Increasing the miR-126 expression in the peripheral blood of patients with diabetic foot ulcers treated with maggot debridement therapy

Background: miR-126 may increase angiogenesis in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) treated with maggot debridement therapy (MDT). Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect expression of miR-126 mRNA in the peripheral blood among the non-diabetic population, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without DFU, and patients with DFUs of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The expression of miR-126 mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DFUs was observed before and after MDT. Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were utilized to explore miR-126 mRNA expression with maggot excretions/secretions (ES). Results: In the patients with DFUs, the miR-126 mRNA expression level in the peripheral blood was less than that type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without DFU, and much lower than that in the non-diabetic population (P < 0.001). The miR-126 expression level was significantly increased in those DFU patients treated with MDT (P < 0.05). Finally, using HUVEC co-cultured with ES, we showed the ES increased miR-126 expression in vitro (P < 0.001). Conclusion: MDT upregulates the miR-126 expression in the peripheral blood of patients with DFUs. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.