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DGCR8 expression is altered in children with congenital heart defects

Zhikuan Guo1, Baoping Li2, Peng Tian1

  • 1The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, PR China.

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|March 31, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Reduced DGCR8 expression is linked to congenital heart defects (CHD) in children. Lower DGCR8 levels correlate with more severe CHD, potentially impacting heart and blood vessel development.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Cardiovascular research

Background:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHD) represent a significant global health concern.
  • DGCR8 is a crucial microRNA biogenesis enzyme with potential roles in development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression levels of DGCR8 in children diagnosed with congenital heart defects.
  • To determine the clinical significance and correlation of DGCR8 expression with CHD severity.

Main Methods:

  • DGCR8 expression was quantified using real-time PCR in blood samples from 40 children with CHD and 40 healthy controls.
  • DGCR8 expression was further analyzed in myocardial tissues from 25 VSD and 16 TOF patients via real-time PCR and Western blotting.

Main Results:

  • DGCR8 expression was significantly lower in children with CHD compared to healthy children (P=0.037).
  • Myocardial DGCR8 expression was lower in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) tissues than in Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) tissues (P=0.046).
  • No significant correlation was found between DGCR8 expression and VSD size (r=-0.022, P=0.917).

Conclusions:

  • Significantly reduced DGCR8 expression is associated with the occurrence of CHD.
  • Lower DGCR8 levels may play a role in cardiac and vascular development, correlating with more severe CHD.
  • DGCR8 expression levels were not associated with the size of VSD in the studied cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
Congenital heart diseaseDGCR8Tetralogy of fallotVentricular septal defect

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