Age-related differences in the expression of circulating microRNAs: miR-21 as a new circulating marker of inflammaging

作者：Olivieri Fabiola^*; Spazzafumo Liana; Santini Gabriele; Lazzarini Raffaella; Albertini Maria Cristina; Rippo Maria Rita; Galeazzi Roberta; Abbatecola Angela Marie; Marcheselli Fiorella; Monti Daniela; Ostan Rita; Cevenini Elisa; Antonicelli Roberto; Franceschi Claudio; Procopio Antonio Domenico

来源：Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 2012, 133(11-12): 675-685.

DOI：10.1016/j.mad.2012.09.004

• Circulating microRNA
• Centenarians
• Centenarians offspring
• Circulating miR-21

Circulating microRNAs (miRs) have been investigated as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers in human diseases. However, little is known about their expression throughout the aging process. %26lt;br%26gt;Eleven healthy individuals aged 20,80 and 100 years underwent miR plasma profiling. The validation cohort consisted of 111 healthy adults (CTR) aged 20-105 years and included 30 centenarians. In addition, 34 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 15 healthy centenarian offspring (CO) were enrolled. %26lt;br%26gt;An exploratory factorial analysis grouped the miRs into three main factors: factor 1 primarily higher in 20-year-old subjects, but these differences did not reach statistical significance, factor 2 primarily higher in octogenarians and factor 3 primarily higher in centenarians. MiR-21, the most highly expressed miR of factors 2 and 3, was further validated, confirming the differences in the age groups. MiR-21 expression was higher in the CVD patients and lower in the CO compared to the age-matched CTR. MiR-21 was correlated with C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels. TGF-beta signaling was the predicted common pathway targeted by miRs of factors 2 and 3. TGF-beta R2 mRNA, a validated miR-21 target, showed the highest expression in the leukocytes from a subset of the octogenarians. %26lt;br%26gt;Our findings suggest that miR-21 may be a new biomarker of inflammation.

• 出版日期2012-12