Nanostring human miRNA panel: exosome fraction from peripheral blood of pancreatitis patients versus healthy

827 human miRNA standard human panel Plasma derived extracellular vesicles (EV)/exosomes can serve as markers of cell damage/disease but can also have therapeutic utility depending on the nature of their cargo, such as miRNA. Currently there are challenges and lack of innovations regarding early diagnosis and therapeutic options within different aspects of management of patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis (CP). Use of exosomes as biomarkers for pancreatic health, and/or or as adjuvant therapy would make a difference in management of these patients. To explore the feasibility of this approach, we characterized the miRNA cargo of exosomes purified from CP patients, and compared it to those from healthy participants. Methods: EVs were isolated from plasma of 15 CP patients and 10 healthy controls. Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis was used to determine frequency and size while NanoString technology was used to characterize the miRNA cargo. Relevant clinical parameters were correlated with these EV/exosome characteristics. Results: ~30 miRNA species were identified to have significantly (p<0.05) different expression in exosomes from individuals with CP compared to healthy individuals; ~40 miRNA were differentially expressed in exosomes from pre-diabetic versus non-diabetic CP patients. miR-579-3p, while exhibiting significantly lower (~16-fold) expression in exosomes from CP compared to healthy individuals and lower (~24-fold) in CP narcotic users compared to the less severe CP in non-users, is actually enriched (~32-fold) within exosomes in pre-diabetic CP patients compared to non-diabetic CP patients. A unique pattern was identified in female CP patients. Conclusions: These first of a kind data support the prospect of using a bioinformatics approach to assess pancreatic health, and their therapeutic potential in CP patients. Two groups were enrolled: Group 1: patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (CP1-11) and Group 2: normal healthy volunteers as a control (H1-10). In Group 1, chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed by radiographic imaging, and/or decreased stool elastase levels, and/or genetic mutation of hereditary chronic pancreatitis along with correlative symptoms.