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Differential Regulation of microRNAs in Patients with Ischemic Stroke
Sheng-Hua Li1, Sheng-You Su, Jing-Li Liu
1Hospital of Guangxi Medical University - Department of Internal Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China. shenghuali2013@163.com.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs have been discovered as regulators of gene expression and thus their potential in clinical disease diagnostics, prognosis and therapy is being actively pursued. MicroRNAs play an important role in atherosclerosis-related diseases, such as cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of miR-185 and miR-146a on patients with ischemic stroke (IS) in the different phases has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the amounts of three miRNAs, miR-185, miR-146a, and miR-145 in blood circulation of IS patients. We enrolled 60 patients with IS in the acute or sub-acute phase and 30 healthy controls. We divided the patients into two groups, patients with ischemic stroke in the acute phase (ISA) and patients with ischemic stroke in the subacute phase (ISS). We measured circulating miRNAs expression by miRNA microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Testing by miRNA microarray and RT-PCR analyses showed that miR-145 levels in healthy subjects were similar to patients with IS, whereas miR-146a and miR-185 were present with quite low abundance in ISA compared with healthy individuals; moreover, we found that miR-146a levels were downregulated in ISA but upregulated in ISS which may help provide new insights into the diagnosis and therapy of IS.
Insights
Circulating miR-146a and miR-185 levels are low in acute ischemic stroke (IS) patients but change in the subacute phase. These microRNAs may offer new diagnostic and therapeutic insights for IS.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- MicroRNAs regulate gene expression and are crucial in atherosclerosis-related diseases like cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions.
- The specific roles of miR-185 and miR-146a in different phases of ischemic stroke (IS) remain largely uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of miR-185, miR-146a, and miR-145 in the blood circulation of patients with ischemic stroke (IS) during acute and subacute phases.
- To explore the potential of these microRNAs as biomarkers for IS diagnosis and therapy.
Main Methods:
- Collected blood samples from 60 IS patients (acute and subacute phases) and 30 healthy controls.
- Measured circulating microRNA expression using miRNA microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Main Results:
- miR-145 levels were similar between IS patients and healthy subjects.
- miR-146a and miR-185 showed significantly lower abundance in the acute phase of IS (ISA) compared to healthy individuals.
- miR-146a levels were downregulated in ISA but upregulated in the subacute phase of IS (ISS).
Conclusions:
- Circulating miR-146a and miR-185 levels exhibit distinct expression patterns in different phases of ischemic stroke.
- These microRNAs, particularly miR-146a, may serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosing and potentially treating ischemic stroke.
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