Development of new biomarker of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease using microRNA

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09999
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: Annabelle A Okada 杏林大学, 医学部, 教授 (50303962)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 渡邊 交世 杏林大学, 医学部, 非常勤講師 (90458901)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ぶどう膜炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is believed to involve an autoimmune mechanism directed against melanocytes, however the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis in VKH disease remains unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules involved in posttranscriptional gene regulation. The present study compared serum miRNA expression profiles between healthy subjects (HS) and patients with acute VKH disease using microarray analysis. Sixteen miRNAs were differentially expressed between 2 groups. Two groups of samples were separately clustered. Principal component analysis also showed the different distribution of miRNAs between HS and VKH disease. Pathway analysis using differentially expressed miRNAs demonstrated cytochrome P 450 and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that serum miRNA signatures may be feasible biomarker for diagnosis and understanding the pathogenesis of acute VKH disease.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

原田病はメラノサイトに対する全身性自己免疫疾患として知られているが、原田病の発症・病態の分子機序については不明な点が多い。本研究において1) 血清中miRNAは、健常人と急性期原田病では異なる発現パターンを呈していた。2)健常人と比較して原田病患者において発現の上昇、または低下した16種類のmiRNAが同定された。3)pathway解析では酸化ストレスや不飽和脂肪酸の合成に関連するpathwayが抽出された。以上の結果から血清中miRNAが原田病の診断や全身レベルでの病態を理解するうえでの新たなバイオマーカーになりうることが示唆された。