AUTHOR=Atarod Sadaf , Ahmed Mohammed Mahid , Lendrem Clare , Pearce Kim Frances , Cope Wei , Norden Jean , Wang Xiao-Nong , Collin Matthew , Dickinson Anne Mary 

TITLE=miR-146a and miR-155 Expression Levels in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Incidence

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2016

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00056

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2016.00056

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative treatment for numerous haematological malignancies. However, acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is still the major complication causing mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in inflammation and have potential as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers. This study investigated the role of two immune-specific miRNAs (miR-146a and miR-155) as biomarkers for aGVHD incidence in the peripheral blood of allo-HSCT patients prior to disease onset. The study showed that miR-146a and its (statistical) interaction with miR-155 at day+28 was predictive of aGVHD incidence. Interestingly, the expression levels of miR-146a and miR-155 negatively correlated with the transcription factor, SPI1 (PU.1gene) mRNA expression.