Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42511484›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

MicroRNA Expression Profiles as Biomarkers of Response to Disease-Modifying Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.

Mihai-Ioan Dumitreasă, Smaranda Maier, Laura Bărcuțean, Doina Manu, George-Andrei Crauciuc, Otilia Buțiu, Rodica Bălașa

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mihai-Ioan DumitreasăDoctoral School, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Smaranda MaierNeurology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Laura BărcuțeanNeurology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Doina ManuCenter for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu 38, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-8374-4977
George-Andrei CrauciucCenter for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu 38, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Otilia BuțiuDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Rodica BălașaDoctoral School, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) are an active area of research in multiple sclerosis (MS) and have been proposed as potential biomarkers of treatment response, the evidence remains difficult to interpret. This systematic review examines the relationship between miRNA expression and response to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in adults with MS. The PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception to 11 February 2026. Fifteen studies that compared miRNA expression between responders and non-responders or assessed changes in miRNA expression after DMT initiation were synthesized narratively by treatment group and outcome, in accordance with the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. After considering study design, treatment response definitions, and miRNA analytical methods, miR-548a-3p in fingolimod-treated patients and miR-223-3p, miR-23a/b-3p, and miR-27a/b-3p in dimethyl fumarate (DMF)-treated patients appeared the most promising miRNAs investigated; however, each was assessed in a single study and has not yet been validated in independent external cohorts. However, they were notable because they had been evaluated in clinically relevant settings: miR-548a-3p in relation to no evidence of disease activity-3 and receiver operating characteristic-based discrimination, and the DMF-associated miRNAs through baseline expression levels and early fold-change analyses. Although miR-23a-3p, miR-26a-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-155, miR-34a-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-660-5p, and miR-326 had been reported in more than one study, most were investigated in different DMT or outcome contexts. Therefore, the existing literature correlating miRNA expression levels with treatment response provides valuable but limited and heterogeneous evidence. Thus, miRNAs should currently be considered exploratory biomarkers and require further independent validation before their use in clinical practice.

Indexed as

MicroRNAsMultiple SclerosisBiomarkersDimethyl FumarateFingolimod HydrochlorideGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression RegulationHumansBiomarkersDimethyl FumarateFingolimod HydrochlorideMicroRNAsbiomarkersdisease-modifying therapiesmicroRNAsmultiple sclerosistreatment response

Identifiers

PMID42511484
PMCPMC13410017

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.