MicroRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with different types of glaucoma

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the frequency and the level of expression of selected miRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with various types of glaucoma. METHODS: The studied group consisted of 42 patients with glaucoma: 19 with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 14 with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), 9 with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and the control group of 36 patients with senile cataract without glaucoma. The real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to analyze the expression of miRNAs. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the frequency and the level of miRNA expression between various types of glaucoma. There was a tendency for hsa-miR-6722-3p and hsa-miR-184 to be expressed more frequently in PEXG and hsa-miR-1260b in POAG. The expression levels of hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-miR-6515-3p were correlated with age in POAG. Target annotation and functional analyses showed that genes targeted by the most frequently expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-1202, -1260b, -184, -187-5p, -6515-3p, -6722-3p, and hsa-mir-4634) are involved mainly in response to hypoxia, cardiovascular system development, and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Hsa-miR-1260b was the most abundantly expressed among studied miRNAs and may be a potential biomarker of clinical status in PEXG and PACG. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00417-021-05214-z.