microRNA profile in CD4+ T cell in healthy control and Primay biliary cholangitis (PBC) [miRNA]

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), formally known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is an autoimmune liver disease of unknown pathogenesis. Consequently, therapeutic targets for PBC have yet to be identified. As CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role in immunological dysfunction observed in PBC, we analyzed microRNA(miRNA) and mRNA expression in CD4+ T cells to investigate PBC pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic targets. Clinically and pathologically diagnosed 6 PBC patients and 6 healthy controls, who agreed to provide samples with written informed consent, were enrolled in this study. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral CD4+ T cells from PBC patients and healthy controls. All samples fulfilled the following criteria (RNA integrity number > 8.0, A260/A280 ratio; 1.9-2.2) by Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and a DU730 UV/Visible Spectrophotometer (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA). All samples profiled the expression of miRNA and mRNA by using Agilent microarray (SurePrint G3 human miRNA microarray kit 8×60K Rel.16.0 and SurePrint G3 human GE 8×60K microarray kit) according to manufacturer’s protocols. miRNA profiling was performed using Agilent miRNA array platforms with RNAs isolated from CD4+ T cell of PBC and healthy control.