Ferhat DEMİR1, Alper Han ÇEBİ2, Mukaddes KALYONCU1

1Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty, Trabzon, Turkey
2Department of Medical Genetics, Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty, Trabzon, Turkey

Keywords: Familial Mediterranean fever, inflammation, microribonucleic acid, periodic fever

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the plasma expression of microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) that may be associated with the pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Patients and methods: Thirty patients with FMF (18 males, 12 females; mean age 9.1±4.7 years; range, 3 to 15.5 years) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy children (18 males, 12 females; mean age 9.5±4.6 years; range, 4 to 16.5 years) were included in this study. The plasma levels of four candidate miRNAs (miRNA-16, miRNA-155, miRNA-204 and miRNA-451) were measured in all subjects. The plasma levels of miRNAs were analyzed with real- time polymerase chain reaction in attack and remission periods of patients and healthy controls (HCs).

Results: Plasma miRNA-204 levels of FMF patients were decreased 6.5 fold in remission period compared to HCs (p<0.001). This decrease was more prominent in M694V mutation carriers. Plasma miRNA-155 levels of FMF patients were lower in remission period (p=0.03).

Conclusion: Our findings showed significant alterations in the plasma expression of miRNA-155 and miRNA-204 in FMF patients compared to HCs. Our data suggest that miRNA-155 and miRNA-204 may be related to the pathogenesis of FMF. Further comprehensive and functional researches may help to clarify the role of miRNAs in FMF and elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease.

Citation: Demir F, Çebi AH, Kalyoncu M. Assessment of Circulating Microribonucleic Acids in Patients With Familial Mediterranean Fever. Arch Rheumatol 2020;35(1):52-59.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

This research was supported by the Scientific Research Committee of the Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty and we also thank them for their financial support.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all participating children and their families.