattern of miR-125a was determined in plasma of all subjects using qRT-PCR. In addition, plasma levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ were examined using ELISA. The correlation of miR-125a expression with the clinical manifestations and disease activity of jSLE patients was analyzed. Also, its association with the inflammatory cytokines was investigated in jSLE patients. RESULTS: Our findings showed that miR-125a expression levels were significantly reduced in jSLE patients compared to normal controls (p < 0.01) and these expression levels differed based on the clinical variability of patients. In addition, plasma levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ in jSLE patients were significantly higher than healthy controls (p < 0.01). Finally, miR-125a expression had significant negative associations with each of SLEDAI-2K (p < 0.01), SLICC (p < 0.01), ESR (p < 0.05), proteinuria (p < 0.01) and IL-17 levels (p < 0.01) in jSLE patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings postulate that miR-125a could act as a candidate therapeutic target for its possible regulation of inflammation in jSLE patients.

Importance of TREC and KREC as molecular markers for immunological evaluation of down syndrome children.

Recurrent and severe infections occurred in children with Down Syndrome (DS) due to immunological parameter defects have been reported. The aim of the study is to evaluate the importance of using T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circle (KREC) as molecular markers for immunological investigation of children with DS. The study included 40 non-disjunction trisomy 21 confirmed DS children, and 25 healthy controls. Peripheral blood (PB) was analyzed for lymphocyte subpopulations by flow cytometry, serum immunoglobulin levels, and TREC and KREC copy numbers using quantitative real-time PCR. DS patients showed significantly lower absolute counts of PB T lymphocytes, T helper lymphocytes, T cytotoxic lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and Natural killer cells, and lower serum IgA, IgG, and IgM levels compared to healthy controls. Copy number of TREC and KREC showed no significant differences between DS patients and healthy controls. There is a significant positive correlation between TREC copy number with a percentage and absolute count of helper T lymphocytes in patients. Also, the KREC copy number was significantly negatively correlated with the age of patients. These findings suggest that copy numbers of TREC and KREC could be useful as molecular markers for immunological evaluation of patients with DS.

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Childhood Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is the most frequent chronic neurologic condition in childhood. Its clinical diagnosis is based on electroencephalograms (EEG) and neuroimaging techniques. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate gene expression of several genes and are aberrantly expressed in several diseases. AIM: Evaluation of using circulating miR-106b and miR-146a as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in children patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Thirty epileptic children and twenty controls were enrolled in our study. They were assessed for the expression pattern of miR-106b and miR-146a in plasma using quantitative real-time PCR and determination of plasma Immunoglobulin levels. RESULTS: MiR-146a and miR-106b expression patterns were significantly up-regulated in children patients than that in normal controls. Plasma Immunoglobulins were differentially expressed in epileptic patients in comparison with healthy controls. No correlations were found between expression levels of miRNAs (miR-146a and miR-106b) and clinical data or immunoglobulin levels in children patients with epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that up-regulated plasma miR-106b and miR-146a could be used as biomarkers for epilepsy evaluation.

ABO blood grouping in Egyptian children with rotavirus gastroenteritis.

INTRODUCTION: Rotavirus gastroenteritis is an important public health problem all over the world, causing a notable economic burden in both developing and developed countries. AIM: To explore the relationship between blood group typing, rotavirus gastroenteritis, and its severity in Egyptian children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross sectional case control study was conducted on 231 cases of acute gastroenteritis attending the outpatient clinic of Al-Zahraa University Hospital. Full history taking, clinical examination, and clinical data collection were done. Blood samples were collected for an ABO grouping. Stool samples were tested for viral gastroenteritis agents. RESULTS: Rota positive cases of GE were significantly more prevalent among cases with blood group A (p < 0.05) and significantly less among cases with blood group B (p < 0.05). The rate of hospitalisation was highly significantly greater among cases with group A (p < 0.005), and significantly lower among cases with group AB and O (p < 0.05). As regards the degree of dehydration, moderate and severe cases were highly significant in groups A and O (p < 0.005). Rota-positive gastroenteritis showed significant positive correlations with indicators of severity such as hospitalisation, degree of dehydration, and duration of fever (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Blood group A is highly associated with paediatric rotavirus gastroenteritis. This could highlight an important risk factor, which could play a significant role for the pathogenesis of rotavirus gastroenteritis and severity as well. Furthermore, more intervention care could be needed for blood group A paediatric patients, if gastroenteritis especially rotavirus affect this group to avoid comorbidities.