Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Objective: Platelet microRNAs (miRs) have been indicated as a diagnostic biomarker in various diseases, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to investigate the expression of miR-223-5p, miR-126-5p, miR-484, and miR-130a-3p in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods: Forty subjects with CAD and 13 healthy individuals were under study. The expression of miR-223-5p, miR-126-5p, miR-484, and miR-130a-3p was measured in platelets by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between miRNA expression and various parameters of the subjects was analyzed using analysis of variance and Spearman and t-tests.
Results: The miR-484 expression was significantly upregulated in the ACS subjects (P = .0097). Moreover, miR-484 had diagnostic value for screening subjects with unstable angina vs controls (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.978, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92–1, P = .0006) and NSTEMI patients versus controls (AUC = 0.910, 95% CI 0.74–1, P = .005).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the upregulated expression of miR-484 in ACS patients might be used as a diagnostic biomarker in ACS.
Introduction
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major severe medical emergency that imposes a high burden on health care costs, mortality, and morbidity in many countries. It can be classified into unstable angina (UA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with ST-segment elevation (STEMI), and AMI without ST elevation (NSTEMI).[1] Several pathological studies have indicated that overcrowding and platelet hyperactivity are associated with the incidence and progression of cardiovascular disease. Platelets are the main agent in hemostasis and acute atherothrombosis in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, especially ACS.[2] Atherosclerosis plaque as an inflammatory situation activates platelets and releases their vesicle content, which leads to plaque rupture, thrombosis, and ACS progression.[3,4] Interestingly, although platelets lack a nucleus and transcript gene mechanism, they have RNA, including microRNA (miR). At present, several studies have pointed out that some platelet miRs, such as miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p,[5,6] miR-361-5p,[7] miR-19b-1-5p,[8] and miR-4286,[9] are associated with the occurrence and development of ACS. Currently, the understanding of pathological mechanisms of ACS is limited, and those biomarkers that have been discovered and used to diagnose MI are not considered sufficiently effective.[10] Therefore, further investigation of platelet miRs in ACS disease might add potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for individuals with ACS. In addition, platelet miRs are related to platelet function and related diseases; their physiological role, especially as a potential diagnostic biomarker, remains unknown. The diagnostic value of platelet miR-223-5p, miR-126-5p, miR-484, miR-130a-3p in ACS diseases is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate whether platelet miR-484 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker in ACS.
Lab Med. 2023;54(3):256-261. © 2023 American Society for Clinical Pathology