Association of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps with plaque instability in patient with carotid artery stenosis

Redefining the exact roles and importance of carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque thickness in predicting cardiovascular events

OBJECTIVE

The survey aimed to evaluate the precise roles and importance of carotid plaque thickness and carotid intima-media thickness measured in plaque-free areas (PF CC-IMTmean) in future cardiovascular risk prediction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

188 respondents between the age of 46 and 87 divided into two groups (I group - 94 respondents without plaques with CIMT measurement and II Group 94 respondents with carotid plaques; 118 men and 70 women; mean age ± SD, 61.80 ± 5.49) were prospectively examined by the carotid ultrasound Doppler (carotid measurements included plaque thickness PT - nonstenotic plaques (carotid stenosis <50%) and stenotic culprit plaques (carotid stenosis ≥50%), mean CIMT and maximum CIMT). Subjects were followed for 36 months from the inclusion in the study (regular control examinations). Data were recorded on new cases of mortality (CV mortality) and adverse CV events (myocardial infarction - -MI, surgical or endovascular revascularization - coronary or stroke).

RESULTS

In this study, CIMT values vary between 0.62 and 1.43 mm (mean CIMT = 1.21 ± 0.2 mm) while 52 subjects had nonstenotic plaques (14 respondents plaque ulceration, 22 type 2 diabetes mellitus, 38 arterial hypertension) and 38 subjects had stenotic culprit plaques (17 respondents plaque ulceration, 20 type 2 diabetes mellitus, 31 arterial hypertension). After 36 months of follow-up, 76 vascular events were noted (MI, transient ischaemic attack - TIA, stroke and cardiovascular angioplasty or surgery) in this period.

CONCLUSION

Respondents with carotid plaques had higher cardiovascular events occurrence (p < .01, high statistical difference). Carotid plaques as a parameter have higher predictive vascular event value importance than CIMT. Of note, stenotic plaques, the presence of ulceration on the free surface of the plaque, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension were connected with the highest events occurrence.

lncRNA PCA3 Suppressed Carotid Artery Stenosis and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Function via Negatively Modulating the miR-124-3p/ITGB1 Axis

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Due to the hidden pathogen, carotid artery stenosis (CAS) always occurred at an advanced stage leading to serious sequelae and even deaths. The significance of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) in CAS incidence and progression were evaluated aiming to explore a potential target for its therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 83 asymptomatic CAS patients and 52 healthy individuals and PCA3 was compared using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCA3 levels were compared between stable and unstable plaque in CAS patients. The effect of PCA3 on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and motility was assessed by CCK8 and transwell assay.

RESULTS

PCA3 was downregulated in CAS patients and their unstable plaque tissues compared with healthy individuals and stable plaque, respectively. Reduced PCA3 could discriminate CAS patients with relatively high sensitivity and specificity and were associated with higher total cholesterol level and stenosis degree, unstable plaque, and complications. PCA3 downregulation predicted the adverse outcomes of CAS patients. In VSMCs, overexpressing PCA3 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was alleviated by miR-124-3p/ITGB1 axis.

CONCLUSION

PCA3 served as a biomarker of CAS and regulates the function of VSMCs through sponging miR-124-3p/ITGB1 and indirectly influence the stability of plaque.

Deregulated Long Non-Coding RNA HCG11 in Cerebral Atherosclerosis Serves as a Biomarker to Predict the Risk of Cerebrovascular Events

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is one of the main risk factors of ischemic stroke (IS), which needs a screening and monitoring biomarker. The study focused on the clinical significance of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HCG11 in CAS patients aiming to identify a potential therapeutic target for CAS. Serum samples were collected from 70 CAS patients and 80 age- and gender-matched healthy people. HCG11 levels were measured via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and its significance in CAS identification and development prediction was also assessed. HCG11 was enriched in the serum of CAS patients, and serves as a possible biomarker for disease diagnosis with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.930. Elevated expression of HCG11 was significantly correlated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and degree of carotid stenosis. HCG11 was highly expressed in severe CAS cases compared to moderate ones, which was positively related to the disease severity. Cox regression analysis determined the close relationship of serum HCG11 with the occurrence of cerebral ischemia events. CAS patients with high HCG11 expression showed a high occurrence rate of cerebral ischemia events. The upregulation of HCG11 could serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for CAS and is positively related to the disease severity. Serum HCG11 can independently predict the occurrence of following cerebral ischemia events.