Sex-Independent Upregulation of miR-146a-5p in Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Longitudinal Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. The absence of reliable fluid biomarkers continues to hinder early diagnosis and effective monitoring of disease progression. Circulating microRNAs (cmiRNAs) are potential candidates, given their stability in biofluids and their ability to mirror pathological processes. We conducted a longitudinal study in 30 early-stage levodopa-naive PD patients (22 men, 8 women). Serum samples were collected at baseline (T0) and at a follow-up time point two years later (T2). A panel of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) (miR-146a-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-106a-5p) were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Data were expressed as relative expression (2^−ΔCt), and statistical analyses included sex-stratified comparisons and paired tests for longitudinal changes. At baseline, no significant differences were found in the expression of the miRNAs between male and female PD patients. In contrast, longitudinal within-subject analysis revealed a highly significant upregulation in miR-146a-5p expression from T0 to T2 in both sexes (p < 0.0001). No other miRNAs in the panel exhibited significant changes over time. CmiR-146a-5p levels rise markedly over time in PD patients, independent of sex, suggesting that this miRNA could be a dynamic biomarker of disease progression.
Authors: Annamaria Vallelunga, Tommaso Iannitti, Giovanna Dati, Julio César Morales-Medina, Marina Picillo, Marianna Amboni, Calogero Edoardo Cicero, Roberto Cilia, Rosa De Micco, Anna De Rosa, Alessio Di Fonzo, Roberto Eleopra, Augusta Giglio, Giulia Lazzeri, Alessandra Nicoletti, Claudio Pacchetti, Andrea Soricelli, Alessandro Tessitore, Roberta Zangaglia, Paolo Barone, Maria Teresa Pellecchia
Institutions: Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, University of Ferrara, University of Salerno, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, University of Catania, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", University of Naples Federico II, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Nazionale Casimiro Mondino
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
Award: G4547424903
OpenAlex ID: W4415488776