Dynamic changes in peripheral blood-targeted miRNA expression profiles in patients with severe traumatic brain injury at high altitude

Background:The aim of this work is to detect and compare the peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles in patients with severe traumatic brain injury(s TBI)2,12,24,48,and 72 h after injury at high altitude and to predict the target genes of differential expressed mi RNAs.Methods:Twenty s TBI patients from high-altitude areas were randomly selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were divided into five groups:the 2-h group,12-h group,24-h group,48-h group,and 72-h group.Peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles were detected using real-time quantitative PCR(q RT-PCR).Results:The expression levels of mi R-18 a,mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 b in peripheral blood showed significant differences between the 2-h group and the 12-h group.The expression levels of mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 f in peripheral blood were up-regulated in the 24-h group.In the 48-h group,the expression levels of mi R-181 d,mi R-29 a,and mi R-18 b were upregulated.In the 72-h group,the expression levels of mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 f changed.The main target genes of the differentiation expressed mi RNAs were genes that regulate inflammatory responses,apoptosis,and DNA damage/repair.Conclusions:mi RNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of s TBI by dynamically regulating the target genes that regulate inflammatory responses,apoptosis,and DNA damage/repair pathways.