microRNAs modulation by Carica papaya extracts in the K562 human cell line
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25758/set.959Keywords:
β-hemoglobinopathies, Carica papaya, miRNAs, Fetal hemoglobinAbstract
Introduction – Hemoglobinopathies constitute one of the most prevalent groups of monogenic diseases worldwide. Currently, one of the available treatments consists of the pharmacological induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) using various chemical compounds, the most common one being hydroxyurea (HU). However, its high cost in developing countries and its poor safety profile limit its use. Therefore, it is essential to discover new HbF-inducing compounds with fewer side effects and that are easily accessible, such as natural compounds (e.g., Carica papaya L. leaf extract). Objective – To evaluate the effect of K562 cells’ (an immortalized human myeloid leukemia cell line) exposure to methanolic extracts of Carica papaya L. leaves (EMFCP) on the expression of miRNAs involved in HbF regulation. Methods – K562 cells were exposed for 24 hours to EMFCP (0.5, 50, and 100μg/mL) and HU (25μg/mL). The expression of miRNAs involved in HbF regulation (miR-486-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-210-5p, miR-32-5p, and miR-96-5p) was analyzed by RT-qPCR, using miR-426-3p as an endogenous reference. Results – Data analysis demonstrated that EMFCP modulates miRNA expression levels, as confirmed by the observation of decreased expression levels of miR-486-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-210-5p, miR-32-5p, and miR-96-5p, which are HbF regulators. Conclusion – This study suggests that EMFCP has the potential to induce HbF expression through the modulation of regulatory miRNAs, thus constituting a potentially effective approach in the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies.
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