Occupational exposure to pesticides reveals a miRNAs expression profile indicating multiple disease risks

Growing evidence links pesticide exposure to health issues, including pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. This study analyzed microRNA (miRNAs) expression in pesticide-exposed individuals and predicted the biological functions of these miRNAs through target gene analysis. A cohort of 23 pesticide applicators and 23 non-exposed individuals were recruited in Brazil. Serum pesticide quantification revealed a significant difference in the concentration of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) between the two groups. Cellular analysis revealed increased frequencies of micronucleated, binucleated, pyknotic, and karyolytic cells in the exposed group. Plasma analysis identified 30 differentially expressed miRNAs, of which 20 were selected for further study based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (AUC ≥ 0.75, p < 0.005). These miRNAs targeted a total of 1004 validated target genes. The application of functional analysis yielded a total of 213 biological processes, 131 cellular components, and 170 molecular functions. Furthermore, 91 enriched pathways and 107 diseases with the most prevalent being neurological disorders, arthritis, and cancer, were associated with the predicted target genes. This study reveals biological pathways affected by pesticide exposure and highlights the critical role of miRNAs in disease pathogenesis, particularly for neurological conditions and cancers.