Circulating Non-coding RNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomarkers and diagnostics
• Molecular biology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are implicated in ischemic stroke (IS) pathogenesis, affecting processes like neuroinflammation and apoptosis.
• Discrepant findings on ncRNAs hinder their clinical application for IS diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the diagnostic value of ncRNAs for ischemic stroke (IS).
• To synthesize existing research on microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential IS biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library up to December 31, 2020.
• Meta-analysis techniques were used to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios for ncRNAs in IS diagnosis.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 15 studies on miRNAs (1687 IS patients) and 8 studies on lncRNAs (741 IS patients).
• MicroRNAs demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.87), while long non-coding RNAs also showed moderate diagnostic value (AUC=0.80).
• Combined lncRNAs exhibited superior diagnostic performance compared to individual lncRNAs.

Conclusions:

• Blood-circulating ncRNAs represent moderately effective candidate biomarkers for diagnosing ischemic stroke (IS).
• Specific single microRNAs, such as miR-107, may offer enhanced diagnostic performance.
• These findings suggest potential applications for ncRNAs in clinical practice for IS diagnosis.