Scientific Reports (Jan 2021)

Prediction of coronary heart disease incidence in a general male population by circulating non-coding small RNA sRNY1-5p in a nested case–control study

  • Vera L. Costa,
  • Jean-Bernard Ruidavets,
  • Vanina Bongard,
  • Bertrand Perret,
  • Emanuela Repetto,
  • Maria G. Stathopoulou,
  • Fabrizio Serra,
  • Mohamed Benahmed,
  • Claire Mauduit,
  • Valerie Grandjean,
  • Jean Ferrières,
  • Laurent O. Martinez,
  • Michele Trabucchi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81221-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract During the development of atherosclerotic lesion, s-RNYs (small RNAs of about 24/34 nucleotides) are derived by the processing of long Ro-associated non-coding RNAs (RNYs) in macrophages. The levels of serum s-RNYs have been found significantly upregulated in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to age-matched CHD-free individuals. The present study aimed to examine the predictive value of serum s-RNYs for CHD events in the general male population. Within the frame of nested-case–control study, the GENES study, we measured the absolute expression of a RNY-derived small RNA, the s-RNY1-5p, in the serum of individuals (without CHD at baseline) who encountered a CHD event within 12 years of follow-up (n = 30) (Cases) and compared them to individuals who remained event-free (Controls) (n = 30). The expression of s-RNY1-5p in serum was significantly upregulated in Cases compared to Controls (p = 0.027). The proportion of CHD event-free was significantly higher among individuals with serum s-RNY1-5p below the median value (631 molecules/mL). In a multivariable model adjusted for age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, the risk of CHD events increased more than fourfold in individuals with serum s-RNY1-5p above the median value (HR, 4.36; 95% CI 1.22–15.60). A positive association with CHD events was also observed when considering s-RNY1-5p as a continuous variable (p = 0.022). Based on our results, we conclude that serum s-RNY1-5p is an independent predictor of CHD events in a general male population and might be a relevant biomarker for early detection of cardiovascular diseases.