Differential expression of mirnas in ibd mucosa and intestinal fibroblasts: potential biomarkers for associated colorectal cancer

BARBIERA, E; FERREYRA COMPAGNUCCI, M; POLO, B; CORREA, G; YANTORNO, M; MERCADER, MV; CHAVERO, P; DE MARÍA, J; DOCENA, G.; RUMBO, M; CURCIARELLO, R; MUGLIA C.I.

Congreso; ANNUAL MEETING OF BIOSCIENCE SOCIETIES 2021; 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small and noncoding RNAs which haverecently gained relevance for their role in IBD pathogenesis as epigeneticmodifiers of gene expression. MiRNAs are believed to beinvolved in the gut inflammation in IBD and to be implicated in thetransformation process from chronic inflammation to colorectal cancer(CRC). Besides, mucosal myofibroblasts are key stromal cellsinvolved in IBD pathogenesis and in the CRC tumor micro-environment.miR-21-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-31 have repeatedly beenidentified and seem to be the most studied miRNAs related to IBD.In this work, we aimed to study whether there is differential expressionof miR-21-5p and miR-155-5p in IBD mucosa, and in intestinalfibroblasts from IBD patients, compared to CRC patients andhealthy control intestinal mucosa, as potential early biomarkers topredict CRC outcome in patients with chronic intestinal inflammatorydisorders.Total RNA was obtained from mucosal explants from IBD patients,healthy control patients, polyps biopsies and colon tumor biopsies.Intestinal fibroblasts were isolated from colon surgical pieces andprimary cultures were established. cDNA from biopsies and/or fibroblastswas obtained and miR-21-5p and miR-155-5p expressionwas quantified by real time qPCR with specific primers.We detected higher expression levels of miR-21-5p in inflamed tissuecompared to non-inflamed mucosa, as well as in tumor biopsiesfrom CRC patients, whereas expression of miR-155-5p was lowerin inflamed mucosa compared to non-inflamed mucosa, as well asin tumor biopsies from CRC patients compared with healthy patientbiopsies.Further studies including more samples with different pathologicalfeatures are underway, in order to confirm that the differential expression of these microRNAs could be a useful tool to predict IBDoutcome to early prevent CRC onset.