microRNA hsa-miR-425-5p and hsa-miR-4523 expressions as biomarkers of active pulmonary tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis infection, and lymph node tuberculosis

Background Studies on miRNA highlight its significance as an immunomarker for several diseases, including tuberculosis. This study aimed to determine the difference between miR-425-5p and miR-4523 expressions in patients with active pulmonary TB (PTB), latent TB infection (LTBI), and lymph node TB (LNTB), whose diagnosis remains challenging. Methods This case-control study was performed on blood samples obtained from 23 patients with PTB, 21 with LTBI, 21 with LNTB, and 25 healthy controls (HC). miRNA hsa-miR-425-5p and hsa-miR-4523 expression levels were measured by RT-qPCR. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Results RT-qPCR showed that hsa-mir-425-5p and hsa-mir-4523 expression levels were significantly different among the four groups (PTB, LTBI, LNTB, and HCs). The hsa-mir-425-5p miRNA expression level in LNTB was higher than that in LTBI (p = 0.003). Meanwhile, the hsa-mir-4523 miRNA expression was downregulated in PTB and LNTB than in LTBI (p . Conclusion miRNA hsa-mir-425-5p was upregulated and miRNA hsa-mir-4523 was downregulated in PTB and LNTB than in LTBI.