Association of circulating miR-223 and miR-16 with disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis
2014
Abstract
Identification of parameters for early diagnosis and treatment response would be beneficial for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) to prevent ongoing joint damage. MiRNAs have features of potential biomarkers and an altered expression of miRNAs was shown in established RA.
The aim of our study was to analyze RA-associated miRNAs in sera of patients with ERA to find markers of early disease, clinical activity or predictors of disease outcome We have described a differential expression of circulating miR-146a, miR-155 and miR-16 in sera from ERA patients may characterize an early stage of the disease. We suggest miR-223 as a marker of disease activity and miR-16 and miR-223 as possible predictors for disease outcome in ERA.