en زیست شناسی ملکولی Molecular Biology مقالات اصلی Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Background:</em></strong> In multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system acts against myelin lesions of the central nervous system, destroying neuronal fibers resulting in signal transmission disturbances in the nervous system. MicroRNAs play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and in the regulation of disease activity and its response to treatment. The goal of this study was to determine the role of <em>miR-18a-5p</em> by comparing its expression in MS patients and healthy subjects.<br> <br> <strong><em>Methods:</em></strong> RNA was isolated from blood samples of 32 MS patients and 32 healthy individuals, and miR-18a-5p expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR).<br> <br> <strong><em>Results:</em></strong> <em>miR-18a-5p </em>expression was significantly less in MS patients than in healthy subjects.<br> <br> <strong><em>Conclusions:</em></strong> The reduction of <em>miR-18a-5p</em> expression may be via pathway signaling. Altered signaling plays an important role in MS pathogenesis and the <em>miR-18a-5p</em> expression profile in blood cells can be described as a prognostic biomarker and identifier of high-risk individuals in MS.</div> MicroRNA (miRNA), MiRNA-18a-5p, Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 429 437 http://rbmb.net/browse.php?a_code=A-10-314-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Atefeh Sohan Forooshan Moghadam atefeh_sm@yahoo.com 100319475328460017441 100319475328460017441 No Department of Biology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran. Mitra Ataei Mit.ataei66@gmail.com 100319475328460017442 100319475328460017442 No Medical Genetic Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran. Ghazaleh Arabzadeh Ghazaleharabzadeh1136@gmail.com 100319475328460017443 100319475328460017443 No Department of Biology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran. Kowsar Falahati k.falahati.s52@gmail.com 100319475328460017444 100319475328460017444 No Medical Genetic Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran. Fatemeh Roshani Salome67200321@yahoo.com 100319475328460017445 100319475328460017445 No Department of Biology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran. Mohammad Hossein Sanati m-sanati@nigeb.ac.ir 100319475328460017446 100319475328460017446 Yes Medical Genetic Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.