MicroRNA profiling in Chinese children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura and association between selected microRNAs and inflammatory biomarkers

Aim This study aimed to profile the microRNA levels in Chinese Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) children and to explore their association with inflammatory factors and T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg). Methods Forty-five HSP children and 27 healthy controls were enrolled in this study, and microRNA levels were profiled with a microRNA microarray. The levels of selected microRNAs were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and the levels of serum IgA, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and interleukin-17A were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, Th17 and Treg cells were analysed by flow cytometry. Results There were 9 up-regulated and 27 down-regulated microRNAs in the PBMCs of Chinese HSP children. Among them, miR-1-3p, miR-19b-1-5p and miR-29b-1-5p were up-regulated, while miR-483-5p and miR-1246 were down-regulated. Additionally, these selected microRNAs could differentiate HSP patients from healthy controls. Interestingly, miR-29b-1-5p was correlated with IgA, miR-19b-1-5p, miR-483-5p and miR-1246 were correlated with interleukin-6, while miR-1-3p and miR-1246 were correlated with Th17/Treg. Conclusion This study reveals that the altered microRNAs could differentiate HSP from the healthy, and were associated with inflammatory factors or Th17/Treg. It is indicated that alteration in these microRNAs may contribute to the HSP pathogenesis and may become therapeutic targets or diagnostic biomarkers for HSP.