The Network of miRNA–mRNA Interactions in Circulating T Cells of Patients Following Major Trauma – A Pilot Study

Abstract

Cheng-Shyuan Rau1 *, Pao-Jen Kuo2 *, Hui-Ping Lin,2 Chia-Jung Wu,2 Yi-Chan Wu,2 Peng-Chen Chien,2 Ting-Min Hsieh,3 Hang-Tsung Liu,3 Chun-Ying Huang,3 Ching-Hua Hsieh2 1Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 2Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 3Department of Trauma Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ching-Hua Hsieh, Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Song District, Kaohsiung City, 833, Taiwan, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: Following major trauma, genes involved in adaptive immunity are downregulated, which accompanies the upregulation of genes involved in systemic inflammatory responses. This study investigated microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA interactome dysregulation in circulating T cells of patients with major trauma.Patients and Methods: This study included adult trauma patients who had an injury severity score ≥ 16 and required ventilator support for more than 48 h in the intensive care unit. Next-generation sequencing was used to profile the miRNAs and mRNAs expressed in CD3+ T cells isolated from patient blood samples collected during the injury and recovery stages.Results: In the 26 studied patients, 9 miRNAs (hsa-miR-16-2-3p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-185-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-197-3p, hsa-miR-23a-3p, hsa-miR-26b-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p, and hsa-miR-485-5p) were significantly upregulated, while 58 mRNAs were significantly downregulated in T cells following major trauma. A network consisting of 8 miRNAs and 22 mRNAs interactions was revealed by miRWalk, with three miRNAs (hsa-miR-185-5p, hsa-miR-197-3p, and hsa-miR-485-5p) acting as hub genes that regulate the network. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that “chemokine signaling pathway” was the predominant pathway.Conclusion: The study revealed a miRNA-mRNA interactome consisting of 8 miRNAs and 22 mRNAs that are predominantly involved in chemokine signaling in circulating T cells of patients following major trauma.Keywords: miRNA, next-generation sequencing, T cells, adaptive immunity, major trauma, critical illness

Keywords

• mirna
• next-generation sequencing
• t cells
• adaptive immunity
• major trauma
• critical illness