Abstract:

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum miR-125a expression and airway remodeling in children with bronchial asthma. Methods A total of 231 children with bronchial asthma （asthma group） and 231 healthy children （healthy control group） were enrolled from January 2020 to December 2022. The relative expression level of serum miR-125a，pulmonary function indicators [forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV1），forced vital capacity （FVC），the percentage of FEV1 of FVC （FEV1/FVC%）]，airway remodeling indicators [airway inner diameter （L），airway outer diameter （D），airway cross-sectional area （Ao），airway cavity area （Ai），airway wall thickness （T） /D ratio，the percentage of airway wall area to total airway cross-sectional area （WA%）]，serological indicators related to airway remodeling [transforming growth factor-beta1 （TGF-β1），osteopontin （OPN），matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）] were determined. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation among the indicators. Receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of miR-125a in the diagnosis of children with bronchial asthma. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors of exacerbation in children with bronchial asthma. Results Compared with healthy control group，the relative expression level of serum miR-125a，FEV1，FVC and FEV1/FVC% in asthma group were decreased （P<0.05），while the levels of D，Ao，T/D ratio，WA% and serum TGF-β1，OPN and MMP-9 were increased （P<0.05）. There was no statistical significance in L and Ai between the 2 groups （P>0.05）. The miR-125a was positively correlated with FEV1，FVC and FEV1/FVC% in asthma group （r values were 0.342，0.373 and 0.465，P<0.01）. It was negatively correlated with D，Ao，T/D ratio，WA%，TGF-β1，OPN and MMP-9 levels （r values were -0.226，-0.458，-0.301，-0.388，-0.394，-0.452 and -0.429，P<0.05）. There was no correlation with L and Ai （r values were 0.079 and 0.094，P>0.05）. There was no correlation between miR-125a and other indicators in control group （P>0.05）. The relative expression level of miR-125a in acute attack group was lower than that in clinical remission group （P<0.001），while the levels of TGF-β1，OPN and MMP-9 were higher than those in clinical remission group（P<0.001）. The relative expression of miR-125a in mild，moderate and severe groups was decreased successively （P<0.001）. The levels of TGF-β1，OPN and MMP-9 were increased successively（P<0.001）. The area under curve （AUC） of miR-125a for the diagnosis of severe bronchial asthma was 0.831. TGF-β1≥367.20 ng·L-1，MMP-9≥123.19 μg·L-1，miR-125a≤0.34 were risk factors for acute attack in children with bronchial asthma （P<0.05）. Conclusions Serum miR-125a level is decreased in children with bronchial asthma，and it is related to lung function and airway remodeling in children with bronchial asthma，which may be used as an indicator to evaluate the condition of children with bronchial asthma.

Key words: MiR-125a, Bronchial asthma, Lung function, Airway remodeling