Circulating microRNAs as novel biomarkers for heart failure

Abstract

Objective: We Sought to identify circulating miRNAs suitable for HF diagnosis.

Methods: In this study, a genome-wide plasma miRNA microarray was performed in 13 HF patients and 3 controls. The expression levels of selected differentially expressed, upregulated miRNAs (miR-3135b, miR-3908 and miR-5571-5p) were validated with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays in an independent cohort of 33 HF patients and 20 controls.

Results: Of all the miRNAs analyzed, miR-3135b (P<0.001), miR-3908 (P<0.001), and miR-5571-5p (P<0.001) were found to have significantly different expression levels in HF compared to controls. The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for miR-3135b, miR-3908, and miR-5571-5p revealed area under the curve (AUC) values of 1.00, 0.86, and 0.94, respectively. More importantly, miR-3135b and miR-3908 were able to discriminate heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (P<0.05). The miR-5571-5p plasma level was significantly associated with NYHA class (P<0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated for the first time that some specific microRNAs (miR-3135b, miR-3908, and miR-5571-5p) are useful biomarkers for HF and for differentiating HFrEF from HFpEF.

Keywords: biomarkers; heart failure; miRNAs.