Natural history of circulating miRNAs in Duchenne disease: Association with muscle injury and metabolic parameters

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 146; no. 5; pp. 512 - 524
• Main Authors: Almeida‐Becerril, Tomas, Rodríguez‐Cruz, Maricela, Hernández‐Cruz, Sthephanie Yannín, Ruiz‐Cruz, Eugenia Dolores, Mendoza, Christian Ricardo Sánchez, Cárdenas‐Conejo, Alan, Escobar‐Cedillo, Rosa Elena, Ávila‐Moreno, Federico, Aquino‐Jarquin, Guillermo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copenhagen Hindawi Limited 01-11-2022
• Subjects: Anthropometry; circulating miRNAs; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Duchenne's muscular dystrophy; dystromiRs; Insulin; Medical research; Metabolism; Oxidative stress; Patients; Physical activity
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1111/ane.13673

Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate whether the expression of circulating dystromiRs and a group of oxidative stress‐related (OS‐R) miRNAs is associated with muscle injury and circulating metabolic parameters in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients.
Methods
Twenty‐four DMD patients were included in this cross‐sectional study. Clinical scales to evaluate muscle injury (Vignos, GMFCS, Brooke, and Medical Research Council), enzymatic muscle injury parameters (CPK, ALT, and AST), anthropometry, metabolic indicators, physical activity, serum dystromiRs (miR‐1‐3p, miR‐133a‐3p, and miR‐206), and OS‐R miRNAs (miR‐21‐5p, miR‐31‐5p, miR‐128‐3p, and miR‐144‐3p) levels were measured in ambulatory and non‐ambulatory DMD patients.
Results
DystromiRs (except miR‐1‐3p) and miRNAs OS‐R levels were lower (p‐value <.05) in the non‐ambulatory group than the ambulatory group. The expression of those miRNAs correlated with Vignos scale score (For instance, rho = −0.567, p‐value <0.05 for miR‐21‐5p) and with other scales scores of muscle function and strength. CPK, AST, and ALT concentration correlated with expression of all miRNAs (For instance, rho = 0.741, p‐value <.05 between miR‐206 level and AST concentration). MiR‐21‐5p level correlated with glucose concentration (rho = −0.369, p‐value = .038), and the miR‐1‐3p level correlated with insulin concentration (rho = 0.343, p‐value = .05).
Conclusions
Non‐ambulatory DMD patients have lower circulating dystromiRs and OS‐R miRNAs levels than ambulatory DMD patients. The progressive muscle injury is associated with a decrease in the expression of those miRNAs, evidencing DMD progress. These findings add new information about the natural history of DMD.