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CircSamd4: A novel biomarker for predicting vascular calcification
Yuting Zhou1, Yehong Liu2, Shiyi Xuan1
1Wuxi Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, China.
Insights
Vascular calcification (VC) is linked to heart disease. Researchers found that circSamd4a levels decrease in patients with VC, suggesting it could be a useful diagnostic biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Vascular calcification (VC) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a leading global cause of mortality.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms and identifying diagnostic markers for VC is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in patients with VC.
- To evaluate the potential of circRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for VC.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure circSamd4a expression in human aortic endothelial cells, mouse aorta, and plasma from VC patients.
- Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to assess diagnostic value.
Main Results:
- circSamd4a expression was significantly downregulated in calcified human aortic endothelial cells and mouse aorta compared to controls.
- Plasma levels of circSamd4a were also significantly lower in patients with VC.
- ROC curve analysis indicated that circSamd4a has a substantial diagnostic value for VC (AUC = 0.81).
Conclusions:
- circSamd4a exhibits a consistent downregulation across different biological specimens in the context of VC.
- circSamd4a demonstrates significant potential as a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of vascular calcification.
Background:
Vascular calcification (VC) is usually associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are one of the main causes of mortality in the world. This study aimed to analyze the expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in patients with VC and to evaluate biomarkers for the diagnosis of VC.
Methods:
Calcified human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and the calcification in mouse aorta were detected by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, this was verified in the plasma of patients with coronary artery calcification (CAC). The plasma of 40 patients in the control group and 31 patients in the calcified group were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to detect the level of circSamd4a in the blood. The diagnostic value was evaluated by logistic regression analysis and the working characteristics of subjects.
Results:
In the HAECs, the qRT-PCR showed a significant decrease in the level of circSamd4a expression in the calcification group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The calcified mouse aorta showed the same trend for circSamd4a expression, wherein the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05); the expression of circSamd4a was significantly downregulated in the plasma of patients with VC (p < 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of circSamd4a in patients with VC and control group showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.707-0.913; p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
CircSamd4a showed a stable downward trend in different specimens, and had significant advantages as a biomarker for diagnosis of VC.
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