MiRNA-186 as a Biomarker of Disease Exacerbation in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Insights from Clinical Data and Molecular Marker Analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the synovial tissue, leading to joint destruction, pain, stiffness, and progressive impairment of motor functions. Despite significant advances in diagnosis and treatment, RA remains a major clinical and social challenge, negatively impacting patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the expression of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) and the activity of the disease. A total of 46 RA patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in the study. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression of miRNAs in whole blood. MiRNA-186 exhibited decreased concentrations in RA patients compared to HCs (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Patients with an active form of the disease (DAS28 > 3.2) exhibited lower expression of miRNA-186 than HCs (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Additionally, ACPA-negative patients also demonstrated reduced miRNA-186 expression compared to controls. AUC analysis confirmed that the combination of miRNA-186, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and Visual Analog Scale-Patient Global Assessment (VAS PGA) may be effective in identifying RA exacerbation. The combination of classical laboratory markers, clinical data, and molecular markers enhances the ability to assess RA exacerbation. MiRNA-186 may be considered a potential marker of disease activity in RA.