Correlation of the Expression of miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p,and miR-21 in PBMCs of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Specific Antibodies and ESR,and the Significance of Combined Detection in the Diagnosis

HUANG Huipu; BAO Yongfen

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-3429.2025.15.010

Abstract：Objective To investigate the correlation of the expression of miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p and miR-21 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)with specific antibodies and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)and the significance of combined detection in the diagnosis.Methods Sixty RA patients(RA group),and 60 osteoarthritis(OA)patients(OA group)admitted from September 2021 to June 2023 as well as 60 healthy people(control group)were selected.The specific antibodies and ESR levels of the three groups and the expression of miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p and miR-21 in PBMC were recorded.The correlation of the expression of miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p and miR-21 with the specific antibodies and ESR of RA patients was analyzed,and their effect on RA and their diagnostic value were analyzed.Results The levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(ACPA),rheumatoid factor(RF)and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)in RA group were higher than those in OA group and control group(P<0.05).The expression level of miR-766-3p and miR-140-5p in the RA group was higher than that in the OA group and the control group,while the expression level of miR-21 was lower than that in the OA group and the control group(P<0.05).miR-766-3p and miR-140-5p were positively correlated with ACPA(r=0.758,0.753),RF(r=0.712,0.768)and ESR(r=0.737,0.729)(P<0.05),while miR-21 was negatively correlated with ACPA(r=-0.677),RF(r=-0.710)and ESR(r=-0.765)(P<0.05).miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p and miR-21 were all independent influencing factors of the occurrence of RA(P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of ACPA,RF,ESR alone and in combination in the diagnosis of RA was 0.726,0.725,0.718 and 0.851,respectively(P<0.001).The AUC of miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p,miR-21 alone and in combination in the diagnosis of RA was 0.748,0.754,0.762 and 0.872,respectively(P<0.001).The AUC of the traditional combination+the new combination in the diagnosis of RA was 0.946(P<0.001).The AUC of the traditional combination+the new combination in the diagnosis of RA was higher than that of the traditional combination and the new combination alone(P<0.05).Conclusion The expressions of miR-766-3p,miR-140-5p and miR-21 in PBMC of RA patients are closely related to specific antibodies and ESR.Combined diagnosis can effectively improve the diagnostic efficiency,and provide reference for early clinical diagnosis and corresponding intervention programs.