Circulating miR-196a-5p miR-373-3p and miR-375: Novel candidate biomarkers for diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Background: Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression and play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to test whether five novel candidate miRNAs have different expressions in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: In this study, total 135 patients with angina or acute myocardial infarction who underwent coronary angiography were recruited and divided into 3 groups: 45 patients with normal coronary arteries, 45 patients with obstructive CAD and 45 patients with acute STEMI. Serum which was obtained from blood samples were drawn before coronary angiography. After RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis, expressions of miRNAs were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Statistical analysis of qRT-PCR expression results was carried out by using the 2(-Delta Ct) formula.

Results: Expression differences were statistically significant for the four studied candidate miRNAs (hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-196a-5p, hsa-miR-373-3p and hsa-miR-375) among the groups. The receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that three studied candidate miRNAs (miR-196a-5p, miR-373-3p and miR-375) had high potential to provide sensitive and specific diagnostic value for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The calculated Area under curve (AUC) levels showed that miR-196a-5p (AUC: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.521-0.759; p = 0.032) for obstructive CAD and STEMI groups, miR-373-3p (AUC: 708; 95% CI: 0.605-0.812; p < 0.001) for STEMI group and miR-375 (AUC: 0.722; 95% CI: 0.635-0.808; p < 0.001) for obstructive CAD and STEMI groups have diagnostic values.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that miR-196a-5p, miR-373-3p and miR-375 are expressed differently in our patients and that these miRNAs may become a promising biomarker for these diseases since they have diagnostic value for CAD and ACS.