Circulating miR-223 and NLRP3 expression and their discriminatory performance in acute ischemic stroke
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Published on: June 20, 2025
Reza Khedri1, Mandana Pouladzadeh2, Meisam Moezzi2
1Clinical Research Development Unit, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Introduction:
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a major cause of mortality and disability. Inflammation contributes to ischemic brain injury, and circulating miR-223 and NLRP3 may reflect inflammatory responses. This study evaluated their expression and diagnostic performance in AIS.
Methods:
In this case-control study, serum samples were obtained from 45 patients with AIS and 45 healthy controls. Patient blood samples were collected within 24 hours of hospitalization. miR-223 and NLRP3 expression were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Spearman correlation, ROC analysis, and multivariable logistic regression were performed.
Results:
Circulating miR-223 and NLRP3 expression levels were significantly higher in AIS than in healthy controls (both p < 0.0001). ROC analysis showed AUCs of 0.9704 for NLRP3 and 0.8953 for miR-223. In multivariable logistic regression including age, gender, creatinine, miR-223, and NLRP3, NLRP3 was independently associated with AIS (adjusted OR = 0.569, 95% CI: 0.394-0.822, p = 0.003), whereas miR-223 was not (adjusted OR = 0.943, 95% CI: 0.638-1.395, p = 0.769). Age, gender, and creatinine were not independently associated with AIS.
Conclusion:
miR-223 and NLRP3 showed significant differences and discriminatory performance in AIS. NLRP3 was independently associated with AIS, whereas miR-223 was not. Prospective validation is needed.