Micro-RNA 21 but not miR-155 is differentially expressed in the gut mucosa of patients with intestinal inflammatory conditions

EMANUEL BARBIERA ROMERO; MARIA BELÉN POLO; CECILIA MUGLIA; GUILLERMO DOCENA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Anual de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2022

Mucosal myofibroblasts are key stromal cells involved in IBD pathogenesis and in the CRCtumor micro-environment. Here, we aimed to study the expression of miR-21 and miR-155 inthe mucosa and intestinal fibroblasts from IBD and CRC patients, as potential biomarkers topredict CRC outcome in patients with chronic intestinal inflammatory disorders. Target genesand proteins regulated by these miRNAs were also analyzed.Total RNA was obtained from mucosal explants from IBD(n=25), polyp(n=8), CRC(n=7), andhealthy control (HC) patients (n=16). Intestinal fibroblast primary cultures were establishedfrom colon surgical pieces (n=10). Microvesicles were obtained from fibroblast culturesupernatant by ultracentrifugation. MiR-21, miR-155, PDCD4, CBX7, KRAS transcriptexpression was quantified by qPCR in mucosal and cell samples. Also, TNF-α was quantifiedby ELISA while FAP (Fibroblast Activation Protein) expression was evaluated byimmunofluorescence in biopsies.We found that miR-21 was highly expressed in inflamed biopsies compared to uninflamedmucosa (p