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Sputum microRNA‐screening reveals Prostaglandin EP3 receptor as selective target in allergen‐specific immunotherapy
Author(s) -
Jakwerth Constanze A.,
Chaker Adam M.,
Guerth Ferdinand,
Oelsner Madlen,
Pechtold Lisa,
zur Bonsen Lynn S.,
Ullmann Julia T.,
KraussEtschmann Susanne,
Erb Anna,
Kau Josephine,
Plaschke Mirjam,
Winkler Marlene,
Kurz Alexandra,
Kloss Antonia,
Esservon Bieren Julia,
SchmidtWeber Carsten B.,
Zissler Ulrich M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.14013
Subject(s) - sputum , immunology , medicine , microrna , microarray , asthma , gene expression , biology , pathology , gene , tuberculosis , biochemistry
Background Several microRNAs (miRs) have been described as potential biomarkers in liquid biopsies and in the context of allergic asthma, while therapeutic effects on the airway expression of miRs remain elusive. In this study, we investigated epigenetic miR‐associated mechanisms in the sputum of grass pollen‐allergic patients with and without allergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT). Methods Induced sputum samples of healthy controls (HC), AIT‐treated and ‐untreated grass pollen‐allergic rhinitis patients with (AA) and without asthma (AR) were profiled using miR microarray and whole‐transcriptome microarray analysis of the same samples. miR targets were predicted in silico and used to identify inverse regulation. Local PGE 2 levels were measured using ELISA. Results Two hundred and fifty nine miRs were upregulated in the sputum of AA patients compared with HC, while only one was downregulated. The inverse picture was observed in induced sputum of AIT‐treated patients: while 21 miRs were downregulated, only 4 miRs were upregulated in asthmatics upon AIT. Of these 4 miRs, miR‐3935 stood out, as its predicted target PTGER3 , the prostaglandin EP 3 receptor, was downregulated in treated AA patients compared with untreated. The levels of its ligand PGE 2 in the sputum supernatants of these samples were increased in allergic patients, especially asthmatics, and downregulated after AIT. Finally, local PGE 2 levels correlated with ILC2 frequencies, secreted sputum IL‐13 levels, inflammatory cell load, sputum eosinophils and symptom burden. Conclusions While profiling the sputum of allergic patients for novel miR expression patterns, we uncovered an association between miR‐3935 and its predicted target gene, the prostaglandin E 3 receptor, which might mediate AIT effects through suppression of the PGE 2 ‐ PTGER3 axis.