The Impact of miRNA-34a expression, RETN Genetic Polymorphism and Protein Level on Breast Cancer Progression

Hamsa Ahmed Jasim; Raghda Al-Omairi; Sanaa Jasim Kadhim; Hasan Falah Lahij; Ahmed AbdulJabbar Suleiman

doi:10.31557/apjcb.2026.11.2.507-512

Authors

Hamsa Ahmed Jasim Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Raghda Al-Omairi Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Sanaa Jasim Kadhim Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Hasan Falah Lahij Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Al Maarif, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq.
Ahmed AbdulJabbar Suleiman Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Anbar, Anbar, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcb.2026.11.2.507-512

Keywords:

Breast Cancer, RETN gene, miRNA34-a, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity, inflammation, and a variety of malignancies, including breast cancer, are all linked to the adipokine resistin. The goal of this study was to determine if specific polymorphism in the RETN (rs3219175) gene in addition to its level enhance the chance of breast cancer susceptibility and to determine if miRNA -34a expression affect the resisten protein levels and its role in breast cancer progression.

Materials and Methods: This study included 100 participants (50 patients and 50 control groups) ranging in age from 35-70 years. Blood samples were collected from Al-Eluia Hospital for Women’s Care, an Oncology Teaching Hospital, between January and July 2021. For the molecular experiment, DNA was extracted from the whole blood that stored in EDTA tube and genetic analysis for the studied SNP was by taq man method with special prop while for RETN protein levels were quantified by ELISA. While for miRNA -34a expression, the total RNA was extracted from the whole blood for both the patients and control groups with the using of miRNA specific primers and by using specific extraction kit with U6 that were used as internal housekeeping gene.

Results: The results showed that the GG genotype was more common in the control group than in the patients (8.9% vs. 5.3%), and that this relationship is significantly associated with the disease (OR= 0.21, p=0.002), while genotype GA was more common in the control group than in the patients (33.9 percent vs. 32.1 percent, p= 0.922). The genotype AA was found to be more common in patients than in controls (65.5 percent vs. 57.1 percent, respectively) with an etiological factor of (OR= 2.63, p=0.012), indicating a significant departure from Hardy Weinberg suggestion for control and patient groups (χ2= 2.301, 4.103) respectively. Serum RETN levels were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (126.52 ±2.36 vs 62.55 ±0.97, p =0.001).

Conclusion: At the same time, the results showed that expression of miRNA34a gene in patients was downregulated as compared with controls (39.04 vs 37.73) and its reversibly correlate to RETN levels.