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

Abstract 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  in vitro (P  Conclusion MDT upregulates the miR-126 expression in the peripheral blood of patients with DFUs.