Comparison of the efficacy of combined budesonide and fexofenadine versus combined fluticasone propionate and fexofenadine on the expression of class-4 semaphorins and their receptors in the peripheral blood cells of patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated disease. This study aimed to evaluate the gene expression levels of class 4 semaphorins and their receptors in AR patients before and after treatment with budesonide and fexofenadine (B/F) compared to fluticasone propionate and fexofenadine (FP/F). Methods: In this study, 29 AR patients (age 34.4 ± 1.2 years, 18 men and 11 women) were treated with B/F, and 24 AR patients (age 32.8 ± 1.9 years, 15 men and 9 women) were treated with FP/F for one month. Before and after treatment, peripheral blood samples were taken from patients. The expression levels of SEMA4A, SEMA4C, SEMA4D, Plexin-B2, and Plexin-D1 genes were measured using the qPCR method. In addition, the serum levels of IgE were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The expression levels of SEMA4A (P = 0.011), 4C (P = 0.017), Plexin-B2 (P = 0.0005), and Plexin-D1 (P = 0.008) remarkably increased in AR patients treated with B/F. Our results show a significant reduction in the gene expression levels of SEMA4A (P = 0.002), 4C (P = 0.014), 4D (P = 0.003), Plexin-B2 (P = 0.033), and Plexin-D1 (P = 0.035) after treatment with FP/F. The serum levels of IgE increased in FP/F treated group (P = 0.017) and conversely decreased in the treated group with B/F (P = 0.019). Moreover, the percentages of eosinophils were reduced in both FP/F and B/F groups (P = 0.015 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: In conclusion, concomitant use of fexofenadine and fluticasone propionate reduced SEMA4A, 4C, 4D, Plexin-B2, and Plexin-D1, while the SEMA4A, 4C, Plexin-B2, and Plexin-D1 gene expression levels were increased in the patient group treated with B/F.

Determination of the transcriptional level of long non-coding RNA NEAT-1, downstream target microRNAs, and genes targeted by microRNAs in diabetic neuropathy patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes that leads to peripheral sensorimotor and autonomic nervous system damages. In this study, we first examined the expression of lncRNA NEAT-1 and its downstream microRNAs, miR-183-5p, miR-433-3p, and then examined mRNA expression of ITGA4, ITGB1, SESN1, and SESN3 as the downstream targets of miR-183-5p, miR-433-3p. METHODS: The blood sample was obtained from a total of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes (20 DN patients and 20 non-DN diabetic cases) and ten healthy individuals. After RNA extraction from peripheral blood samples and cDNA synthesis, expression measurements were performed by the RT-qPCR technique. RESULTS: Our results showed that the expression level of lncRNA NEAT-1 was significantly higher, and the expression level of miR-183-5p was significantly lower in DN patients compared to the healthy control group. Besides, the expression level of miR-433-3p was significantly lower, and the mRNA expression of ITGA4, SESN1, and SESN3 was significantly higher in DN patients compared to the diabetes group. The ROC curve analysis showed that the miR-183-5p with high levels of accuracy could discriminate DN patients from healthy control (AUC = 0.836) and NEAT-1, SESN1, SESN3, ITGA4 have a high ability to distinguish DN from non-DN patients (AUC = 0.701, 0.772, 0.815 and 0.780, respectively). CONCLUSION: It seems that the NEAT-1 probably targets miR-183-5p and miR-433-3p, as a result of which the expression of ITGA4, SESN1, and SESN3 is affected. Dysregulated expression of NEAT-1 and related miRNAs and genes might be involved in the pathogenesis of DN.