Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier MSC for Lung Cancer Screening
Published on: October 26, 2017
MicroRNA-17 as a potential diagnostic biomarker in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Haiwen Li1, Zhiming Yang1, Fen Gao1
1Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, P. R. China.
Objective:
This study aimed to detect circulating microRNA (miR)-17 and miR-20a levels in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and to investigate whether circulating miR-17 levels are associated with PAH.
Methods:
Thirty-five PAH patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Circulating miR-17 and miR-20a levels were measured using real-time PCR analysis.
Results:
miR-17 levels were significantly increased in PAH patients compared with healthy controls. They were also higher in PAH patients at World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) III-IV than WHO FC I-II PAH patients. There was no significant difference in miR-20a levels between PAH patients and controls. miR-17 had a high area under the corresponding receiver operating characteristic curve. Further, we found that circulating miR-17 levels correlated with the 6-minute walk distance, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and mean right atrial pressure in PAH patients.
Conclusion:
Circulating miR-17 levels may be associated with human PAH. Therefore, miR-17 could be used as a diagnostic index and prognostic factor for PAH patients.
Insights
Circulating microRNA-17 (miR-17) levels are elevated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients and correlate with disease severity. This suggests miR-17 may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for PAH.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe condition characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for PAH diagnosis and prognosis is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify circulating microRNA-17 (miR-17) and miR-20a levels in patients with PAH.
- To explore the association between circulating miR-17 levels and PAH, including its correlation with disease severity and clinical parameters.
Main Methods:
- Real-time PCR was used to measure circulating miR-17 and miR-20a levels in 35 PAH patients and 20 healthy controls.
- Patient data included World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC), 6-minute walk distance, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and mean right atrial pressure.
Main Results:
- Circulating miR-17 levels were significantly higher in PAH patients compared to healthy controls.
- miR-17 levels were also elevated in PAH patients with higher WHO FC (III-IV) compared to those with lower FC (I-II).
- Circulating miR-17 levels showed significant correlations with 6-minute walk distance, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and mean right atrial pressure.
Conclusions:
- Circulating miR-17 levels are significantly associated with human PAH.
- miR-17 demonstrates potential as a diagnostic index and prognostic factor for PAH.
