Effects of Exercise on miRNA Expression and Disease Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Exploring Treatment Efficacy and Severity

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on microRNA and mRNA expressions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Material and Methods: 30 patients and 30 healthy controls aged 18-60 years who met the 2010 ACR / EULAR rheumatoid arthritis criteria were included in the study. The study group followed an 8-week program of strengthening and stretching exercises twice a week, plus 30 minutes of mild-to-moderate walking once a week. Blood samples were taken at the start and end of the program for both groups. Pain, disease activity, general health, and quality of life were assessed. Gene expressions of miRNA-146a, miRNA-155, miRNA-16, and miRNA-145 were analyzed via real-time PCR in the blood samples. The control group only provided blood samples for gene expression analysis. Results: There was a significant improvement in pain, disease activity, general health, and quality of life scores before and after treatment in the rheumatoid arthritis group (p < 0.05). Although CRP and RF levels changed, no significant differences were found, and no difference was observed between the control group and the pre- and post-treatment groups (p > 0.05). MiRNA-146a expression did not significantly differ before and after treatment (p > 0.05), but both treatment groups showed significant differences compared to the control group (p < 0.05). MiRNA-145 expression significantly changed pre- and post-treatment (p < 0.05), but no difference was found between the control and treatment groups (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found in miRNA-155 and miRNA-16 expression levels across the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Exercise therapy positively impacts pain, disease activity, quality of life, and general health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, exercise may influence certain miRNAs involved in the disease's pathogenesis. However, further research is necessary to better understand these effects.

Keywords

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• exercise
• microRNA
• quality of life
• pain

Effects of Exercise on miRNA Expression and Disease Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Exploring Treatment Efficacy and Severity

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, egzersizin romatoid artritli hastalarda mikroRNA ve mRNA ekspresyonları üzerindeki etkisini araştırmayı amaçladı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 2010 ACR/EULAR romatoid artrit kriterlerini karşılayan, 18–60 yaş aralığında 30 hasta ve 30 sağlıklı kontrol dahil edildi. Çalışma grubuna haftada iki kez kuvvetlendirme ve germe egzersizlerinden oluşan 8 haftalık bir program ile haftada bir kez 30 dakikalık hafif-orta şiddette yürüyüş uygulandı. Her iki gruptan da programın başında ve sonunda kan örnekleri alındı. Ağrı, hastalık aktivitesi, genel sağlık ve yaşam kalitesi değerlendirildi. Kan örneklerinde miRNA-146a, miRNA-155, miRNA-16 ve miRNA-145’in gen ekspresyonları gerçek zamanlı PCR ile analiz edildi. Kontrol grubu yalnızca gen ekspresyon analizi için kan örneği verdi. Bulgular: Romatoid artrit grubunda tedavi öncesi ve sonrası ağrı, hastalık aktivitesi, genel sağlık ve yaşam kalitesi skorlarında anlamlı düzelme gözlendi (p < 0,05). CRP ve RF düzeylerinde değişiklik olmasına rağmen anlamlı fark bulunmadı ve kontrol grubu ile tedavi öncesi-sonrası grupları arasında da fark saptanmadı (p > 0,05). MiRNA-146a ekspresyonunda tedavi öncesi ve sonrası arasında anlamlı fark görülmedi (p > 0,05), ancak her iki tedavi grubu kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı farklılık gösterdi (p < 0,05). MiRNA-145 ekspresyonu tedavi öncesi ve sonrası arasında anlamlı değişim gösterdi (p < 0,05), fakat kontrol ve tedavi grupları arasında fark bulunmadı (p > 0,05). MiRNA-155 ve miRNA-16 ekspresyon seviyeleri açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark saptanmadı (p > 0,05). Sonuç: Egzersiz tedavisi, romatoid artritli hastalarda ağrı, hastalık aktivitesi, yaşam kalitesi ve genel sağlık üzerinde olumlu etkiler göstermektedir. Ayrıca egzersiz, hastalığın patogenezinde rol alan bazı miRNA’ları etkileyebilir. Bununla birlikte, bu etkilerin daha iyi anlaşılması için ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• Romatoid artrit
• egzersiz
• mikroRNA
• yaşam kalitesi
• ağrı

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