Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2026 Jul 31;72(6):e20252209. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20252209. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate serum miR-101 and miR-146a expression levels in adult sepsis, compare them with healthy controls, and assess their relationships with inflammatory markers and disease severity.
METHODS: In total, 15 adults meeting Sepsis-3 criteria and 15 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. Serum miR-101 and miR-146a levels were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction within 24 h using the 2-∆Ct method and reassessed on day 3. Associations with clinical, laboratory, and disease severity parameters were analyzed.
RESULTS: On day 1, miR-101 expression was significantly higher in the sepsis group than in controls (1.17 vs. 0.14; p=0.011). miR-146a levels were lower in sepsis but did not differ significantly (p=0.152). Neither miRNA showed a significant change from day 1 to day 3 (miR-101: p=0.776; miR-146a: p=0.191). miR-101 demonstrated positive correlations with procalcitonin, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, creatinine, and a negative correlation with albumin. Levels were markedly higher in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities (ρ=0.622; p=0.013). miR-101 correlated positively with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (ρ=0.412; p=0.024), while no association was observed with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment. miR-146a showed no meaningful correlations with clinical or laboratory parameters.
CONCLUSION: miR-101 is significantly elevated in adult sepsis and reflects systemic inflammatory burden and disease severity; however, given its limited specificity, it should be considered a complementary biomarker rather than a standalone diagnostic or prognostic tool. Its stable expression between days 1 and 3 suggests a sustained early phase molecular response. miR-146a shows no significant change and has limited diagnostic relevance in adult sepsis. Larger multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings.
PMID:42561192 | DOI:10.1590/1806-9282.20252209