Plasma microRNA signature associated with skeletal muscle wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women

Abstract Background Skeletal muscle mass wasting almost invariably accompanies bone loss in elderly, and the coexistence of these two conditions depends on the tight endocrine crosstalk existing between the two organs, other than the biomechanical coupling. Since the current diagnostics limitation i...

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Main Authors: Martina Faraldi, Veronica Sansoni, Jacopo Vitale, Silvia Perego, Marta Gomarasca, Chiara Verdelli, Carmelo Messina, Luca M. Sconfienza, Giuseppe Banfi, Sabrina Corbetta, Giovanni Lombardi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.13421
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Summary:Abstract Background Skeletal muscle mass wasting almost invariably accompanies bone loss in elderly, and the coexistence of these two conditions depends on the tight endocrine crosstalk existing between the two organs, other than the biomechanical coupling. Since the current diagnostics limitation in this field, and given the progressive population aging, more effective tools are needed. The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for muscle mass wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women. Methods One hundred seventy‐nine miRNAs were assayed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction in plasma samples from 28 otherwise healthy post‐menopausal osteoporotic women (73.4 ± 6.6 years old). The cohort was divided in tertiles based on appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI) to better highlight the differences on skeletal muscle mass (first tertile: n = 9, ASMMI = 4.88 ± 0.40 kg·m−2; second tertile: n = 10, ASMMI = 5.73 ± 0.23 kg·m−2; third tertile: n = 9, ASMMI = 6.40 ± 0.22 kg·m−2). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to estimate the diagnostic potential of miRNAs. miRNAs displaying a statistically significant fold change ≥ ±1.5 and area under the curve (AUC) > 0.800 (P < 0.05) between the first and third tertiles were considered. A linear regression model was applied to estimate the association between miRNA expression and ASMMI in the whole population, adjusting for body mass index, age, total fat (measured by total‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [DXA]) and bone mineral density (measured by femur DXA). Circulating levels of adipo‐myokines were evaluated by bead‐based immunofluorescent assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results Five miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐221‐3p, hsa‐miR‐374b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐126‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p) resulted down‐regulated and two miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p) were up‐regulated in the first tertile (relative‐low ASMMI) compared with the third tertile (relative‐high ASMMI) (fold change ≥ ±1.5; P‐value < 0.05). All the corresponding ROC curves had AUC > 0.8 (P < 0.05). Two signatures hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p; and hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p showed the highest AUC, 0.914 (sensitivity = 77.78%; specificity = 100.00%) and 0.901 (sensitivity = 88.89%; specificity = 100.00%), respectively. Conclusions In this study, we identified, for the first time, two miRNA signatures, hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p; and hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p, specifically associated with muscle mass wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women.
ISSN:2190-5991
2190-6009