Methylation Profile of miR-9-1 and miR-9-1/-9-3 as Potential Biomarkers of Diabetic Retinopathy

• Published in: Current diabetes reviews Vol. 17; no. 6; p. e123120189795
• Main Authors: de Assis, Caroline Severo, Silva, Alexandre Sérgio, Dos Santos Nunes, Mayara Karla, Filho, João Modesto, do Nascimento, Rayner Anderson Ferreira, Gomes, Cecília Neta Alves Pegado, de Queiroga Evangelista, Isabella Wanderley, de Oliveira, Naila Francis Paulo, Persuhn, Darlene Camati
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Retinopathy - genetics; Humans; Methylation; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Quality of Life; microRNAs; Diabetes; diabetic retinopathy; sedentary lifestyle; methylation; diabetes time
• ISSN: 1875-6417
• DOI: 10.2174/1573399817666210101104326

Analysis of the relationship between the methylation profile of miR-9-1 or miRs -9-1 / -9-3 and diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a frequent complication of Diabetes mellitus and it has a decisive impact on the quality of life, as it is one of the biggest causes of blindness in the adult population. Levels of microRNA-9 have been shown to be related to diabetes but little is known about its involvement with DR in humans.
To analyze the relationship between the methylation profile of miR-9-1 or miRs -9-1/-9-3 and DR.
103 patients diagnosed with diabetes for 5 to 10 years were analyzed. The data were categorized according to clinical, biochemical, lifestyle and anthropometric parameters. DNA extracted from leukocyte samples was used to determine the methylation profile of miRs-9-1 and -9-3 using a specific methylation PCR assay.
miR-9-1 methylation was related to diabetic retinopathy, indicating that methylation of this miR increases the chances of presenting retinopathy up to 5 times. In our analyses, diabetics with lower levels of creatinine and CRP showed significant reductions (99% and 97%) in presenting DR. Methylation of both miRs-9-1 and 9-3 methylated increases the chances of presenting DR by 8 times; in addition, a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk for the same complication by up to 6 times.
Our results suggest that both methylation of miR-9-1 and e miRs-9-1 / 9-3 favors DR in patients with diabetes in a period of 5 to 10 years of diagnosis.