Association between microRNA 92a-3p and GATA3 Levels in Packed Red Blood Unit with Storage Time in Blood Banks

Abstract BACKGROUND: The concentration of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are the negative regulators of cellular mRNAs, is higher in mature red blood cells (RBCs) than in other blood cell types. Age-related storage abnormalities are more prevalent in human-packed RBCs (PRBCs) but less is known about how miRNAs affect inflammation in humans after transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different blood bags containing the blood of four healthy donors were used to collect samples. Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was isolated from the units at 0, 14, 21, and 28 days following storage. The expression of GATA3 was assessed using the Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To find the expression of miRNAs, the Illumina platform employed RNA sequencing (RNA seq). RESULTS: Most of the miRNAs were downregulated with storage time, however, miRNA 92a-3p was shown to be one of the most upregulated miRNAs after 28 days and downregulated at days 14 and 21 of storage. The level of GATA3 expression was increased on days 14 and 21 of storage and decreased on day 28 of storage. The results presented suggest that miRNA 92a-3p may control GATA3 expression in PRBCs kept in blood banks, which could, therefore, trigger an adverse immunological reaction. CONCLUSION: Overall, we found that there is an association between GATA3 level and miRNA 92a-3p in PRBCs which could demonstrate that GATA3 is a potential target of miR-92a-3p.