# The Role of microRNA in Overactive Bladder: Relationship and Clinical Correlation

## TL;DR

This study explores how specific microRNAs are linked to overactive bladder and how they might help diagnose the condition and track treatment success.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific miRNAs associated with overactive bladder and evaluates their diagnostic and therapeutic response prediction potential.

## Key findings

- Let-7a, let-7c, let-7e, let-7f, and let-7g miRNAs were significantly elevated in patients with overactive bladder.
- Let-7c and the combination of let-7c + miR-381 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy with AUC values of 0.985 and 1, respectively.
- Changes in miR-135b and let-7f levels correlated with clinical improvement in OAB patients after treatment.

## Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between miRNAs and overactive bladder (OAB). We also aimed to reveal the diagnostic properties of miRNAs and their potential to predict responses to therapy. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients with OAB as the treatment group and 60 healthy individuals as the control group. The blood levels of 15 miRNAs in both groups were determined using PCR. Also, miRNAs with high diagnostic values were identified with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Finally, the Turkish-validated OAB questionnaire form was filled out before and after the treatment by the participants in the treatment group. In this way, the relationship between OAB score changes and miRNA levels was examined. Results: The let-7a, let-7c, let-7e, let-7f, and let-7g miRNA molecules in the treatment group were higher, with a high level of significance (p = 0.0001). Additionally, the miR-135b, miR-300, miR-372, miR-373, miR-381, miR-520a, miR-520d, and miR-520e miRNA molecules were found to be statistically higher in the control group (p = 0.0001). In addition, let-7c (area under curve [AUC] = 0.985) and the let-7c + miR-381 combination (area under curve [AUC] = 1) were the highest values in the ROC analysis. Finally, after treatment in the patient group, a significant difference was detected in both miRNAs (let-7f and miR-135b) in patients with clinical improvements of 50% and above in the OAB score. Conclusions: miRNAs may help elucidate the pathophysiology of OAB. They may shed light on diagnosis and evaluation of treatment effectiveness.