posted on 2020-02-24, 12:43authored byC. Mooney, P.J. McKiernan, R. Raoof, D.C. Henshall, Barry Linnane, Paul McNally, A.M.A. Glasgow, C.M. Green
A gender gap exists in cystic fibrosis (CF). Here we investigate whether plasma microRNA expression
profiles differ between the sexes in CF children. MicroRNA expression was quantified in paediatric CF
plasma (n = 12; six females; Age range:1–6; Median Age: 3; 9 p.Phe508del homo- or heterozygotes)
using TaqMan OpenArray Human miRNA Panels. Principal component analysis indicated differences
in male versus female miRNA profiles. The miRNA array analysis revealed two miRNAs which were
significantly increased in the female samples (miR-885-5p; fold change (FC):5.07, adjusted p value:
0.026 and miR-193a-5p; FC:2.6, adjusted p value: 0.031), although only miR-885-5p was validated as
increased in females using specific qPCR assay (p < 0.0001). Gene ontology analysis of miR-885-5p
validated targets identified cell migration, motility and fibrosis as processes potentially affected, with
RAC1-mediated signalling featuring significantly. There is a significant increase in miR-885-5p in plasma
of females versus males with CF under six years of age.
Funding
Geophysical Applications of Atomic-Clock Radio Interferometry