Expression analysis of miR-93, miR-122, and miR-192 in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) development and progression. This study investigates the expression profiles of miR-93, miR-122, and miR-192 in CAD patients compared to healthy controls, and their associations with demographic and clinical factors.

Material and methods: Expression levels of miR-93, miR-122, and miR-192 were quantified in 50 CAD patients and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using TaqMan Real-Time PCR.

Results: CAD patients had higher expression of miR-93 (2.33-fold, P < 0.0001) and miR-122 (6.14-fold, P < 0.0001) compared to controls, whereas miR-192 showed no significant difference (P = 0.1650). Expressions of miR-93 and miR-122 were correlated with hypertension, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol. Additionally, miR-122 was associated with fasting blood glucose (FBG). For miR-192, associations were observed with hypertension, BMI, LDL, and total cholesterol.

Conclusion: The connections identified between the expression levels of miR-93, miR-122, and miR-192 and lipid-related factors indicate their potential role in pathways that influence lipid regulation. Additionally, the links between miR-93 and miR-122 and diabetes, a key risk factor for CAD, offer compelling perspectives. Of particular interest, miR-122 stands out as a promising diagnostic biomarker for detecting individuals at heightened risk of developing CAD.

Keywords: Coronary artery disease; Gene expression; MicroRNA.