Title : Evaluation of serum miR-146a and miR-155 expression in patients infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae
Abstract:
Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent studies have highlighted the regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in host immune responses to bacterial infections. Among these, miR-146a and miR-155 are crucial modulators of inflammation and immunity.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of serum miR-146a and miR-155 in patients infected with S. pneumoniae, in order to explore their potential role as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Methods: A case–control study was conducted including patients diagnosed with S. pneumoniae infection and healthy controls. Serum samples were collected, and total RNA was extracted. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to assess the relative expression levels of miR-146a and miR-155. Data were statistically analyzed to compare expression patterns between groups.
Results: The findings revealed a significant upregulation of both miR-146a and miR-155 in patients with S. pneumoniae infection compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.05). Elevated expression of these miRNAs was strongly correlated with disease presence and severity, indicating their involvement in immune regulation during bacterial infection.
Conclusion: Serum miR-146a and miR-155 are significantly overexpressed in S. pneumoniae infection, suggesting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. These results also provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of host–pathogen interactions and highlight possible therapeutic targets in pneumococcal infections.
Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, miR-146a, miR-155, Biomarker, RT-qPCR, Infections.
