The role of micro-RNA 223-3p as a potential biomarker of severity and predictor of outcomes in sepsis

Abstract

Background
Researchers discovered that microRNA 223-3p (miR-223-3p) was elevated in sepsis due to its dysregulation in infection, so the aim of our study was to identify the role of miR-223-3p expression as a potential biomarker and predictor of outcome in sepsis.


Patients and methods
Our study was a prospective observational cohort model consisting of 46 patients diagnosed as either sepsis or septic shock according to sepsis score 3, who were admitted to ICU. Four healthy individuals participated as a reference group for the expression of miR-223-3p. Serum samples were obtained for miR-223-3p gene expression by real-time PCR technology.


Results

The current study demonstrated that there was a higher mean value of miR-223-3p expression in sepsis cases (1.10±1.35) than in healthy persons (0.85±0.41). Pneumonia was the most common diagnosis in 24 (52.2%) cases. Klebsiella was the most predominant bacteria detected in this study 21 (45.7%) patients followed by 10 (21.7%) patients with Acinetobacter. There was a statistical significance difference between males and females, being higher in males (
P
0.046), also between smokers and nonsmokers, being higher in smokers than nonsmoker (
P
0.017). It was noticed that high expression of miRNA expression in Klebsiella and E coli infections. Correlation coefficient of miR-223-3p expression in relation to clinical and laboratory data showed the following: in spite of the expression being negatively correlated to body temperature, mean arterial blood pressure, white blood cells, platelet count, and liver functions but there was no statistically significant
P
value. Despite higher miRNA expression 223-3p in sepsis patients with disturbed consciousness, septic shock, nonsurvivors, and patients with positive fibrin degradation products, there was no statistically significant difference.



Conclusions
MiR-223-3p could be considered a promising biomarker for both marker of severity and predictor of outcomes in sepsis, providing perspectives to the exact molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. MiR-223-3pp showed higher expression with bacterial infection especially E-coli and klebsiella. These findings pay attention to the potentiality of miR-223-3p as both a diagnostic modality and tool of differentiation between sepsis etiologies and leading precision management.