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Updated: Jun 5, 2025
Digital PCR for Quantifying Circulating MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: July 3, 2018
Circulating miRNAs Associated With 3-Month Outcome in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke
Isabel Fernández-Pérez1, Marta Vallverdú-Prats1, Lucía Rey-Álvarez1
1From the Neurovascular Research Group (I.F.-P., M.V.-P., L.R.-Á., E.G.S., A.O., E.C.-G., A.R.-C., A.S.-P., A.M.-G., J.J.-B., J.J.-C.), Hospital del Mar Research Institute; Neurology Department (I.F.-P., E.G.S., A.O., E.C.-G., A.R.-C., A.S.-P., A.M.-G., J.J.-C.), Hospital Del Mar; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences (E.G.S., A.O., E.C.-G., A.R.-C., J.J.-C.), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry (C.S.-T.), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Department of Neurology (F.F.P.), Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, Lleida; Clinical Neurosciences Group (F.F.P., G.A.), Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, University of Lleida; Neurobiology Laboratory (S.T., G.C., C.V.-B.), Neurology Department, Son Espases University Hospital, Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands; Department of Biology (G.C., C.V.-B.), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca; Department of Neurology (T.S.), and Research Unit (G.S.-H.), Albacete University Hospital Complex; and Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (U.L.), Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.
Researchers identified five microRNAs (miRNAs) linked to poor outcomes after ischemic stroke (IS). These specific miRNAs may play a role in brain recovery and could be potential biomarkers for stroke prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience and Neurology
Background:
- Individual outcomes after ischemic stroke (IS) show significant variability, independent of clinical factors.
- Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), are increasingly recognized for their role in regulating biological processes following ischemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with functional outcomes at three months post-ischemic stroke (IS).
- To explore the potential role of identified miRNAs in biological pathways relevant to brain recovery.
Main Methods:
- A discovery cohort of 215 acute IS patients underwent miRNA next-generation sequencing on plasma samples.
- Differential expression analysis identified 74 miRNAs associated with poor 3-month outcomes (modified Rankin Scale >2).
- A replication cohort of 191 IS patients validated associations using real-time PCR, identifying 5 key miRNAs.
Main Results:
- After adjusting for age, sex, and stroke severity, 74 miRNAs were significantly associated with poor 3-month outcomes.
- Pathway analyses indicated involvement in angiogenesis, neuronal morphogenesis, TGF-β signaling, and cognition.
- Five miRNAs (miR-376c-3p, miR-4463, miR-199a-3p, miR-584-5p, miR-134-5p) replicated their association with poor outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Five overexpressed miRNAs are associated with poor 3-month outcomes in IS patients, suggesting a role in brain recovery.
- These miRNAs may influence cognition, neuronal morphogenesis, and TGF-β response, offering potential as prognostic biomarkers.
- Further research is needed to confirm findings and explore clinical applicability, particularly in specific stroke subtypes.
