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Digital PCR for Quantifying Circulating MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: July 3, 2018
Relationship Between MicroRNA Signature and Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Ischemic Stroke
Sang-Jin Lee1, Jeong-Min Kim2, Eun Sun Lee3
1Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background And Purpose:
We investigated whether circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with arterial stiffness in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Methods:
We recruited patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to a university hospital stroke center and underwent carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) measurement using SphygmoCor (AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia) and brachial-ankle PWV using a volume-plethysmography device (VP-1000, Omron Colin, Komaki, Japan). Circulating miRNAs were measured in venous blood samples stored in EDTA. We selected five miRNAs (miR-17, miR-93, miR-450, miR-629, and let-7i) related to atherosclerosis based on a literature review. Pearson's correlation analysis was applied to the correlations between miRNAs and arterial stiffness parameters. Finally, multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to identify the independent factors for cfPWV.
Results:
This study included 70 patients (age=71.1±10.3 years [mean±SD], 29 females). The expression levels of miR-93 (r=-0.27, p=0.049) and let-7i (r=-0.27, p=0.039) were inversely correlated with cfPWV. Multivariable linear regression analysis including age, hypertension, and estimated glomerular filtration rate showed that let-7i was independently related with cfPWV (standardized coefficient=-0.262, p=0.036). Correlation analysis indicated that let-7i was positively associated with visceral muscle Hounsfield units on computed tomography (r=0.264, p=0.043).
Conclusions:
The expression level of let-7i was independently related to arterial stiffness in patients with cerebral infarction, suggesting that it plays a pathophysiological role in atherosclerosis.
Insights
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) like let-7i are linked to arterial stiffness in stroke patients. Lower let-7i levels correlate with increased arterial stiffness, suggesting a role in atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Cardiovascular science
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular events.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in various cardiovascular diseases.
- The role of specific circulating miRNAs in arterial stiffness post-stroke is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between circulating miRNAs and arterial stiffness.
- To identify specific miRNAs related to arterial stiffness in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 70 acute ischemic stroke patients.
- Measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and brachial-ankle PWV.
- Quantified circulating levels of five selected miRNAs (miR-17, miR-93, miR-450, miR-629, let-7i).
- Performed correlation and multivariable regression analyses.
Main Results:
- miR-93 and let-7i expression inversely correlated with cfPWV.
- let-7i was independently associated with cfPWV after adjusting for clinical factors.
- let-7i positively correlated with visceral fat indices.
Conclusions:
- let-7i expression is independently related to arterial stiffness in stroke patients.
- let-7i may play a pathophysiological role in atherosclerosis development.
- Circulating let-7i could be a potential biomarker for arterial stiffness.
