Investigating the Probable role of miR-9, miR-17 and miR-106a/b in Th17 differentiation pathway in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic myelin destructive disease which affects central nerves system. CD4 T cells are a group of adaptive immune system cells that have Pivotal role in immune response against the foreign agents. Th17 (T helper 17) cells are one of the subsets of CD4 T cells which increased in multiple sclerosis patients. MicroRNAs are single stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate protein expression by targeting their mRNA. The aim of this work was to determine miRNAs which probably have effect on theTh17 differentiation pathway by means of bioinformatics methods to suppress this pathway and decrease MS symptoms. by using miRWalk and miRTarBase databases, the probable and validated interactions between some miRNAs and Th17 differentiation pathway proteins were investigated .Disregulated expression of this miRNAs clinically have been shown previously in MS patients. Results showed that miR-9 probably could induce Th17 differentiation from naïve T cells by suppressing negative regulator of Th17 differentiation pathway. In contrast, miR-17and miR-106a/b probably could inhibit Th17 differentiation pathway by suppressing positive regulator of this pathway. Thus, this miRNAs can be considered as potential therapeutic targets for suppression or symptom reduction and also diagnostic markers in MS patients.