Nourin-Dependent miR-137 and miR-106b: Novel Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Myocardial Ischemia in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background: Although cardiovascular imaging techniques are widely used to diagnose myocardial ischemia in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD), they have limitations related to lack of specificity, sensitivity and “late” diagnosis. Additionally, the absence of a simple laboratory test that can detect myocardial ischemia in CAD patients, has led to many patients being first diagnosed at the time of the development of myocardial infarction. Nourin is an early blood-based biomarker rapidly released within five minutes by “reversible” ischemic myocardium before progressing to necrosis. Recently, we demonstrated that the Nourin-dependent miR-137 (marker of cell damage) and miR-106b-5p (marker of inflammation) can diagnose myocardial ischemia in patients with unstable angina (UA) and also stratify severity of ischemia, with higher expression in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients compared to UA patients. Minimal baseline-gene expression levels of Nourin miRNAs were detected in healthy subjects. Objectives: To determine: (1) whether Nourin miRNAs are elevated in chest pain patients with myocardial ischemia suspected of CAD, who also underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) or ECG/Treadmill stress test, and (2) whether the elevated levels of serum Nourin miRNAs correlate with results of ECHO/ECG stress test in diagnosing CAD patients. Methods: Serum gene expression levels of miR-137, miR-106b-5p and their corresponding molecular pathway network were measured blindly in 70 enrolled subjects using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). Blood samples were collected from: (1) patients with chest pain suspected of myocardial ischemia (n = 38) both immediately “pre-stress test” and “post-stress test” 30 min. after test termination; (2) patients with acute STEMI (n = 16) functioned as our positive control; and (3) healthy volunteers (n = 16) who, also, exercised on ECG/Treadmill stress test for Nourin baseline-gene expression levels. Results: (1) strong correlation was observed between Nourin miRNAs serum expression levels and results obtained from ECHO/ECG stress test in diagnosing myocardial ischemia in CAD patients; (2) positive “post-stress test” patients with CAD diagnosis showed upregulation of miR-137 by 572-fold and miR-106b-5p by 122-fold, when compared to negative “post-stress test” patients (p < 0.001); (3) similarly, positive “pre-stress test” CAD patients showed upregulation of miR-137 by 1198-fold and miR-106b-5p by 114-fold, when compared to negative “pre-stress test” patients (p < 0.001); and (4) healthy subjects had minimal baseline-gene expressions of Nourin miRNAs. Conclusions: Nourin-dependent miR-137 and miR-106b-5p are promising novel blood-based biomarkers for early diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in chest pain patients suspected of CAD in outpatient clinics. Early identification of CAD patients, while patients are in the stable state before progressing to infarction, is key to providing crucial diagnostic steps and therapy to limit adverse cardiac events, improve patients’ health outcome and save lives.

Nourin-Dependent miR-137 and miR-106b: Novel Early Inflammatory Diagnostic Biomarkers for Unstable Angina Patients

BACKGROUND

Currently, no blood biomarkers exist that can diagnose unstable angina (UA) patients. Nourin is an early inflammatory mediator rapidly released within 5 min by reversible ischemic myocardium, and if ischemia persists, it is also released by necrosis. Nourin is elevated in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients but not in symptomatic noncardiac and healthy subjects. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been established as markers of disease, including cardiac injury and inflammation.

OBJECTIVES

To profile and validate the potential diagnostic value of Nourin-dependent miR-137 (marker of cell damage) and miR-106b-5p (marker of inflammation) as early biomarkers in suspected UA patients and to investigate the association of their target and regulating genes.

METHODS

Using Nourin amino acid sequence, an integrated bioinformatics analysis was conducted. Analysis indicated that Nourin is a direct target for miR-137 and miR-106b-5p in myocardial ischemic injury. Two linked molecular networks of lncRNA/miRNAs/mRNAs were also retrieved, including CTB89H12.4/miR-137/FTHL-17 and CTB89H12.4/miR-106b-5p/ANAPC11. Gene expression profiling was assessed in serum samples collected at presentation to an emergency department (ED) from: (1) UA patients (n = 30) (confirmed by invasive coronary angiography with stenosis greater than 50% and troponin level below the clinical decision limit); (2) patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (n = 16) (confirmed by persistent ST-segment changes and elevated troponin level); and 3) healthy subjects (n = 16).

RESULTS

Gene expression profiles showed that miR-137 and miR-106b-5p were significantly upregulated by 1382-fold and 192-fold in UA compared to healthy, and by 2.5-fold and 4.6-fold in STEMI compared to UA, respectively. Healthy subjects showed minimal expression profile. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis revealed that the two miRNAs were sensitive and specific biomarkers for assessment of UA and STEMI patients. Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a significant association of miRNAs with the associated mRNA targets and the regulating lncRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

Nourin-dependent gene expression of miR-137 and miR-106b-5p are novel blood-based biomarkers that can diagnose UA and STEMI patients at presentation and stratify severity of myocardial ischemia, with higher expression in STEMI compared to UA. Early diagnosis of suspected UA patients using the novel Nourin biomarkers is key for initiating guideline-based therapy that improves patients' health outcomes.