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Serum microRNA-1233 is a specific biomarker for diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism
Thorsten Kessler1, Jeanette Erdmann2,3, Baiba Vilne1
1Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany.
Background:
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as novel biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism (PE) remains challenging due to a diverse clinical presentation and the lack of specific biomarkers. Here we evaluate serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers in acute PE.
Methods:
We enrolled 30 patients with acute, CT (computed tomography)-angiographically confirmed central PE and collected serum samples on the day of emergency room admission (1st day) and from 22 of these patients 9 months thereafter. For comparison, we examined serum samples from patients with acute non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, n = 30) and healthy individuals (n = 12).
Results:
We randomly selected 16 out of 30 PE patients and screened sera from the acute (1st day) and chronic stages (9 months) for 754 miRNAs using microarrays and found 37 miRNAs to be differentially regulated. Across all miRNAs, miRNA-1233 displayed the highest fold change (FC) from acute to chronic stage (log2FC 11.5, p < 0.004). We validated miRNA-1233 by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In acute PE (1st day) we found elevated levels of miRNA-1233 in comparison to NSTEMI (log2FC 5.7, p < 0.0001) and healthy controls (log2FC 7.7, p < 0.0001). miRNA-1233 differentiated acute PE from NSTEMI patients and healthy individuals with 90 and 90 % sensitivity, and 100 and 92 % specificity [area under the curve (AUC) 0.95, p < 0.001 and 0.91, p < 0.001], respectively.
Conclusions:
This is the first report that identifies a miRNA that allows distinguishing acute PE from acute NSTEMI and healthy individuals with high specificity and sensitivity.
Insights
Serum microRNA-1233 effectively distinguishes acute pulmonary embolism (PE) from non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and healthy individuals. This finding offers a novel biomarker for diagnosing PE with high accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomarker Discovery
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis is challenging due to varied symptoms and lack of specific biomarkers.
- Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as novel biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases.
- This study investigates serum miRNAs as potential diagnostic markers for acute PE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate serum microRNAs as potential biomarkers for acute pulmonary embolism (PE).
- To identify specific miRNAs that can differentiate acute PE from other cardiovascular conditions and healthy states.
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy of identified miRNAs in acute PE.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 30 acute PE patients, 30 acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients, and 12 healthy individuals.
- Microarray screening identified differentially regulated miRNAs in acute versus chronic PE stages.
- Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) validated miRNA-1233 levels.
Main Results:
- Microarray analysis revealed 37 differentially regulated miRNAs in PE patients, with miRNA-1233 showing the highest fold change.
- Elevated serum miRNA-1233 levels were observed in acute PE patients compared to NSTEMI patients and healthy controls.
- miRNA-1233 demonstrated high sensitivity (90%) and specificity (100% vs. NSTEMI, 92% vs. healthy) in differentiating acute PE.
Conclusions:
- This study identifies miRNA-1233 as a potential biomarker for acute pulmonary embolism.
- miRNA-1233 can distinguish acute PE from acute NSTEMI and healthy individuals with high specificity and sensitivity.
- This represents the first report of a miRNA capable of differentiating acute PE from these conditions.
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