Iranian Biomedical Journal

en Alterations in the Expression of miR-148a-5p, TGF-β1, and TGF-βR2 in Skin Samples Exposed to Sulfur Mustard. Related Fields Related Fields مقاله کامل Full Length/Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Sulfur mustard exposure causes chronic cutaneous injuries characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and delayed wound healing. MiRNAs, such as miR-148a-5p, have been implicated in regulating the TGF-β signaling pathways involved in these processes. This study aimed to evaluate whether alterations in the expression of miR-148a-5p, TGF-β1, and TGF-βR2 are associated with long-term SM-induced skin damage. Methods: Skin biopsy samples were collected from 20 SM-exposed veterans and 20 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted, and quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess the expression levels of miR-148a-5p, TGF-β1, and TGF-βR2. Group differences were analyzed using a t-test, and ROC curves were generated to evaluate diagnostic performance. Results: Expression levels of miR-148a-5p, TGF-β1, and TGF-βR2 were significantly lower in SM-exposed skin compared with controls (miR-148a-5p: p = 0.0010; TGF-β1: p < 0.0001; TGF-βR2: p < 0.0001). Based on ROC analysis, miR-148a-5p and TGF-βR2 indicated promising discriminative potential, whereas TGF-β1 did not reach statistical significance (AUC = 0.65; p = 0.0877). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that reduced expression of miR-148a-5p and TGF-βR2 may contribute to SM-related skin injury. Both markers demonstrated potential diagnostic utility and could aid in risk stratification and monitoring in SM-induced skin disease, pending further validation in larger cohorts.   </div> Biomarkers, Gene expression, Mustard gas, Skin, Transforming growth factor beta 344 351 http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-6415-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Atiyeh Tavakoli Atiyeh Tavakoli mohadeseh_ali@yahoo.com 0000-0001-6319-7195 No Molecular Genetics Researcher, Science and Technology Park of Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Saeed Heidari Keshel Saeed Heidari Keshel mohadeseh_vali@yahoo.com 0000-0003-2637-2825 No Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohadese Valizadeh Mohades Valizadeh mohadesevali@sbmu.ac.ir 0000-0001-5112-2698 Yes Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran