Potential Role of Selected miRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Many epigenetic factors, including microRNAs, are involved in the process of changing gene expressions. Small non-coding RNA molecules, called miRNAs, are responsible for regulating gene translation by silencing or degrading target mRNAs. It is acknowledged that for many diseases, they may be novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases are more likely to develop nodules in the thyroid tissue, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease predispose patients to thyroid cancer. We evaluated the concentrations of microRNA molecules (miR-15a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-150-5p) in the blood of children with thyroid disorders. In addition, we wished to identify molecules whose change in concentration predisposes to the development of thyroid cancer.

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate selected epigenetic elements by analyzing the levels of miR-15a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-150-5p and miR-21-5p in the blood of pediatric patients with Graves' disease (

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study consists of groups of children and adolescents aged 10-18 years with autoimmune thyroid disease, with thyroid nodular disease compared to a control group. The miR-15a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-21-5p and miR-150-5p molecules were determined through an immunoenzymatic assay using BioVendor reagents.

RESULTS

There is a statistically significant decrease in the expression of the miR-15a-5p in children with Graves' disease (21.61 vs. 50.22 amol/μL,

CONCLUSIONS

1. The overexpression of the miR-142-5p molecule occurs in children and adolescents with thyroid diseases. 2. Decreased blood levels of miR-15a-5p predispose patients to the formation of focal lesions in the thyroid gland. 3. Identifying a lower expression of the miR-126-3p molecule in the blood of children with GD requires careful follow-up for the development of focal lesions in the thyroid gland and evaluation for their potential malignancy.