RPA3 and RFC3 as biomarkers for myocardial infarction diagnosis under computed tomography angiography

Shuang Zhang1, Ruchen Peng1, Ruiqiang Xin2

  • 1Department of Radiology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Medicine
|June 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) aids acute myocardial infarction diagnosis. This study identified RPA3 and RFC3 genes as key biomarkers, revealing their expression patterns and correlation with immune cells in myocardial infarction patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Acute myocardial infarction poses a significant health risk due to potential ischemic damage and life-threatening consequences.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms driving acute myocardial infarction, particularly when diagnosed via computed tomography angiography (CTA), remain incompletely understood.
  • CTA is a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing acute myocardial infarction, necessitating further investigation into its underlying molecular pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of acute myocardial infarction diagnosed by CTA.
  • To identify potential core biomarkers for acute myocardial infarction using gene expression analysis.
  • To explore the relationship between gene expression patterns, immune cell infiltration, and myocardial infarction progression.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized CTA for coronary artery imaging and collected whole blood samples from myocardial infarction patients and controls.
  • Employed R software, including the "limma" package for differential gene expression analysis and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA).
  • Performed gene set enrichment analysis (Gene Ontology, KEGG) and immune infiltration analysis to identify core genes and their functional roles.

Main Results:

  • Identified 827 differentially expressed genes, enriched in organic acid metabolism, centromeric regions, and oxidoreductase activity.
  • Discovered 5 core genes (PCNA, RPA3, RPA1, RFC2, RFC3), with RPA3 and RFC3 showing significantly higher expression in myocardial infarction samples.
  • Revealed a positive correlation between activated NK cells and naive CD4 T cells, suggesting a role in myocardial infarction progression.

Conclusions:

  • RPA3 and RFC3 emerge as potential core biomarkers for acute myocardial infarction diagnosed via CTA.
  • The study highlights the involvement of specific metabolic pathways and immune cell interactions in myocardial infarction.
  • Further research into RPA3 and RFC3 could lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for acute myocardial infarction.

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