Assessment of miR-19b-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-155-5p expression and its relation

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by non-scarring hair loss. Despite the growing understanding of its immune-related pathogenesis, biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease severity assessment remain limited. Recent studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and inflammation in autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of three miRNAs, miR-19b-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-155-5p, in AA patients and their potential as diagnostic markers and indicators of disease severity. A total of 67 AA patients and 62 healthy controls were included in this case-control study. The severity of AA was evaluated using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score, categorizing patients into mild, moderate, and severe groups. Plasma miRNA extraction was performed using the Direct-zol™ RNA MiniPrep kit, and qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to quantify the expression levels of miR-19b-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-155-5p. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between miRNA expression and disease severity. The results revealed that the expression of miR-19b-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-155-5p was significantly higher in AA patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001 for all three miRNAs). ROC curve analysis demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, with AUC values of 0.99 for miR-19b-3p, 0.95 for miR-182-5p, and 0.97 for miR-155-5p. These miRNAs showed high sensitivity and specificity, indicating their strong potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed a significant association between miR-155-5p expression and the severity of AA (p < 0.001), suggesting its potential as a marker of disease progression. This study highlights the significant upregulation of miR-19b-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-155-5p in AA patients, indicating their potential as minimally invasive diagnostic markers. Furthermore, the correlation between miRNA expression and disease severity provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying AA. These findings suggest that miRNAs, particularly miR-155-5p, may serve as promising biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of AA, potentially aiding in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.