Non-Invasive microRNA Profiling in Saliva can Serve as a Biomarker of Alcohol Exposure and Its Effects in Humans

Authors

Edward A. Mead, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Nadia Boulghassoul-Pietrzykowska, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Yongping Wang, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Onaiza Anees, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Noah S. Kinstlinger, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Maximillian Lee, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Shireen Hamza, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
Yaping Feng, Waksman Genomics Core Facility, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
Andrzej Z. Pietrzykowski, Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Journal

Frontiers in genetics

Volume

12

DOI

10.3389/fgene.2021.804222

Keywords

abuse; alcohol; array; biomarker; microRNA; profiling; saliva

Abstract

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. Considering the widespread occurrence of AUD, a reliable, cheap, non-invasive biomarker of alcohol consumption is desired by healthcare providers, clinicians, researchers, public health and criminal justice officials. microRNAs could serve as such biomarkers. They are easily detectable in saliva, which can be sampled from individuals in a non-invasive manner. Moreover, microRNAs expression is dynamically regulated by environmental factors, including alcohol. Since excessive alcohol consumption is a hallmark of alcohol abuse, we have profiled microRNA expression in the saliva of chronic, heavy alcohol abusers using microRNA microarrays. We observed significant changes in salivary microRNA expression caused by excessive alcohol consumption. These changes fell into three categories: downregulated microRNAs, upregulated microRNAs, and microRNAs upregulated . Analysis of these combinatorial changes in microRNA expression suggests dysregulation of specific biological pathways leading to impairment of the immune system and development of several types of epithelial cancer. Moreover, some of the altered microRNAs are also modulators of inflammation, suggesting their contribution to pro-inflammatory mechanisms of alcohol actions. Establishment of the cellular source of microRNAs in saliva corroborated these results. We determined that most of the microRNAs in saliva come from two types of cells: leukocytes involved in immune responses and inflammation, and buccal cells, involved in development of epithelial, oral cancers. In summary, we propose that microRNA profiling in saliva can be a useful, non-invasive biomarker allowing the monitoring of alcohol abuse, as well as alcohol-related inflammation and early detection of cancer.

APA Citation

Mead, Edward A.; Boulghassoul-Pietrzykowska, Nadia; Wang, Yongping; Anees, Onaiza; Kinstlinger, Noah S.; Lee, Maximillian; Hamza, Shireen; Feng, Yaping; and Pietrzykowski, Andrzej Z., "Non-Invasive microRNA Profiling in Saliva can Serve as a Biomarker of Alcohol Exposure and Its Effects in Humans" (2021). GW Authored Works. Paper 242.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/242

Department

School of Medicine and Health Sciences Resident Works