Hemolytic Component in Sickle Leg Ulcer: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 3 by Amina Yu and Version 2 by Milena Magalhães Aleluia.

Sickle leg ulcers (SLU) are malleoli lesions with exuberant hemolytic pathophysiology. The microRNAs are potential genetic biomarkers for several pathologies. Thereby, we aimed to assess the expression of circulating miR-199a-5p, miR-144, and miR-126 in association with hemolytic biomarkers in SLU. This cross-sectional study included 69 patients with sickle cell disease, 52 patients without SLU (SLU-) and 17 patients with active SLU or previous history (SLU+). The results demonstrated elevated expression of circulating miR-199a-5p and miR-144 in SLU+ patients while miR-126 expression was reduced. Circulating miR-199a-5p and miR-144 were associated with hemolytic biomarkers such as LDH, indirect bilirubin, AST, GGT, iron, ferritin, RBC, hemoglobin, and NOm, in

addition to association with impaired clinical profile of SLU. Furthermore, in silico analyses indicated interactions of miR-199a-5p with HIF1A, Ets-1, and TGFB2 genes, which are associated with vasculopathy and reduced NO. In contrast, miR-126 was associated with an attenuating clinical profile of SLU, in addition to not characterizing hemolysis. In summary, this study demonstrates, for the first time, that hemolytic mechanism in SLU can be characterized by circulating miR-199a-5p and miR-144. The circulating miR-126 may play a protective role in SLU. Thus, these microRNAs can support to establish prognosis and therapeutic strategy in SLU was assessed

  • sickle cell disease
  • sickle leg ulcer
  • microRNA
  • hemolysis
  • biomarkers

1. Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common genetic disorder in Brazil, with 3500 new cases annually, and characterized by intravascular hemolysis, sterile inflammation, reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and endothelial dysfunction [1]. The chronic hemolysis leads to vaso-occlusive episodes and clinical manifestations, such as painful crises, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and sickle leg ulcers (SLU) [2].
The SLU are cutaneous lesions with raised edges that frequently affect the malleolus of SCD patients [3]. SLU wound bed may present unviable tissues, such as necrotic tissue due to accumulation of dead cells or sloughy tissue without vascularization and constituted by cells fragments. In addition, the SLU wound bed may present viable granulation tissue with the proliferation of blood capillaries and epithelized tissue consisting of regenerated and dry epidermis [3,4][3][4].
The SLU occurrence has been associated with morbidity, work disability, social restriction, frequent recurrence, and recalcitration [2,5][2][5]. Thus, the evaluation of these factors is insufficient to understand the SLU clinical profile. Molecular biology techniques revealed the existence of microRNAs (miRNAs) which may modulate pathophysiology mechanisms [6]. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules which act as positive or negative regulators in several pathologies, including SCD [6,7][6][7]. In this sense, miR-199a-5p has been associated with NO metabolism in vitro [8] and miR-144 may regulate fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production through gene silencing [6]. miR-126 has been associated with protective mechanisms against vascular damage in vitro and in vivo [9]. However, the role of these miRNAs in the intravascular hemolysis related to SLU occurrence is unknown.

2. Circulating miRNAs Expression in SCD Patients and between HbSS and HbSC Genotype with and without SLU

Regarding SLU, there was higher miR-199a-5p (Figure 1a) and miR-144 (Figure 1b) expression, as well as lower miR-126 (Figure 1c) expression in SLU+ patients (p < 0.05).
Figure 1. Expression of circulating miRNAs between SLU- and SLU+ patients. (a) Expression of circulating miR-199a-5p between SLU- and SLU+ patients; (b) Expression of circulating miR-144 between SLU- and SLU+ patients; (c) Expression of circulating miR-126 between SLU- and SLU+ patients. SLU-, patients without sickle leg ulcer; SLU+, patients with active sickle leg ulcer or previous history; miR, microRNA; p-value obtained using independent t-test.
In SLU- patients with HbSC genotype, there was higher expression of circulating miR-199a-5p, miR-144, and miR-126 (Figure S1). In addition, circulating miR-126 expression was higher in SLU+ patients with HbSC genotype (Figure S1).

3. Correlation Coefficients between Hemolytic Biomarkers and Circulating miRNAs Expression in SLU+ Patients

miR-199a-5p expression was positively correlated with NOm, LDH, AST, GGT, iron, and ferritin levels, and negatively correlated with red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05) (Figure 2a). Moreover, there were positive correlations between miR-144 expression and NOm, LDH, indirect bilirubin, AST, GGT, iron, and ferritin levels, as well as negative correlations with RBC count and hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05) (Figure 2b). Regarding miR-126 expression, there were negative correlations with indirect bilirubin, iron and ferritin levels (p < 0.05) (Figure 2c).
Figure 2. Heatmap of correlation coefficients between hemolytic biomarkers and circulating miRNAs in SLU+ patients. (a) Correlation analyses between hemolytic biomarkers and circulating miR-199a-5p; (b) correlation analyses between hemolytic biomarkers and circulating miR-144; (c) correlation analyses between hemolytic biomarkers and circulating miR-126. miRNAs, microRNAs; SLU+, patients with active sickle leg ulcer or previous history. * p < 0.05. p-value obtained by Pearson correlation.

4. Circulating miRNAs Expression in Active SLU

Patients whose SLU wound bed was constituted by unviable tissues, such as necrotic and sloughy tissues, presented higher miR-144 expression (Figure 3a) and lower miR-126 expression (Figure 3b) (p < 0.05). Patients with more than one SLU simultaneously presented higher miR-144 (Figure 3c) and miR-199a-5p (Figure 3d) expression (p < 0.05). In addition, SLU recurrence between 4 to 7 episodes presented higher miR-199a-5p expression (Figure 3e) and lower miR-126 expression (Figure 3f) (p < 0.05). SLU with sick edges were associated with higher miR-199a-5p (Figure 3g) and miR-144 (Figure 3h) expression (p < 0.05).
Figure 3. Association of circulating miRNAs and clinical characteristics of active SLU. (a) Expression of circulating miR-144 in SLU with viable and unviable tissues; (b) Expression of circulating miR-126 in SLU with viable and unviable tissues; (c) Expression of circulating miR-144 in patients with one and more than one SLU; (d) Expression of circulating miR-199a-5p in patients with one and more than one SLU; (e) Expression of circulating miR-199a-5p in patients with multiple SLU recurrence; (f) Expression of circulating miR-126 in patients with multiple SLU recurrence; (g) Expression of circulating miR-199a-5p in SLU with intact and sick edges; (h) Expression of circulating miR-144 in SLU with intact and sick edges. SLU, sickle leg ulcers; miR, miRNA. 1 SLU, one sickle leg ulcer; +1 SLU, more than one sickle leg ulcer; p-value obtained using independent t-test.

5. Association of HU with Circulating miRNAs Expression in Patients with and without SLU

Two MLR models were performed with HU as dependent variable. In SLU- patients, miR-199a-5p and miR-126 expression were independently associated with HU (R2 = 0.486; p < 0.05), while in SLU+ patients only miR-126 expression presented independent association (R2 = 0.779; p < 0.05) (Table 1).
Table 1.
Multivariate linear regression models of hydroxyurea in association with confounding variables.
  Independent Variables Dependent Variable p-Value β R2 p-Value of the Model
SLU- patients

N = 43
Circulating miR-199a-5p Hydroxyurea 0.007 0.695 0.486 0.022
Circulating miR-144 0.096 0.468
Circulating miR-126 0.009 −0.834
SLU+ patients

N = 15
Circulating miR-199a-5p 0.485 0.191 0.779 0.043
Circulating miR-144 0.997 −0.001
Circulating miR-126 0.011 −0.885

SLU-, patients without sickle leg ulcers; SLU+, patients with active sickle leg ulcers or previous history; miR, microRNA; R2: coefficient of determination; β: coefficient of regression; Bold p-values indicate significance at p < 0.05.

7. Target Gene Prediction with Biological Processes of miR-199a-5p to SCD Patients

6. Target Gene Prediction with Biological Processes of miR-199a-5p to SCD Patients

The results demonstrate interaction networks of miR-199a-5p and target genes using miRWalk analysis (Figure 4a). Correlation between level significance by the score for these genes is presented (Figure 4b), as well as biological processes (Figure 4c; Table S1).
Figure 4. Target gene prediction with biological processes of miR-199a-5p. (a) Interaction networks of miR-199a-5p and target genes using miRWalk analysis; (b) correlation between level significance by score for genes; (c) biological processes for miR-199a-5p with p-values.

References

  1. Njoku, F.; Zhang, X.; Shah, B.N.; Machado, R.F.; Han, J.; Saraf, S.L.; Gordeuk, V.R. Biomarkers of clinical severity in treated and untreated sickle cell disease: A comparison by genotypes of a single center cohort and African Americans in the NHANES study. Br. J. Haematol. 2021, 194, 767–778.
  2. Antwi-Boasiako, C.; Andemariam, B.; Colombatti, R.; Asare, E.V.; Strunk, C.; Piccone, C.M.; Manwani, D.; Boruchov, D.; Farooq, F.; Urbonya, R.; et al. A study of the geographic distribution and associated risk factors of leg ulcers within an international cohort of sickle cell disease patients: The CASiRe group analysis. Ann. Hematol. 2020, 99, 2073–2079.
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  5. Umeh, N.I.; Ajegba, B.; Buscetta, A.J.; Abdallah, K.E.; Minniti, C.P.; Bonham, V.L. The psychosocial impact of leg ulcers in patients with sickle cell disease: I don’t want them to know my little secret. PLoS ONE 2017, 12, e0186270.
  6. Li, B.; Zhu, X.; Ward, C.M.; Starlard-Davenport, A.; Takezaki, M.; Berry, A.; Ward, A.; Wilder, C.; Neunert, C.; Kutlar, A.; et al. MIR-144-mediated NRF2 gene silencing inhibits fetal hemoglobin expression in sickle cell disease. Exp. Hematol. 2019, 70, 85–96.
  7. Yang, X.; Zheng, Y.; Tan, J.; Tian, R.; Shen, P.; Cai, W.; Liao, H. miR-199a-5p–HIF-1α-STAT3 positive feedback loop contributes to the progression of non-small cell lung cancer. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 2021, 8, 1–13.
  8. Le, N.-T.; Abe, J. MicroRNA 199a and the eNOS (Endothelial NO Synthase)/NO Pathway. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 2018, 38, 2278–2280.
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