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Digital PCR for Quantifying Circulating MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: July 3, 2018
MicroRNA microarray expression profiling in human myocardial infarction
Emanuela Bostjancic1, Nina Zidar, Damjan Glavac
1Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules, are negative regulators of gene expression. Recent studies have indicated their role in various forms of cardiovascular disease. In spite of the number of miRNA microarray analyses performed, little is known about the genome-wide miRNA expression pattern in human myocardial infarction (MI).Using miRNA microarrays and bioinformatic analysis, miRNA expression was analyzed on human MI and foetal hearts compared to healthy adult hearts, to determine whether there is any similar expression pattern between MI and foetal hearts, and to identified miRNAs that have not previously been described as dysregulated in cardiovascular diseases. Of 719 miRNAs analyzed, approximately 50% were expressed in human hearts, 77 miRNAs were absent from all tested tissues and 57 were confidently dysregulated in at least one tested group. Some expression patterns appeared to be similar in MI and foetal hearts. Bioinformatic analysis revealed 10 miRNAs as dysregulated in MI not yet related to cardiovascular disease, and 5 miRNAs previously described only in animal models of cardiovascular diseases. Finally, qRT-PCR analysis confirmed dysregulation of 7 miRNAs, miR-150, miR-186, miR-210, miR-451, and muscle-specific, miR-1 and miR-133a/b; all of these are believed to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes.
Insights
This study reveals novel microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns in human myocardial infarction (MI), identifying key miRNAs potentially involved in cardiovascular disease progression and offering new diagnostic markers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Non-coding RNA Research
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression and implicated in cardiovascular diseases.
- Genome-wide miRNA expression patterns in human myocardial infarction (MI) remain largely uncharacterized despite numerous studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genome-wide miRNA expression profiles in human MI.
- To compare miRNA expression in MI and fetal hearts versus healthy adult hearts.
- To identify novel dysregulated miRNAs in cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilized miRNA microarrays to analyze miRNA expression in human MI, fetal, and healthy adult hearts.
- Employed bioinformatic analysis to identify dysregulated miRNAs and compare expression patterns.
- Validated key miRNA dysregulations using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR).
Main Results:
- Approximately 50% of 719 analyzed miRNAs were expressed in human hearts; 57 were significantly dysregulated.
- Identified similar miRNA expression patterns between MI and fetal hearts.
- Discovered 10 novel miRNAs dysregulated in MI and 5 previously only described in animal models.
- Confirmed dysregulation of 7 specific miRNAs (e.g., miR-1, miR-133a/b, miR-210) via qRT-PCR.
Conclusions:
- MI exhibits distinct miRNA expression profiles, with similarities to fetal heart patterns.
- Several novel miRNAs are dysregulated in MI, suggesting potential roles in cardiovascular pathology.
- Identified miRNAs represent potential biomarkers for MI diagnosis and therapeutic targets.
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