Estimation of miR-16 Gene Expression in Iraqi Tuberculosis Patients and Its Association with Response to Therapy

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and commonly occurring in the lungs as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), but it can affect any organ in the body. Is considered one of the most common infectious diseases and major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the level of miR-16 in the serum of newly infected TB, Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) of TB patients, and patient’s post-therapy. The samples were collected from Iraqi patients with tuberculosis in the unit of the chest and respiratory diseases in the primary health care worker sector in Baghdad city. The total samples were 130 divided into four groups new infection =62 (47.6 %), completed therapy = 27 (20.7%), MDR =21 (16.1%), and control negative =20 (15.38%). Identification of sputum, and blood biomarkers that can be useful for predicting Mycobacterium. Diagnose the disease by classical methods [Ziehl-Nilsen (ZN), cultured on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ), molecular method gene x pert, ESR, PCV, Hb, WBCs]. The level of the miRNA was estimated by qRT-PCR. The levels of miR-16 were significantly elevated. The levels of miR-16 returned to those observed in healthy subjects. While In patients with MDR TB, miR-16 levels were lowest in the serum of MDR TB patients compared to TB new, TB treated group, and healthy controls. In conclusion, miR-16 in serum may act as a surrogate biomarker for studying TB infection, progression of therapy, and MDR TB. Up to our knowledge this study was the first one that investigated the correlation between the Blood Parameters and miRNA-16 expression levels, the study revealed that the Hb levels have a positive correlation with the expressions level of this miRNA, which means the Hb levels were elevated in new infection TB causing a lack of hemoglobin.