Differential analysis of microRNAs in plasma exosomes in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke

The high incidence, disability, mortality, and recurrence rates of cerebral infarction impose a heavy burden on both the Chinese and global populations. It is essential for the early diagnosis, prevention, and protection against brain cell injury. To identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma exosomes of patients with cerebral ischemic stroke, determine relevant biomarkers, and explore their potential signaling pathways. High-throughput sequencing was used to detect the expression of plasma exosomal miRNAs in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke and in a control group. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment, and target gene network analyses were performed to investigate the target genes and signaling pathways of the differentially expressed miRNAs. The sequencing results identified 95 differentially expressed miRNAs, with 40 upregulated and 55 downregulated miRNAs. Among these, hsa-miR-1303, hsa-miR-125b-1-3p, and hsa-miR-548ab were significantly upregulated in the stroke group and downregulated in the normal control group, whereas hsa-miR-1289 was downregulated in the stroke group and upregulated in the normal group. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes, and genomes enrichment analyses indicated that the differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes were mainly concentrated in the PI3K-AKt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, calcium, Ras, Rap1, and cAMP signaling pathways. The expression of plasma exosomal hsa-miR-1303, hsa-miR-125b-1-3p, and hsa-miR-1289 was significantly different in stroke patients than in the control group. These miRNAs may be involved in various signaling pathways related to cerebral infarction, providing a reference for further experimental research.