MicroRNA Expression Levels in Patients with Hashimoto Thyroiditis: A Single Centre Study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the circulatory miRNA expression levels in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) at the time of diagnosis and follow-up period compared with healthy controls.

METHODS

We collected blood samples from 34 patients with HT (4 males and 30 females) at the time of first diagnosis (Group P) and euthyroid period (Group E). Thirty-three healthy controls (Group H) blood samples were also included in the study. Expression levels of five different circulating miRNAs (miR-22, miR-141, miR-155, miR-375, miR-451) were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in miR-375 levels between the groups P and H. Also, for miR-451, there was a significant difference between the P and E groups. Finally, there was a moderate positive correlation between thyroid-stimulating hormone values and miR-22 expression levels for the P group.

CONCLUSION

miRNAs have important roles at all stages of the diseases. More studies must be performed in all thyroid diseases and autoimmune diseases, including HT.