Dysregulation of miR-124-3p and STAT3 in Hypothyroidism: Implications for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Biomarkers

Background: Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition caused by decreased thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) levels, affecting ~5% of the population. However, its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent studies implicate microRNAs (miRNAs) in disease-related cellular processes. This study aimed to identify novel miRNAs associated with hypothyroidism using publicly available genomic databases, with the goal of validating one candidate miRNA and its target gene in patients to evaluate their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Methods: We used bioinformatic tools (NCBI, TargetScan, miRBase) to identify candidate miRNAs, selecting miR-124-3p for further analysis. The secondary structure of miR-124-3p was predicted using RNAfold. We quantified expression levels via qPCR (quantification cycle, Cq; melt curve analysis). Similarly, we analyzed expression of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), a predicted target of miR-124-3p. Results: Secondary structure prediction revealed that miR-124-3p has a minimum free energy of -35.50 kcal/mol. miR-124-3p was downregulated and STAT3 was upregulated in hypothyroid patients, suggesting their involvement in pathogenesis. Conclusion: Our computational and experimental data indicate that miR-124-3p is dysregulated in hypothyroidism and may serve as a diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarker. Altered expression of miR-124-3p and its target STAT3 provides insights into hypothyroidism pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate their roles. STAT3 also shows potential as a biomarker target.