Serum Dickkopf-3 Level Is Inversely Associated with Significant Coronary Stenosis in an Asymptomatic Chinese Cohort

Association between Plasma Follistatin-like Protein 1 Levels and the Presence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) is a secreted glycoprotein known for its role in inflammation. However, plasma FSTL1 levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been fully elucidated. Thus, in this study, we investigated the plasma FSTL1 levels of 350 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography. The severity of CAD was represented as the numbers of > 50% stenotic vessels and segments and the severity score. CAD was detected in 196 patients, of whom 84 had 1-vessel disease (1-VD), 62 had 2-VD, and 50 had 3-VD. Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were higher in patients with CAD than in those without CAD (median 0.56 versus 0.44 mg/L, P < 0.01). Notably, plasma FSTL1 levels were higher in patients with CAD than in those without CAD (median 4.05 versus 3.47 ng/mL, P < 0.02). A stepwise increase in FSTL1 levels was found depending on the number of > 50% stenotic vessels: 3.47 in CAD (-), 3.74 in 1-VD, 4.42 in 2-VD, and 4.65 ng/mL in 3-VD (P < 0.05). FSTL1 levels also correlated with the number of > 50% stenotic segments and the severity score (r = 0.14 and r = 0.15, respectively, P < 0.005) and hsCRP levels (r = 0.10, P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, FSTL1 levels were an independent factor associated with CAD. The odds ratio for CAD was 1.61 (95% CI = 1.01-2.58) for high FSTL1 level of > 3.6 ng/mL (P < 0.05). In conclusion, plasma FSTL1 levels in patients with CAD were found to be high and associated with the presence and severity of CAD, thus, suggesting that FSTL1 may play a role in the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.

The Integrative Analysis of Competitive Endogenous RNA Regulatory Networks in Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular death. The competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) hypothesis is a new theory that explains the relationship between lncRNAs and miRNAs. The mechanism of ceRNAs in the pathological process of CAD has not been fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to explore the ceRNA mechanism in CAD using the integrative bioinformatics analysis and provide new research ideas for the occurrence and development of CAD.

Methods: The GSE113079 dataset was downloaded, and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package in the R language. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed on DElncRNAs and DEGs to explore lncRNAs and genes associated with CAD. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on hub genes in the significant module identified via WGCNA. Four online databases, including TargetScan, miRDB, miRTarBase, and Starbase, combined with an online tool, miRWalk, were used to construct ceRNA regulatory networks.

Results: DEGs were clustered into ten co-expression modules with different colors using WGCNA. The brown module was identified as the key module with the highest correlation coefficient. 188 hub genes were identified in the brown module for functional enrichment analysis. DElncRNAs were clustered into sixteen modules, including seven modules related to CAD with the correlation coefficient more than 0.5. Three ceRNA networks were identified, including OIP5-AS1-miR-204-5p/miR-211-5p-SMOC1, OIP5-AS1-miR-92b-3p-DKK3, and OIP5-AS1-miR-25-3p-TMEM184B.

Conclusion: Three ceRNA regulatory networks identified in this study may play crucial roles in the occurrence and development of CAD, which provide novel insights into the ceRNA mechanism in CAD.