Disease specific enrichment of circulating let-7 family microRNA in MuSK+ myasthenia gravis

J Neuroimmunol. 2016 Mar 15:292:21-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.01.003. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with antibodies against the muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK+) have predominantly involvement of cranio-bulbar muscles and do not display thymus pathology, as do acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive (AChR+) MG patients. In search of novel biomarkers for MuSK+ MG, we evaluated circulating serum microRNAs. Four analyzed microRNAs were specifically elevated in MuSK+ MG patient serum samples: let-7a-5p, let-7f-5p, miR-151a-3p and miR-423-5p. The circulating microRNA profile in MuSK+ MG differs from the profile previously observed in the serum of AChR+ MG, thus indicating the etiological difference between these two entities. We propose that the identified microRNAs could serve as potential serum biomarkers for MuSK+ MG.

Keywords: Biomarker; Let-7; MG; MicroRNA; MuSK; Muscle specific tyrosine kinase; Myasthenia gravis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / blood*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / therapy
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • ROC Curve
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Autoantibodies
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human
  • myasthenia gravis anti-skeletal muscle antibody
  • Prednisone