SAGE Open Medicine (Aug 2024)

Identification of circulating microRNA-126-3p as a new biomarker for coronary artery calcification

  • Xia Zhang,
  • Mengmeng Zhu,
  • Peng Zeng,
  • Mingxiu Guan,
  • Hongyu Zhang,
  • Shaohua Duan,
  • Heli Huang,
  • Yulian Liu,
  • Hongliang Cong,
  • Yuanli Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241272646
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Objective: Several circulating microRNAs, including microRNA-126-3p, have been identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease. However, whether microRNA-126-3p is an independent risk predictor for coronary artery calcification is unclear. Methods: In this prospective single-center study, we collected blood samples from coronary artery atherosclerosis patients ( n = 54), patients with coronary artery calcification ( n = 33) and controls ( n = 56). Total RNA was extracted from plasma and blood cells with TRIzol reagents. The microRNA-126-3p level was determined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: MicroRNA-126-3p levels were significantly increased in patients with coronary artery calcification than in coronary artery atherosclerosis patients or controls. The highest expression of microRNA-126-3p was observed in patients with moderate calcification who were diagnosed with Grade 2 calcification by coronary angiography. Age, microRNA-126-3p expression in veins, hypertension and diabetes significantly influence the occurrence of coronary artery calcification, among which diabetes and venous microRNA-126-3p expression were found to be independent risk factors for coronary artery calcification. Conclusions: Taken together, the data in this study suggest that circulating microRNA-126-3p may be a novel noninvasive biomarker for coronary artery calcification. Regulating microRNA-126-3p expression may be an effective and promising strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery calcification.