Circulating miRNA-33: a potential biomarker in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Background: Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are present in body fluids in stable, cell-free form. Likewise, these miRNAs can be identified in various stages of coronary artery disease (CAD) such as inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, proliferation and atherosclerosis among others. miRNA expression levels can be identified.

Aims and objectives: To determine the expression of circulating miRNAs (miR-126, miR-92, miR-33, miR-145 and miR-155) in CAD patients of Indian origin.

Material and methods: miRNA profiling analysis in blood plasma was performed by quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR) in 60 angiographically verified subjects including 30 CAD patients and 30 age- and gender-matched controls. Association between the expression of all five circulating miRNAs and clinical characteristics of patients with CAD were analysed using Medcalc statistics. The severity of CAD was assessed using SYNTAX score (SS).

Results: Expression of plasma miR-33 increased by 2.9 folds in CAD patients than in control group (p value ≥0.002) also it was found that miR-33 expression levels in mild cases (SS: ≤22) were significantly higher than CAD controls. There was a modest negative correlation between miR-33 and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio, triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein.

Conclusion: The study reports a significant association between increased levels of plasma miR-33 and CAD. Thus, plasma miR-33 appears to be a promising non-invasive biomarker, but requires further validation in a large cohort.

Keywords:

• Circulating miRNA
• gene expression
• RT-PCR
• CAD
• miR-33

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Maulik Parekh and Dr. Kaustubh Mahamine for helping them with SYNTAX scoring.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of P.D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants at the time of enrollment and their participation was voluntary.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The project was funded by National Health & Education Society (NHES), P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.