Impact of Pre-miR-218 rs11134527 Polymorphism on Ischemic Stroke in a Chinese Han Population: A Case-Control Study

Ischemic stroke (IS) exhibits a high mortality rate, and its pathogenesis is intricately linked to genetic factors. This study was to examine the association between the precursor microRNA-218 (pre-miR-218) rs11134527 polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to IS in the Han Chinese population.

The study included 320 IS patients and 290 healthy controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized to identify the pre-miR-218 rs11134527 polymorphism. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression levels of miR-218-5p. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent risk factors for IS. Furthermore, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of serum miR-218-5p levels in IS.

This study revealed that compared to the control group, the GG genotype (p < 0.001, OR = 2.277, 95% CI = 1.443-3.593) and AG genotype (p = 0.033, OR = 1.496, 95% CI = 1.032-2.168) at rs11134527 were significantly associated with an increased risk of IS. Individuals carrying the G allele (p < 0.001, OR = 1.526, 95% CI = 1.246-1.914) had an increased risk of developing IS. Furthermore, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and the rs11134527 polymorphism were identified as independent risk factors for IS. The rs11134527 variation may influence lipid metabolism-related indices, potentially contributing to IS. Additionally, the GG genotype of rs11134527 correlated with a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, suggesting its potential for evaluating IS severity. Moreover, serum miR-218-5p levels were significantly elevated in IS patients. ROC curve analysis suggested that serum miR-218-5p could serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosing IS.

The rs11134527 polymorphism in pre-miR-218 was strongly associated with genetic susceptibility to IS.