Association of Serum miR-186-5p With the Prognosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Changes and Diagnostic Significance of miR-542-3p Expression in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a heart lesion, that endangers the life safety of patients. This study focused on exploring the clinical effect of miR-542-3p on AMI and no-reflow after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Serum samples were collected from 100 AMI emergency inpatients. The expression of miR-542-3p was quantified by qPCR. The predictive role of miR-542-3p was disclosed by plotting ROC curve. In addition, AMI subjects were cataloged into a group of no-reflow and normal reflow group. The risk factors of no-reflow were estimated by logistic regression analysis. In the serum samples of AMI patients, the level of miR-542-3p showed a pattern of decreasing. MiR-542-3p expression represented a high sensitivity and specificity of the prediction of AMI. A decrease of miR-542-3p content was revealed in AMI patients without reflow after PCI. Logistic regression results reflected that miR-542-3p was an independent biomarker for no-reflow. The declined miR-542-3p expression was a predictive marker for AMI and no-reflow in AMI patients.

miR-223-5p serves as a diagnostic biomarker for acute coronary syndrome and its predictive value for the clinical outcome after PCI

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a serious cardiovascular disease that severely affects the quality of life and longevity of patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the progression of ACS with significant clinical value. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical value of miR-223-5p in ACS and on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

The plasma expression of miR-223-5p was detected by RT-qPCR. The correlation of miR-223-5p and cTnI or Gensini score was shown by the Pearson method. Risk factors for the development of ACS were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The efficacy of miR-223-5p in identifying patients with ACS was shown by ROC curve. The predictive value of miR-223-5p for MACE development in ACS patients within 6 months after PCI was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curve and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

miR-223-5p levels were markedly elevated in ACS patients. miR-223-5p was found to be positively related to cTnI or Gensini score. miR-223-5p was a risk factor for ACS and significantly identified patients with ACS. MACE was more likely to occur after PCI in patients with high miR-223-5p levels, and miR-223-5p was an independent prognostic indicator of MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-223-5p had diagnostic value for ACS and predicted MACE after PCI.

Longitudinal change of serum exosomal miR-186-5p estimates major adverse cardiac events in acute myocardial infarction patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective

Our recently published study discovers that exosomal microRNA (miR)-186-5p promotes vascular smooth muscle cell viability and invasion to facilitate atherosclerosis. This research aimed to explore the prognostic implication of serum exosomal miR-186-5p in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

One hundred and fifty AMI patients receiving PCI and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were screened. Serum exosomal miR-186-5p was detected by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay in AMI patients at admission and after PCI, as well as in HCs after enrollment. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded during follow-up in AMI patients receiving PCI.

Results

Serum exosomal miR-186-5p was raised in AMI patients vs. HCs (P < 0.001). Besides, serum exosomal miR-186-5p was positively linked to body mass index (P = 0.048), serum creatinine (P = 0.021), total cholesterol (P = 0.029), and C-reactive protein (P = 0.018); while it was reversely linked with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.023) in AMI patients. Interestingly, serum exosomal miR-186-5p was correlated with the diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (P = 0.034). Notably, serum exosomal miR-186-5p was decreased after PCI vs. at admission (P < 0.001). The 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month accumulating MACE rates were 4.5%, 8.9%, 14.8%, and 14.8% in AMI patients. Furthermore, serum exosomal miR-186-5p ≥3.39 (maximum value in HCs) after PCI (P = 0.021) and its decrement percentage

Conclusion

Serum exosomal miR-186-5p is reduced after PCI, and its post-PCI high level or minor decrease estimates increased MACE risk in AMI patients.

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Key Words

• acute myocardial infarction
• exosomes
• major adverse cardiac events
• microRNA-186-5p
• percutaneous coronary intervention

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Affiliation(s)

Lingyun Ren Anesthesiology Department, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Wei Liu Anesthesiology Department, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Shanshan Chen Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Haibo Zeng Anesthesiology Department, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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PCSK9i promoting the transformation of AS plaques into a stable plaque by targeting the miR-186-5p/Wipf2 and miR-375-3p/Pdk1/Yap1 in ApoE-/- mice

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a multifaceted disease characterized by disruptions in lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation, and the involvement of diverse cellular constituents. Recent investigations have progressively underscored the role of microRNA (miR) dysregulation in cardiovascular diseases, notably AS. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) can effectively reduce circulating levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)], potentially fostering a more enduring phenotype for AS plaques. However, the underlying mechanisms by which PCSK9i enhances plaque stability remain unclear. In this study, we used microarray and bioinformatics techniques to analyze the regulatory impacts on gene expression pertinent to AS, thereby unveiling potential mechanisms underlying the plaque-stabilizing attributes of PCSK9i.

Methods

ApoE-/- mice were randomly allocated into control, AS, PCSK9i, and Atorvastatin groups. The AS model was induced through a high-fat diet (HFD), succeeded by interventions: the PCSK9i group was subjected to subcutaneous SBC-115076 injections (8 mg/kg, twice weekly), and the Atorvastatin group received daily oral Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) while on the HFD. Subsequent to the intervention phase, serum analysis, histological assessment using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O staining, microarray-centered miRNA analysis utilizing predictions from TargetScan and miRTarBase, and analyses using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were executed to illuminate potential pathways. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to quantify the expression levels of target genes.

Results

In comparison to the control group, the AS group displayed a significant elevation in blood lipid levels. Both PCSK9i and Atorvastatin effectively attenuated blood lipid levels, with PCSK9i exhibiting a more pronounced lipid-lowering impact, particularly concerning TG and LDL-C levels. Over the course of AS progression, the expression levels of mmu-miR-134, mmu-miR-141-5p, mmu-miR-17-3p, mmu-miR-195-3p, mmu-miR-210, mmu-miR-33-5p, mmu-miR-410, mmu-miR-411-5p, mmu-miR-499, mmu-miR-672-5p, mmu-miR-675-3p, and mmu-miR-301b underwent dynamic fluctuations. PCSK9i significantly down-regulated the expression of mmu-miR-186-5p, mmu-miR-222, mmu-miR-375-3p, and mmu-miR-494-3p. Further enrichment analysis disclosed that mmu-miR-186-5p, mmu-miR-222, mmu-miR-375-3p, and mmu-miR-494-3p were functionally enriched for cardiovascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and regulation. RT-qPCR results manifested that, in comparison to the AS group, PCSK9i significantly upregulated the expression of Wipf2, Pdk1, and Yap1 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Aberrant miRNA expression may play a pivotal role in AS progression in murine models of AS. The subcutaneous administration of PCSK9i exerted anti-atherosclerotic effects by targeting the miR-186-5p/Wipf2 and miR-375-3p/Pdk1/Yap1 axes, thereby promoting the transition of AS plaques into a more stable form.

Recent Advances of Using Exosomes as Diagnostic Markers and Targeting Carriers for Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of human death worldwide. Exosomes act as endogenous biological vectors; they possess advantages of low immunogenicity and low safety risks, also providing tissue selectivity, including the inherent targeting the to heart. Therefore, exosomes not only have been applied as biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic outcome confirmation but also showed potential as drug carriers for cardiovascular targeting delivery. This review aims to summarize the progress and challenges of exosomes as novel biomarkers, especially many novel exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), and also provides an overview of the improved targeting functions of exosomes by unique engineered approaches, the latest developed administration methods, and the therapeutic effects of exosomes used as the biocarriers of medications for cardiovascular disease treatment. Also, the possible therapeutic mechanisms and the potentials for transferring exosomes to the clinic for CVD treatment are discussed. The advances, in vivo and in vitro applications, modifications, mechanisms, and challenges summarized in this review will provide a general understanding of this promising strategy for CVD treatment.

Establishment and assessment of a preclinical model of acute kidney injury induced by contrast media combined acute myocardial ischemia reperfusion surgery

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in clinical practice, and the majority of previous preclinical models were induced by a single factor. The objective of the present study was to establish a stable preclinic model of AKI induced by contrast media (CM) with acute myocardial ischemia reperfusion surgery and to identify the effect of oxidative stress on kidney injury. Rats were treated individually or with CM or myocardial ischemia reperfusion surgery. Renal baseline and AKI parameters, the level of oxidative stress and histopathological images were examined along with AKI biomarkers. Results showed the incidence of AKI in the CM group and ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) group was 40%, χ² test (P<0.05 vs. CM-IRI) and 35%, χ² test (P<0.05 vs. CM-IRI) and the combination group had the highest incidence rate 75%. IRI surgery combined with CM diminished kidney function and induced oxidative stress by increasing creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and reactive oxygen species levels. Western blotting showed that the early AKI biomarker of NGAL and KIM-1 increased and that the combination group had the highest value. Pathology damage exhibited severe kidney damage in the combination group compared with other control groups. The present research established a reliable preclinic model of post-AMI AKI with a stable and high postoperative AKI rate. Additionally, CM was demonstrated to exacerbate AKI caused by acute myocardial infarction through oxidative stress and, thus, oxidative stress may be a potential therapeutic target.

MicroRNA-186-5p inhibits H9c2 cells apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation by targeting ERK1/2

Background

Serum miR-186-5p levels are increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and might contribute to assessing the prognosis of AMI patients. In this study, we further investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-186-5p that participated in the pathological processes of myocardial ischemia.

Methods

The AMI models of rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) models of H9c2 cells were established. Bioinformatics databases, luciferase reporting, and western blotting assays were performed to identify the regulatory target of miR-186-5p. Transfection and functional experiments were conducted to further define the possible molecular mechanism of miR-186-5p during the process of glucose deficiency and hypoxia.

Results

The level of miR-186-5p was found to significantly decrease in H9c2 cells after OGD treatment, while it increased in the culture medium from OGD-treated H9c2 cells. Using bioinformatics databases, luciferase reporting, and western blotting assays, we identified that ERK1/2 might serve as the negative regulatory target of miR-186-5p. Combined with further transfection experiments, we indicated that miR-186-5p might inhibit the expression and activation of ERK1/2. This finding was also reflected in the reduction of their downstream cleaved caspase-3. Through functional experiments, we revealed that miR-186-5p might inhibit apoptosis and promote proliferation in OGD-treated H9c2 cells.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that miR-186-5p might suppress OGD-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells by targeting the ERK1/2 pathway.

Biomarkers Associated with Immune Checkpoint, N6-Methyladenosine, and Ferroptosis in Patients with Restenosis

Purpose

This study aimed to identify potential diagnostic markers of restenosis after stent implantation and to determine their association with immune checkpoint, ferroptosis, and N6-methyladenosine (m6A).

Patients and methods

Microarray data were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI: GSE46560 and GSE48060 datasets) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between in-stent restenosis and no-restenosis samples. We then conducted systematic functional enrichment analyses of the DEGs based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and further predicted the interactions of different proteins using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING). We used the MCC and MCODE algorithms in the cytoHubba plug-in to screen three key genes in the network, and employed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine their diagnostic significance using a multiscale curvature classification algorithm. Next, we investigated the relationships between these target genes, immune checkpoint, ferroptosis, and m6A. Finally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the above results.

Results

We identified 62 upregulated genes and 243 downregulated genes. Based on GO, KEGG, and screening results, EEF1D, RPL36, and RPSA are promising genes for predicting restenosis. In addition, the methylation of YTHDF2, the ferroptosis-related gene GLS2, and the immune checkpoint-related gene CTLA4 were observed to be associated with restenosis. The qRT-PCR test confirmed that RPSA and RPL36 are useful diagnostic markers of the restenosis that can provide new insights for future studies on its occurrence and molecular mechanisms.

Conclusion

We found that RPSA and RPL36, as useful diagnostic markers of restenosis, can provide new insights for future studies on its occurrence and molecular mechanisms.

Analysis of the Research Hotspot of Exosomes in Cardiovascular Disease: A Bibliometric-based Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the current status and development trend of research on exosomes in cardiovascular disease (CVD) using bibliometric analysis and to elucidate trending research topics.

METHODS

Research articles on exosomes in CVD published up to April 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. Data were organized using Microsoft Office Excel 2019. CiteSpace 6.1 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used for bibliometric analysis and result visualization.

RESULTS

Overall, 256 original research publications containing 190 fundamental research publications and 66 clinical research publications were included. "Extracellular vesicle" was the most frequent research keyword, followed by "microrna," "apoptosis," and "angiogenesis." Most publications were from China (187, 73.05%), followed by the United States (57, 22.27%), the United Kingdom (7, 2.73%), and Japan (7, 2.73%). A systematic review of the publications revealed that myocardial infarction and stroke were the most popular topics and that exosomes and their contents, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), play positive roles in neuroprotection, inhibition of autophagy and apoptosis, promotion of angiogenesis, and protection of cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSION

Research on exosomes in CVD has attracted considerable attention, with China having the most published studies. Fundamental research has focused on CVD pathogenesis; exosomes regulate the progression of CVD through biological processes, such as the inflammatory response, autophagy, and apoptosis. Clinical research has focused on biomarkers for CVD; studies on using miRNAs in exosomes as disease markers for diagnosis could become a future trend.

Comparative Analysis of Non-Coding RNA Transcriptomics in Heart Failure

Heart failure constitutes a clinical complex syndrome with different symptomatic characteristics depending on age, sex, race and ethnicity, among others, which has become a major public health issue with an increasing prevalence. One of the most interesting tools seeking to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this pathology has focused on finding new molecular biomarkers since heart failure relies on deficient cardiac homeostasis, which is regulated by a strict gene expression. Therefore, currently, analyses of non-coding RNA transcriptomics have been oriented towards human samples. The present review develops a comparative study emphasizing the relevance of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs as potential biomarkers in heart failure. Significantly, further studies in this field of research are fundamental to supporting their widespread clinical use. In this sense, the various methodologies used by the authors should be standardized, including larger cohorts, homogeneity of the samples and uniformity of the bioinformatic pipelines used to reach stratification and statistical significance of the results. These basic adjustments could provide promising steps to designing novel strategies for clinical management of patients with heart failure.

Prioritization of microRNA biomarkers for a prospective evaluation in a cohort of myocardial infarction patients based on their mechanistic role using public datasets

Background

MicroRNAs (miR) have proven to be promising biomarkers for several diseases due to their diverse functions, stability and tissue/organ-specific nature. Identification of new markers with high sensitivity and specificity will help in risk reduction in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with chest pain and also prevent future adverse outcomes. Hence the aim of this study was to perform a detailed in silico analysis for identifying the mechanistic role of miRs involved in the pathogenesis/prognosis of AMI for prospective evaluation in AMI patients.

Methods

miR profiling data was extracted from GSE148153 and GSE24591 datasets using the GEO2R gene expression omnibus repository and analyzed using limma algorithm. Differentially expressed miRs were obtained by comparing MI patients with corresponding controls after multiple testing corrections. Data mining for identifying candidate miRs from published literature was also performed. Target prediction and gene enrichment was done using standard bioinformatics tools. Disease specific analysis was performed to identify target genes specific for AMI using open targets platform. Protein-protein interaction and pathway analysis was done using STRING database and Cytoscape platform.

Results and conclusion

The analysis revealed significant miRs like let-7b-5p, let-7c-5p, miR-4505, and miR-342-3p in important functions/pathways including phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT and the mammalian target of rapamycin, advanced glycation end products and its receptor and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system by directly targeting angiotensin II receptor type 1, forkhead box protein O1, etc. With this approach we were able to prioritize the miR candidates for a prospective clinical association study in AMI patients of south Indian origin.

MiR-223 and MiR-186 Are Associated with Long-Term Mortality after Myocardial Infarction

Background—The identification and stratification of patients at risk of fatal outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI) is of considerable interest to guide secondary prevention therapies. Currently, no accurate biomarkers are available to identify subjects who are at risk of suffering acute manifestations of coronary heart disease as well as to predict adverse events after MI. Non-coding circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. The aims of the study were to investigate the clinical value of a panel of circulating miRNAs as accurate biomarkers associated with MI and mortality risk prediction in patients with documented MI. Methods and Results—seven circulating plasma miRNAs were analyzed in 67 MI patients and 80 control subjects at a high cardiovascular risk but without known coronary diseases. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that six miRNAs were independently associated with MI occurrence. Among them, miR-223 and miR-186 reliably predicted long-term mortality in MI patients, in particular miR-223 (HR 1.57 per one-unit increase, p = 0.02), after left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) adjustment. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses provided a predictive threshold value of miR-223 expression (p = 0.028) for long-term mortality. Conclusions—Circulating miR-223 and miR-186 are promising predictive biomarkers for long-term mortality after MI.

miRNAs from Plasma Extracellular Vesicles Are Signatory Noninvasive Prognostic Biomarkers against Atherosclerosis in LDLr-/-Mice

Circular microRNAs (miRNAs) have become central in pathophysiological conditions of atherosclerosis (AS). However, the biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutics against AS are still unclear. The atherosclerosis models in low-density lipoprotein receptor deficiency (LDLr^−/−) mice were established with a high-fat diet (HFD). The extraction kit isolated extracellular vesicles from plasma. Total RNAs were extracted from LDLr^−/− mice in plasma extracellular vesicles. Significantly varying miRNAs were detected by employing Illumina HiSeq 2000 deep sequencing technology. Target gene predictions of miRNAs were employed by related software that include RNAhybrid, TargetScan, miRanda, and PITA. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) further analyzed the intersection points of predicted results. The results showed that the HFD group gradually formed atherosclerotic plaques in thoracic aorta compared with the control group. Out of 17, 8 upregulated and 9 downregulated miRNAs with a significant difference were found in the plasma extracellular vesicles that were further cross-examined by sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Focal adhesion and Ras signaling pathway were found to be the most closely related pathways through GO and KEGG pathway analyses. The 8 most differentially expressed up- and downregulated miRNAs were further ascertained by TaqMan-based qRT-PCR. TaqMan-based qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization further validated the most differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-378d, miR-181b-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-421-3p, miR-350-3p, and miR-184-3p) that were consistent with deep sequencing analysis suggesting a promising potential of utility to serve as diagnostic biomarkers against AS. The study gives a comprehensive profile of circular miRNAs in atherosclerosis and may pave the way for identifying biomarkers and novel targets for atherosclerosis.

Usefullness of MicroRNAs in Predicting the Clinical Outcome of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction During Follow-Up: A Systematic Review

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is reported as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is associated with a 30% mortality rate. Echocardiography, coronary angiography, and biomarkers like cardiac troponins are employed as prognostic tests. Although these biomarkers are the gold standard for the diagnosis of MI, they are not accurate as prognostic markers due to their lack of specificity. Studies have suggested that dysregulation of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) influences post-MI complications during follow-up. However, the findings of these studies have several inconsistencies. This systematic review was performed to investigate the potential of miRNAs to predict clinical outcomes post-MI. Methodology: Pubmed and Google Scholar databases were used for identifying research articles published from inception till August 2021; the search terms included "microRNAs" AND "prognosis" AND "myocardial infarction" or "acute coronary syndrome." All the articles included were critically analyzed using STROBE guidelines. Results and Conclusion: Several miRNAs were elevated in MI patients, including miR-208b, miR-499, and miR-375. Association of these miRNA levels with the outcome of MI, such as all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events during follow-up, were also reported. However, none of the studies included in this systematic review exhibited promising evidence that these miRNAs can be utilized as ideal biomarkers for prognosis post-MI. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis and progression of MI is crucial. Hence, these findings can be used as a guide when performing further experimental studies to identify useful post-MI prognostic markers.

Targeting Circulating lncRNA ENST00000538705.1 Relieves Acute Coronary Syndrome via Modulating ALOX15

Objective

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most dangerous and deadly form of coronary heart disease. Herein, we aimed to explore ACS-specific circulating lncRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms.

Methods

This study collected serum samples from ACS patients and healthy controls for microarray analysis. Dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and mRNAs were determined with |log2fold − change| > 1 and p < 0.05. lncRNA-mRNA coexpression analysis was carried out. ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 expression was further verified in serum specimens. In human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 were knocked out through transfecting specific siRNAs. Thereafter, proliferation and migration were investigated with CCK-8 and wound-healing assays. Myocardial infarction rat models were established and administrated with siRNAs against ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15. Myocardial damage was investigated with H&E staining, and serum TC, LDL, and HDL levels were measured.

Results

Microarray analysis identified 353 dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and 441 dysregulated circulating mRNAs in ACS. Coexpression analysis indicated the interaction between ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15. RT-qPCR confirmed the remarkable upregulation of circulating ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 in ACS patients. In HCAECs, ENST00000538705.1 knockdown lowered the expression of ALOX15 but ALOX15 did not alter the expression of ENST00000538705.1. Silencing ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15 weakened the proliferation and migration of HCAECs. Additionally, knockdown of ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15 relieved myocardial damage, decreased serum TC and LDL levels, and elevated HDL levels in myocardial infarction rats.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings demonstrate that circulating ENST00000538705.1 facilitates ACS progression through modulating ALOX15, which provide potential targets for ACS treatment.

FTX Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress via miR-186-5p/MDM4 Pathway

LncRNA five prime to Xist (FTX) has been identified to exert a protective effect in multiple diseases. However, whether and how FTX attenuates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CI/RI) is still unclear. To simulate CI/RI, an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) HT22 cell model and an in vivo middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) Sprague-Dawley rat model were respectively constructed. In CI/RI plasma samples, OGD/R-challenged HT22 cells, and brain tissues from MCAO/R rats, FTX and mouse double minute 4 (MDM4) expressions were substantially decreased while miR-186-5p abundance was evidently increased. It was also revealed that FTX obviously improved neuronal damage induced by OGD/R through increasing proliferation, reducing apoptosis, and alleviating oxidative stress in OGD/R-challenged HT22 cells. Additionally, FTX positively regulated MDM4 level in OGD/R-treated HT22 cells as a sponge of miR-186-5p. Moreover, miR-186-5p upregulation or MDM4 suppression restored the inhibitory effects of FTX upregulation on OGD/R-triggered neuronal damage in HT22 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that FTX might ameliorate CI/RI by regulating the miR-186-5p/MDM4 pathway, providing a new target for stroke impairment treatment.

MicroRNA-320a-3p Signatures as a Satisfactory Predictor of Acute Coronary Syndrome and Attenuates Inflammation by Targeting X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a heart disease with a high mortality rate. Recently, more and more evidence illustrated that microRNAs (miRNA) participated in regulating the occurrence of heart disease. This study aimed to detect the level of serum miR-320a-3p in patients with ACS, predict its possibility as a candidate gene for diagnosis, and explore its potential mechanism in the regulation of ACS. 139 ACS patients and 126 controls were recruited in this study. The expression level of miR-320a-3p was determined by qRT-PCR. The predictive value in ACS was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the protein expression levels of inflammatory factors. The downstream targets of miR-320a-3p were verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. In ACS patients and rat models, the expression level of serum miR-320a-3p was significantly increased. ROC curve revealed that abnormal expression of miR-320a-3p was of diagnostic value for ACS. In an in vivo rat model, down-regulation of miR-320a-3p inhibited the production of von Willebrand factor (vWF), Heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In other words, down-regulation of miR-320a-3p reduced rat vascular endothelial injury and inflammation. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was determined to be a direct target of miR-320a-3p. miR-320a-3p is useful for the diagnosis of ACS. Animal experiments confirmed that up-regulated miR-320a-3p promoted vascular endothelial injury and inflammatory response by targeting XIAP, thus promoting the development of ACS. MiR-320a-3p may be a new breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of ACS.

Circulating microRNAs: Biomarkers of disease

MicroRNAs are a class of endogenous noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules with approximately 20-24 nucleotides and are associated with a broad range of biological processes. Researchers found that microRNAs are abundant in tissues, and more importantly, there are also trace circulating microRNAs that exist in biological fluids. In recent years, circulating microRNAs had emerged as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the noninvasive detection of diseases with high specificity and sensitivity. More importantly, specific microRNA expression signatures reflect not only the existence of early-stage diseases but also the dynamic development of advanced-stage diseases, disease prognosis prediction, and drug resistance. To date, an increasing number of potential miRNA biomarkers have been reported, but their practical application prospects are still unclear. Therefore, microRNAs, as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in a variety of diseases, need to be updated, as they are of great importance in the diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of therapeutic responses. In this review, we summary our current understanding of microRNAs as potential biomarkers in the major diseases (e.g., cancers and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases), which provide the basis for the design of diagnosis and treatment plan and the improvement of the cure rate.

microRNAs Mediated Regulation of the Ribosomal Proteins and its Consequences on the Global Translation of Proteins

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) are mostly derived from the energy-consuming enzyme families such as ATP-dependent RNA helicases, AAA-ATPases, GTPases and kinases, and are important structural components of the ribosome, which is a supramolecular ribonucleoprotein complex, composed of Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and RPs, coordinates the translation and synthesis of proteins with the help of transfer RNA (tRNA) and other factors. Not all RPs are indispensable; in other words, the ribosome could be functional and could continue the translation of proteins instead of lacking in some of the RPs. However, the lack of many RPs could result in severe defects in the biogenesis of ribosomes, which could directly influence the overall translation processes and global expression of the proteins leading to the emergence of different diseases including cancer. While microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs and one of the potent regulators of the post-transcriptional gene expression, miRNAs regulate gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region and/or coding region of the messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and by interacting with the 5' untranslated region, and eventually finetune the expression of approximately one-third of all mammalian genes. Herein, we highlighted the significance of miRNAs mediated regulation of RPs coding mRNAs in the global protein translation.

Fasting blood glucose to HDL-C ratio as a novel predictor of clinical outcomes in non-diabetic patients after PCI

Background The present study was to assess the prognostic value of fasting blood glucose to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (GHR) in non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods and results A total of 6645 non-diabetic patients from two independent cohorts, the CORFCHD-PCI study (n=4282) and the CORFCHD-ZZ (n=2363) study, were enrolled in Clinical Outcomes and Risk Factors of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease after PCI. Patients were divided into two groups according to the GHR value. The primary outcome included all-cause mortality (ACM) and cardiac mortality (CM). The average follow-up time was 36.51 ± 22.50 months. We found that there were significant differences between the two groups in the incidences of ACM (P=0.013) and CM (P=0.038). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed GHR as an independent prognostic factor for ACM. The incidence of ACM increased 1.284-times in patients in the higher GHR group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.284 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.010-1.631], P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that patients with high GHR value tended to have an increased accumulated risk of ACM. However, we did not find significant differences in the incidence of major adverse cardiac events, main/major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), stroke, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and bleeding events. Conclusions The present study indicates that GHR index is an independent and novel predictor of ACM in non-diabetic CAD patients who underwent PCI.

Diagnostic value of miR-637 in patients with atherosclerosis and its predictive significance for the future cardiovascular events

Objectives

Atherosclerosis is a common vascular disease. MiR-637 has been demonstrated to be low-expressed in hypertensive patients, and atherosclerosis is closely related to hypertension. Therefore, this study speculated that miR-637 may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. In brief, this study examined the expression level of miR-637 in patients with atherosclerosis and further analyzed its clinical value in patients with atherosclerosis.

Methods

The expression level of miR-637 was detected in serum from 86 patients with atherosclerosis and 75 healthy controls by using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of miR-637 in atherosclerosis. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between serum miR-637 and different clinical parameters. The prognostic value of miR-637 in atherosclerosis was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier survival curve and multivariate cox regression analysis.

Results

Compared with healthy individuals, miR-637 was downregulated in the serum of atherosclerosis patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve suggested the high diagnostic value of miR-637 for atherosclerosis, with the AUC of 0.853, specificity of 77.9%, and sensitivity of 80.0%. The expression level of miR-637 was negatively correlated with CIMT (r = –0.8101, P <  0.0001) and CRP (r = –0.6154, P <  0.0001), respectively. Survival analysis indicated that miR-637 was also found to be an independent prognostic factor for atherosclerosis.

Conclusions

MiR-637 is a potential noninvasive diagnostic marker of atherosclerosis and has important predictive value for the occurrence of future cardiovascular events.

MicroRNA-186-5p serves as a diagnostic biomarker in atherosclerosis and regulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration

Objective

MicroRNA dysregulation occurs in many human diseases, including atherosclerosis. Here, we examined the serum expression and clinical significance of miR-186-5p in patients with atherosclerosis, and explored its influence on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 104 patients with asymptomatic atherosclerosis and 80 healthy controls. Quantitative real-time PCR was applied to measure the miR-186-5p level. An ROC curve was established to assess the discriminatory ability of the serum miR-186-5p level for identifying atherosclerosis from controls. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the impact of miR-186-5p on cell behaviors.

Results

Serum expression of miR-186-5p was significantly higher in atherosclerosis patients than in the control group. The serum miR-186-5p level showed a positive correlation with CIMT and could be used to distinguish atherosclerosis patients from healthy controls, with an area under the curve (AUC) score of 0.891. In VSMCs, overexpression of miR-186-5p significantly promoted cell proliferation and migration, while the opposite results were observed when miR-186-5p was downregulated.

Conclusion

Overexpression of miR-186-5p has a certain diagnostic significance for atherosclerosis. Upregulation of miR-186-5p stimulates VSMC proliferation and migration. Therefore, it is a possible target for atherosclerosis interventions.