Serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p are possible biomarkers for the onset of multiple sclerosis

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Adults with multiple sclerosis including progressive (P-MS), relapsing (R-MS), or within 2 years of diagnosis (S-MS) compared to healthy controls (n=242). Intervention: Measurement of serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p by droplet digital PCR vs. Healthy controls. Primary outcome: Serum concentration of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p differentiating MS patients from healthy controls (AUC 0.737 for combined miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p, 95% CI 0.643-0.737, p=0.0004 for miR-199a-3p; 0.005 for miR-103a-3p; combined p-value null).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Combined measurement of serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p can discriminate multiple sclerosis patients with short disease duration from healthy controls with an AUC of 0.737, serving as a potential non-invasive biomarker for early disease onset. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Simone Agostini; Roberta Mancuso; Maria Barbara Pasanisi; Riccardo Nuzzi; Laura Antolini; D. Caputo; M. Rovaris; Mario Clerici

doi:10.1038/s41598-026-42973-3

March 5, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p are possible biomarkers for the onset of multiple sclerosis

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Combined serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p discriminates short-duration MS from healthy controls with ~75% sensitivity.

AUC 0.737 for combined miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p
95% CI 0.643-0.737
P=0.0004 for miR-199a-3p; 0.005 for miR-103a-3p; combined p-value null
n=242

Figures

Why the study?

Currently only few and relatively invasive biomarkers have shown moderate prognostic value in MS, highlighting the need for new, reliable, and non-invasive biomarkers to enable earlier diagnosis and improve management.

Does the measurement of serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p concentration discriminate between people with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls?

Key Points

The goal is to assess the potential of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Measured serum concentration of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).
Enrolled 57 healthy controls and 185 individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Classified MS patients into progressive, relapsing, and short disease duration groups.
miR-199a-3p was significantly up-regulated in the overall group of MS patients compared to healthy controls.
miR-103a-3p was significantly up-regulated in short disease duration and relapsing MS groups, but not in progressive MS.
Combined measurement of both miRNAs effectively discriminated between short disease duration MS and healthy controls.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=242)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does the measurement of serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p concentration discriminate between people with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls?

P

Population

242 individuals: 185 people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) (63 progressive P-MS, 63 relapsing R-MS, 59 short disease duration S-MS) and 57 gender-matched healthy controls (HC).

I

Intervention

Measurement of serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p concentration by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)

C

Comparator

Healthy controls (n=57)

O

Outcome

Serum concentration of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p and their discriminate power between MS and HCsurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: AUC 0.737 for combined miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p (95% CI 0.643-0.737)

p-value: p=0.0004 for miR-199a-3p; 0.005 for miR-103a-3p; combined p-value null

Serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p are significantly upregulated in the early stages of multiple sclerosis and may serve as non-invasive biomarkers for disease onset.

Limitations

No longitudinal follow-up samples to assess changes over time
Lack of analysis on miRNAs target genes expression
No functional validation of link between miRNAs and acid metabolism or anti-inflammatory pathways
Possible effects of relapses, corticosteroid use, and different DMTs not fully ruled out due to study design
Follow-up samples are not available, so measuring longitudinally the same miRNAs is not possible
Lacking of analysis on miRNAs target genes
Direct functional validation is lacking
Possible effects of relapses, corticosteroid use, and different DMTs cannot be completely ruled out

Implication

May support early non-invasive MS detection; extends miRNA biomarker research but leaves open clinical adoption pending validation.

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial and complex disease; currently only few and relatively invasive biomarkers have shown a moderate prognostic value. Finding new, more reliable and non-invasive biomarkers could allow earlier MS diagnosis and improve the conduction of therapeutic and rehabilitative protocols. We investigated whether miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p can be useful for this purpose. Fifty-seven healthy controls (HC) and 185 people with a diagnosis of either progressive (P-MS; N=63), relapsing (R-MS; N=63), or within 2 years since the diagnosis (short disease duration, S-MS; n=59) MS were enrolled, serum concentration of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p was measured in all individuals by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Whereas miR-199a-3p was significantly up-regulated in the overall group of MS patients compared to HC, miR-103a-3p was significantly up-regulated in S-MS and R-MS, but not in P-MS. Interestingly, both miRNAs were up-regulated in S-MS, and their combined measurement had a good power to discriminate between S-MS and HC. These results suggest that the measurement of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p serum concentration might be a useful biomarker for MS, particularly in the very initial stages of disease.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Agostini et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Adults with multiple sclerosis including progressive (P-MS), relapsing (R-MS), or within 2 years of diagnosis (S-MS) compared to healthy controls (n=242). Measurement of serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p by droplet digital PCR vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Serum concentration of miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p differentiating MS patients from healthy controls (AUC 0.737 for combined miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p, 95% CI 0.643-0.737, p=0.0004 for miR-199a-3p; 0.005 for miR-103a-3p; combined p-value null). Combined serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p measurement discriminated MS patients with short disease duration from healthy controls with AUC 0.737, sensitivity 75.4%, and specificity 72.9%.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69abc1b45af8044f7a4ea9b6 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42973-3

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p are possible biomarkers for the onset of multiple sclerosis

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Serum miR-199a-3p and miR-103a-3p are possible biomarkers for the onset of multiple sclerosis

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading