Is MicroRNA-127 a Novel Biomarker for Acute Pancreatitis with Lung Injury?

Abstract EN

Background and Aims.

The aim of this study was to determine the expression of microRNA-127 (miR-127) in both rat models and patients of acute pancreatitis (AP) with lung injury (LI).

Methods.

Rats were administrated with retrograde cholangiopancreatography injection of 0.5% or 3.5% sodium taurocholate to induce AP with mild or severe LI and were sacrificed at 6, 12, and 24 h.

Rats from the control group received a laparotomy only.

Plasma from a prospective cohort of AP patients was collected.

The levels of miR-127 in the tissues and plasma were detected using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results.

The upregulation of miR-127 in the lungs of rats was detected in the groups of AP with severe LI at 6 h and 24 h, whereas it was scarcely detectable in plasma.

In the pilot study that included 18 AP patients and 5 healthy volunteers, the plasma miR-127 level was significantly downregulated in AP patients with respiratory failure compared with the healthy volunteers (P=0.014) and those without respiratory failure (P=0.043).

Conclusion.

miR-127 might serve as a potential marker for the identification of AP with LI.