Association of miR-196a2 and miR-149 single-nucleotide polymorphisms with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke susceptibility

Abstract

Abstract Background Beside common risk factors for stroke such as diabetes and hypertension, single-nucleotide variants occurring within micro RNA genes have been identified as susceptibility loci for ischemic stroke risk. Objectives Investigate the possible association of two variants in pre miRNA sequences, rs11614913 within miR-196a2 C > T and rs2292832 within miR-149 T > C, with ischemic stroke. Subjects and methods One hundred ischemic stroke patients and 100 age and sex-matched controls having > 1 risk factor for atherosclerosis were enrolled in a case-control study. Degree of atherosclerosis was assessed using ultrasonography. Micro RNA variants were assessed by real-time PCR TaqMan probe assay. Results The TT genotype and T allele frequencies of miR-196a2 C > T were protective against ischemic stroke (OR 0.168, P 0.001; OR 0.482, P C variants, CC genotype was associated with increased risk by threefold (OR 3.061, P 0.005) and C allele was associated with about 1.9 fold risk of stroke (OR 1.909, P 0.002). Haplotypes analysis revealed miR-196a2T/-149 T allele combination was significantly lower among stroke patients than the controls (P < 0.001) with a protective effect (OR 0.196, 95% CI 0.083-0.466). Conclusion A decrease in the incidence of ischemic stroke is associated with miR-196a2 TT genotype and T allele and increases in the likelihood risk of ischemic stroke are associated with CC genotype and C allele within miR-149, and the two miRNAs under study are closely associated with vascular damage responses.

Keywords

• Ischemic stroke
• Micro RNAs
• miR-149
• miR-196a2