Expression of miR-485-3p and its Target FOXD3 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Backgroundand Aims:Previous investigations haverevealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and that the expression of miRNAs, such as miR-485-3pchanges in several illnesses. This study was designed to determine the expression level of miR-485-3pand its targetFOXD3in CLL patients and controls to identify if this miRNA has the potential to be considered as a biomarker in CLL.Materials and Methods: A total of 35 CLL patients and the same number of controls were recruited. Following totalRNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, quantitative analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)using the SYBR Green PCR Master Mix to determine the expression level of miR-485-3p and its target. Moreover, in silicomolecular enrichment analysis was conducted on targetome of miR-485-3p.Results: It was observed that the expression level of miR-485-3p was upregulated in CLL patients compared with controls (p 0.009). However, the expression profile of miR-485-3p’s target (FOXD3) was significantly downregulated in patients in comparison with the control group (p 0.02).Conclusions:Based on the results, miR-485-3p could be a novel biomarker todiagnoseCLL and to design novel CLL control strategies by targetingFOXD3