BIOLOGIC MARKERS OF FIBROGENESIS IN PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS PATIENTS

Introduction. Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary fibrosis still lacks biomarkers to predict progression. Whole-genome association studies and other genetic research over the past few years have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with an increased risk of developing pulmonary fi brosis. In sarcoidosis, relatively reliable predictors of the disease activity include serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and chitotriosidase. Levels of inetrleukin-5 and, possibly, interleukin-7 were found to be elevated in patients with a fibrotic phenotype. Aim. In the present study, we sought to find the relationship between serum non- coding RNA- microRNA expression in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and the likelihood of pulmonary fibrosis developing in these patients. Materials and Methods. A total of 52 research subjects (sarcoidosis patients with/without fibrosis and healthy subjects) were included in the study. RNA samples from two groups of sarcoidosis patients (with and without fibrosis) and the control group were analyzed using the PCR Array. TaqMan QRT-PCR Assay was used for data verification. Results and Discussion. A significant decrease in the lung diffusion capacity was detected in 12 of 15 patients with chest-CT fibrosis signs. Lung diffusion capacity was normal in 17 patients without any fibrosis signs. There was a significant negative correlation among miR-15a, miR-150, and the level of lung diffusion capacity. Сonclusions. A set of non-coding RNA- microRNAs, i. e., miR-15a, miR-22, miR-106b, miR-107, and miR-150, was identified that can be further used as diagnostic markers for sarcoidosis fibrosis.