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Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis express unique microRNAs

Certain microRNAs in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis display a specific signature compared with those without the disease and the signature is reversible on disease remission, according to study results.

The study was composed of 91 participants who were divided into five groups: patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) (n=31), patients with chronic (noneosinophilic) esophagitis (n=9), patients with EoE who responded to corticosteroids and their disease was in remission (n=20), patients with EoE who did not respond to steroids (n=8), and healthy control participants (n=23).

The participants, aged 16 months to 32 years, were chosen regardless of gender or race.

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression was profiled in the patients with EoE and those who responded to steroids and were in remission. The profiles of these two groups were compared with those of the patients with chronic esophagitis and the control cohort.

The differentially expressed miRNA levels in the patients with EoE and those who had responded to steroids and were in remission were then compared with the levels of the control group. The study results indicated that there were 32 differentially regulated miRNAs in the esophagus that are associated with EoE. These were different than the miRNAs present in noneosinophilic esophagitis.

In patients with EoE who responded to steroids, the differentially expressed miRNA was mostly reversible. The results found that miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-223 are the miRNAs that are most differentially expressed in patients’ blood plasma.

“[These miRNAs] could potentially be used as noninvasive biomarkers,” researchers wrote. “Further elucidating and understanding of the roles and regulations of the miRNAs differentially regulated in patients with EoE might lead to improved patient diagnosis.”

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant disclosures.