Characterization of serum miRNAs as molecular biomarkers for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAAD) presents a high mortality risk within 48 hours, necessitating urgent and convenient diagnostic methods.
• Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as potential biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases, but their role in AAAD remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify circulating miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAAD).
• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a specific miRNA panel, especially in individuals with hypertension, a key risk factor for AAAD.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples were collected from 104 AAAD+ patients and 103 healthy controls.
• Initial miRNA screening utilized TaqMan Low Density Array, followed by RT-qPCR for confirmation.
• A two-phase selection and validation process identified significant miRNA alterations.

Main Results:

• A distinct profile of four miRNAs (miR-25, miR-29a, miR-155 elevated; miR-26b decreased) was identified in AAAD+ serum.
• The 4-miRNA panel demonstrated high accuracy in a hypertensive cohort, classifying 93.33% of AAAD+ patients and 86.67% of controls in a blind trial.
• Retrospective analysis supported the utility of this serum miRNA panel for early AAAD detection.

Conclusions:

• A specific 4-miRNA signature in serum serves as a potential noninvasive biomarker for early AAAD diagnosis.
• This miRNA panel is particularly effective for identifying individuals at higher risk within the hypertensive population.
• The findings support the development of novel diagnostic tools for acute aortic dissection.