Vol. 2 No. 5 (2025)

Research Articles

Serum tsRNA profile of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients with Various Chinese Medicine Syndrome

Published 2025-09-30

  • Qi Tang
    • ,
  • Yao Wu
    • ,
  • Lin Chen
    • ,
  • Faqing Tang

Qi Tang
Hunan Cancer Hospital image/svg+xml , Central South University image/svg+xml

Yao Wu
Hunan Cancer Hospital image/svg+xml

Lin Chen
Hunan Cancer Hospital image/svg+xml

Faqing Tang
Hunan Cancer Hospital image/svg+xml , Central South University image/svg+xml

Abstract

The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is related to genetic factors, and individual genetics determines the physical constitution and syndrome type. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) studies have proven that NPC patients with different TCM syndrome types should be given various TCM treatment formulas, and the patients get various effects, but the molecular mechanisms are not clear. This study used small RNA microarray sequencing to analyze differential tsRNA of serum samples from NPC patient with TCM syndrome type, and molecular expression profiles in NPC with various CTM syndrome were obtained. 3,718 tsRNAs were highly expressed in NPC patients when compared with healthy population. In the pattern of lung heat with phlegm coagulation, 47 tsRNAs were up-regulated and 11 were down-regulated. Remarkably, tRF3b-ArgACG-2, 5'tiRNA-32-ValAAC-1, mt-tRF3-21-ValTAC, mt-tRF3-24-ValTAC, and mt-tRF3-20-ValTAC exhibited up-regulation. While 5'tiRNA-36-GlnCTG-6, tRF3b-PheGAA-11, tRF5-18-AsnGTT-15, tRF5-30-GlnTTG-3, 5'tiRNA-35-LeuTAG-1 were down-regulated. In Qi stagnation with phlegm stasis, 16 tsRNAs were up-regulated and 16 tsRNAs were down-regulated. tRF-1-GluCTC-5-1, tRF3b-ArgACG-2, 5'tiRNA-32-ValAAC-2, 5'tiRNA-35-GlnTTG-6, and 5'tiRNA-34-GlnTTG-6 showed up-regulation. tRF5-18-GlnTTG-5, tRF5-18-GluTTC-9, i-tRF-29:51-Asn-GTT-1, tRF5-18-GlyCCC-6, and i-tRF-21i22:46-Lys-CTT-1 were down-regulated. For fire toxin obstruction, 19 tsRNAs were up-regulated and 32 tsRNAs were down-regulated. mt-tRF3-19-ValTAC, mt-tRF3a-ValTAC, tRF5-22-ValCAC-6, mt-tRF5-25-TyrGTA, and 5'Leader-ThrAGT-1-1 were upregulated. tRF3b-GluTTC-4, 5'tiRNA-37-LeuAAG-4, 5'Leader-ThrAGT-4-1, mt-tRF3-17-ThrTGT, and 3'tiRNA-45-AlaCGC-4 were down-regulated. The Qi-Yin deficiency group showed 6 upregulated and 1 downregulated tsRNA. i-tRF-15:32-His-GTG-1, mt-tRF5-26-LeuTAA, 5'tiRNA-37-AsnGTT-7, mt-tRF5-22-MetCAT, tRF5-30-HisGTG-1, and i-tRF-21:54-His-GTG-1 were upregulated. tRF3a-AlaAGC-10 was down-regulated. Specific tsRNA profiles for each syndrome are revealed, NPC patients with different TCM syndrome types have various tsRNA profile.

Keywords

TCM Syndrome Types, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, tsRNA, Gene Expression, RNA Sequencing

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