Identification of Circulating MicroRNA Signatures in Crohn's Disease Using the Nanostring nCounter Technology

Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016 Sep;22(9):2063-9. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000000883.

Abstract

Background: Current clinical indices, such as Harvey-Bradshaw index, are often inadequate for the assessment of disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD). Alternative methods including imaging modalities and laboratory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), are routinely applied to assess disease activity. However, laboratory markers poorly reflect the actual disease activity. Consequently, novel biomarkers represent a clinical necessity for CD patient management. We hypothesized that circulating serum-derived microRNAs may be used as diagnosis and disease activity monitoring tools of CD patients.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, we performed microRNA expression profiling through Nanostring nCounter technology in blood serum samples of CD patients and healthy control subjects. Harvey-Bradshaw index score was used to capture clinical disease activity; CRP was measured as part of standard clinical practice. The expression profile of circulating microRNAs and the levels of CRP correlated with Harvey-Bradshaw index.

Results: We identified a signature of 10 circulating microRNAs that are differentially expressed in CD patients compared with healthy control subjects. Two of these microRNAs (hsa-miR-1286 and hsa-miR-1273d) correlated with CD disease activity and exhibited higher correlation values compared with CRP. Further analysis revealed distinct microRNA signatures between CD patients with ileal and colonic involvement.

Conclusions: Circulating microRNAs show superior value as diagnostic and disease activity markers in comparison to traditional methods. Circulating microRNAs could improve CD patient management, if applied in combination with current state-of-the-art diagnostic and disease activity assessment modalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Circulating MicroRNA / blood*
  • Circulating MicroRNA / genetics
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Crohn Disease / blood*
  • Crohn Disease / diagnosis*
  • Crohn Disease / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Humans
  • Ileum / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization / methods*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Circulating MicroRNA
  • C-Reactive Protein