Exp Mol Med.  2015 Feb;47(2):e138. 10.1038/emm.2014.81.

MiR-34a, miR-21 and miR-23a as potential biomarkers for coronary artery disease: a pilot microarray study and confirmation in a 32 patient cohort

• Han H
• Qu G
• Han C
• Wang Y
• Sun T
• Li F
• Wang J
• Luo S

• KMID: 2155403
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/emm.2014.81

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in apolipoprotein E (apoE) knockout mice (apoE-/-) and to validate the role of these miRNAs in human coronary artery disease (CAD). Pooled plasma from 10 apoE-/- mice and 10 healthy C57BL/6 (B6) mice was used to perform the microarray analysis. The results showed that miR-34a, miR-21, miR-23a, miR-30a and miR-106b were differentially expressed in apoE-/- mice, and these expression changes were confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Then, miR-34a, miR-21, miR-23a, miR-30a and miR-106b were detected in the plasma of 32 patients with CAD and of 20 healthy controls. Only miR-34a, miR-21 and miR-23a were significantly differentially expressed in the plasma of CAD patients (all P<0.01). In conclusion, miR-34a, miR-21 and miR-23a were elevated in CAD patients, which means that these miRNAs might serve as biomarkers of CAD development and progression.

MeSH Terms

Aged
Animals
Apolipoproteins E/deficiency
Biomarkers
Case-Control Studies
Coronary Artery Disease/*genetics
Disease Models, Animal
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
Male
Mice
Mice, Knockout
MicroRNAs/*genetics
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Reproducibility of Results
Risk Factors
Apolipoproteins E
Biomarkers
MicroRNAs