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BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate cellular processes by controlling protein translation and mRNA degradation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the miRNA signature of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients versus controls and the possibility that patients with lipid-specific oligolconal IgM bands (LSOCMB), a predictor of a more severe disease course, may have a distinct profile. METHODS: An extensive profile of 754 miRNAs was evaluated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 14 women using TaqMan low-density arrays. Differentially expressed miRNAs together with others previously identified in the literature were validated in an extended sample of 86 MS patients (39 LSOCMB+) and 55 controls. RESULTS: We detected higher levels of miR-150 in MS patients and especially in those with LSOCMB+. Other miRNAs (miR-328, miR-30a-5p and miR-645) were up-regulated in MS patients compared to controls while miR-21, miR-199a-3p, miR-191, miR-365, miR-106a and miR-146a showed down-regulated expression. Considering only patients with LSOCMB+, we also detected up-regulation of miR-30a-5p, miR-150 and miR-645 and down-regulation of miR-191 compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the recent findings regarding the deregulated expression of miR-150 not only with MS but also with the presence of LSOCMB. This study highlights the potential utility of miRNAs in CSF as biomarkers for MS.
Quintana et al. (Mon,) studied this question.