MicroRNAs in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: A Systematic Review

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis is made by correlating clinical and radiological features along with the histopathological demonstration of non-necrotizing granulomas in tissue samples. Diagnosis is often challenging as the clinical profile may mimic other granulomatous disorders, including infections, inflammatory diseases, and lymphoid malignancies. Differentiation from tuberculosis is especially crucial in endemic regions where exclusion of mediastinal tuberculosis is necessary before any immunosuppressant treatment can be initiated for symptomatic sarcoidosis. Identification of biomarkers, which can aid in diagnosis as well as prognosis, can be helpful in clinical decision making. MicroRNAs are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that serve as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and have been studied as emerging biomarkers in many other respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the context of sarcoidosis, miRNA expression has been studied in the lungs, lymph nodes, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was performed by two authors independently, and relevant studies were retrieved for review. This systematic review summarizes the current information on miRNAs in sarcoidosis, the biological mechanisms involved in CD4 T-helper 1 and macrophage polarization, and the use of exhaled breath condensate as an alternative, noninvasive and potential source of miRNAs.