Objective      To determine the expression differences of microRNAs in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between children with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and healthy controls in order to evaluate the potential value of microRNAs in PTB diagnosis.       Methods      Total RNAs were extracted from the PBMCs derived from the blood of PTB children and healthy controls. Human microarrays were employed to screen the microRNAs that were dif

ferently expressed

and then RT-qPCR was carried out to qualify the expression levels. Students’ t-test was applied to screen out the microRNAs with deferential expression levels. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to understand microRNA-mRNA interaction network.       Results      Analysis of expression profiles showed that the expression of 21 microRNAs was significantly altered in the PBMCs from PTB children compared with healthy control. Among them

15 microRNAs were up-regulated and 6 were down-regulated. RT-qPCR indicated that among the 6 microRNAs we chose (hsa-miR-193a-3p

hsa-miR-144

hsa-miR-342-5p

hsa-miR-31

hsa-miR-33a and hsa-miR-142-3p)

hsa-miR-193a-3p and hsa-miR-144 were upregulated (

P

0.05)

while hsa-miR-342-5p and hsa-miR-31 were downregulted in the PTB children (

P

0.05). Bioinformatics analysis showed that these 4 microRNAs played certain roles in the signalling circuits in molecular interaction networks interactional signal pathway networks between PTB  and the host cells.       Conclusion      Compared with adult tuberculosis microRNA expressions

childhood pulmonary tuberculosis shows some different performances and has some correlations with some signaling pathway and these microRNAs might be considered as potential biomarkers of childhood PTB diagnosis.