Plasma miR-122 and miR-3149 Potentially Novel Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndrome

ObjectiveWe evaluated the potentiality of plasma microRNAs (miRNAs, or miRs) that were considered as novel biomarkers for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA).ConclusionPlasma miR-122, -140-3p, -720, -2861, and -3149 were associated with and potentially novel biomarkers for ACS.     

Circulating microRNA-1 as a potential novel biomarker for acute myocardial infarction

Recent studies have revealed the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a variety of basic biological and pathological processes and the association of miRNA signatures with human diseases. Circulating miRNAs have been proposed as sensitive and informative biomarkers for multiple cancers diagnosis. We have previously documented aberrant up-regulation of miR-1 expression in ischemic myocardium and the consequent slowing of cardiac conduction. However, whether miR-1 could be a biomarker for predicting acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear. In the present study, we recruited 159 patients with or without AMI for quantification of miR-1 level in plasma using real-time RT-PCR method. We performed Wilcoxon rank sum and signed rank tests for comparison. Univariable linear regression and logistics regression analyses were performed to assess the potential correlation between miR-1 and known AMI markers. We also conducted receiver-operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis to evaluate the diagnostic ability of miR-1. We found that: miR-1 level was significantly higher in plasma from AMI patients compared with non-AMI subjects and the level was dropped to normal on discharge following medication. Increased circulating miR-1 was not associated with age, gender, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus or the established biomarkers for AMI. However, miR-1 level was well correlated with QRS by both univariable linear and logistics regression analyses. The area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.7740 for separation between non-AMI and AMI patients and 0.8522 for separation AMI patients under hospitalization and discharge. Collectively, our results revealed that circulating miR-1 may be a novel, independent biomarker for diagnosis of AMI.     

Coronary Artery-Bypass-Graft Surgery Increases the Plasma Concentration of Exosomes Carrying a Cargo of Cardiac MicroRNAs: An Example of Exosome Trafficking Out of the Human Heart with Potential for Cardiac Biomarker Discovery

IntroductionExosome nanoparticles carry a composite cargo, including microRNAs (miRs). Cultured cardiovascular cells release miR-containing exosomes. The exosomal trafficking of miRNAs from the heart is largely unexplored. Working on clinical samples from coronary-artery by-pass graft (CABG) surgery, we investigated if: 1) exosomes containing cardiac miRs and hence putatively released by cardiac cells increase in the circulation after surgery; 2) circulating exosomes and exosomal cardiac miRs correlate with cardiac troponin (cTn), the current “gold standard” surrogate biomarker of myocardial damage.ConclusionsThe plasma concentrations of exosomes and their cargo of cardiac miRs increased in patients undergoing CABG and were positively correlated with hs-cTnI. These data provide evidence that CABG induces the trafficking of exosomes from the heart to the peripheral circulation. Future studies are necessary to investigate the potential of circulating exosomes as clinical biomarkers in cardiac patients.     

血浆成纤维细胞激活蛋白含量在心肌梗死围手术期的临床意义

摘要 目的：明确血浆成纤维细胞激活蛋白（fibroblast activation protein,FAP）含量在心肌梗死患者围手术期的临床意义。方法：选取2021年11月至2022年4月入院接受经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（percutaneous coronary intervention,PCI）治疗的心肌梗死患者15例,年龄和性别匹配的健康者17例以及作为对照组。收集其血浆样本和影像学及其他相关临床资料,采用酶联免疫吸附法（enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA）测定循环血FAP的含量。并用配对t检验等统计学方法对其进行分析。结果：心肌梗死组循环血FAP的浓度为107.3±3.472 ng/mL,低于对照组（117.9±2.533 ng/mL）,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.01）。心肌梗死组与对照组比较,其一般资料除cTnT外（P<0.01）无明显差异。心肌梗死患者循环血FAP水平在PCI术后显著下降,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.01）。PET-磁共振（PET-MR）检测结果显示心肌纤维化活跃程度较PCI术后初期明显降低。结论：心肌梗死患者PCI围手术期的血浆FAP水平与心肌纤维化的活跃程度有关。血浆FAP水平的变化曲线可为心肌梗死患者预后恢复的诊断提供参考依据。     

Identification of Cardiac Myosin-binding Protein C as a Candidate Biomarker of Myocardial Infarction by Proteomics Analysis

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common cause of death for which effective treatments are available provided that diagnosis is rapid. The current diagnostic gold standards are circulating cardiac troponins I and T. However, their slow release delays diagnosis, and their persistence limits their utility in the identification of reinfarction. The aim was to identify candidate biomarkers of AMI. Isolated mouse hearts were perfused with oxygenated protein-free buffer, and coronary effluent was collected after ischemia or during matched normoxic perfusion. Effluents were analyzed using proteomics approaches based on one- or two-dimensional initial separation. Of the 459 proteins identified after ischemia with one-dimensional separation, 320 were not detected in the control coronary effluent. Among these were all classic existing biomarkers of AMI. We also identified the cardiac isoform of myosin-binding protein C in its full-length form and as a 40-kDa degradation product. This protein was not detected in the other murine organs examined, increased markedly with even trivial myocardial infarction, and could be detected in the plasma after myocardial infarction in vivo, a profile compatible with a biomarker of AMI. Two-dimensional fluorescence DIGE of ischemic and control coronary effluents identified more than 200 asymmetric spots verified by swapping dyes. Once again existing biomarkers of injury were confirmed as well as posttranslational modifications of antioxidant proteins such as peroxiredoxins. Perfusing hearts with protein-free buffers provides a platform of graded ischemic injury that allows detailed analysis of protein release and identification of candidate cardiac biomarkers like myosin-binding protein C.Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)1 is a common cause of death for which effective treatments are available provided that the condition is rapidly diagnosed. The modern diagnosis of AMI relies on the rise and fall of a specific serum biomarker accompanied by an appropriate circumstance such as chest pain or revascularization. In this accepted paradigm, the diagnosis cannot be ruled in or ruled out without the definite presence or definite absence of a serum biomarker. The ideal biomarker of cardiac injury should be cardiac specific and released rapidly after myocardial injury in direct proportion to the extent of damage. Furthermore, the biomarker should have a high sensitivity and specificity (1). Several biomarkers of AMI have been described in the literature, but only a few, none of which are ideal, have found their way into routine clinical practice. For example, CK-MB starts to increase 4–8 h after coronary artery occlusion and returns to base line within 2–3 days (2). However, its use is limited by its presence in skeletal muscle and normal serum and by sensitivity of the assay to interference, causing some to question its utility (3). Myoglobin is another cytoplasmic protein found in cardiac and skeletal, but not smooth, muscle. It is released even earlier within 1–2 h of AMI and peaks within 5–6 h (2). Unfortunately, any injury to skeletal muscle also causes elevated levels of myoglobin, reducing specificity. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are small (15-kDa) cytoplasmic proteins expressed in all tissues with active fatty acid metabolism. Among the nine proteins, heart-specific FABP (H-FABP) is found in heart but also kidney, brain, skeletal muscle, and placenta (4). Following acute myocardial infarction, H-FABP can be detected within 20 min and peaks at 4 h, considerably faster even than CK/CK-MB in the same patient cohort. Although H-FABP concentrations in normal plasma are low, they are known to rise nonspecifically during physical exertion (without a troponin rise), kidney injury, and stroke (5).The most specific and sensitive cardiac proteins released after acute myocardial infarction are cardiac troponins I and T. Both troponins I and T are released slowly, peaking ∼18 h after myocardial infarction, and remain elevated for 7–10 days (2). This slow release is likely the result of their relatively inaccessible cellular location compared with CK-MB, myoglobin, and H-FABP. Troponins regulate the physical interaction of actin and myosin and thus are found almost entirely associated within the crystalline structure of the sarcomere of striated muscle cells (6). The troponin complex is composed of three forms: I, T, and C. Troponins I and T exist as cardiac specific isoforms with epitopes that differ from the corresponding skeletal isoforms. In addition, the absent or extremely low normal circulating levels of troponin provide the greatest dynamic range of any of the currently available biomarkers (7). Although there is no doubt troponins have revolutionized the detection and management of patients with AMI (8), they do have disadvantages. The slow release of troponin delays diagnosis and the initiation of specific treatments that could salvage heart tissue in those in whom it is raised. Similarly, patients in whom it is absent and who are ultimately reassured and discharged are admitted to the hospital unnecessarily. Furthermore, the persistence of troponins limits their utility in the diagnosis of reinfarction.It is therefore widely accepted that there is a need for new biomarkers that can diagnose AMI earlier during its natural history and/or that have a short plasma half-life, allowing use in diagnosis and quantification of reinfarction. The purpose of this study was to use the platform of the crystalloid perfused mouse hearts to perform a systematic proteomics analysis of the coronary effluent after minimal AMI to identify new potential biomarkers (9).     

曲美他嗪联合麝香保心丸治疗急性心肌梗死的效果研究

目的:研究曲美他嗪(TMZ)联合麝香保心丸(HMP)治疗急性心肌梗死的效果。方法:采用40只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠构建急性心肌梗死模型,随机分成4组,每组10只:(1)假手术组;(2)心肌梗死组;(3)心肌梗死+TMZ组(TMZ 20 mg/Kg灌胃,3次/天);(4)心肌梗死+TMZ+HMP组(HMP 14 mg/Kg灌胃,3次/天)。2周后行心脏超声检查采集心功能参数左室舒张末内径、左室收缩末内径、室间隔厚度、舒张末期左室后壁厚度及射血分数。同时,对心脏标本行形态学分析。结果:TMZ+HMP组左室舒张末内径、左室收缩末内径、舒张末期左室后壁厚度及射血分数均优于于TMZ组(均为P0.05)。心肌组织HE及PSR染色显示TMZ+HMP组心肌细胞坏死及纤维化程度较其余组低。结论:曲美他嗪联合麝香保心丸治疗急性心肌梗死的效果较单用曲美他嗪更加显著。     

CK-MBmass, hs-cTnT及CK-MB与急性心肌梗死的相关性及其联合诊断价值

摘要 目的：研究肌酸激酶同工酶质量（CK-MBmass)、肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）和高敏心肌肌钙蛋白T（hs-cTnT）在急性心肌梗死患者（AMI）血清中的含量,并探讨三者联合对AMIDE诊断价值。方法：选择2018年1月到2021年10月我院收治的AMI患者90例作为研究组,并选择同期在我院体检健康志愿者40例作为对照组,比较两组AMI患者血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB。根据Killp分级法将不同心力衰竭将AMI患者分为II、III和IV级,并根据心肌梗死范围将AMI患者分为轻度、中度和重度心肌梗死组。比较不同AMI患者血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB。通过受试者工作曲线计算血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB联合诊断AMI的阳性预测值、阴性预测值、敏感度和特异度。结果：（1）AMI患者血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB均显著高于健康志愿者（P<0.05）;（2）AMI患者血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB随Killp分级或心肌梗死范围升高而升高（P<0.05）;（3）AMI患者血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT,CK-MB与急性心肌梗死患者左室射血分数（LVEF）呈负相关（P<0.05）,与左室舒张末期容积（LVEDd）和梗死范围呈正相关（P<0.05）;（4）血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB联合检测急性心肌梗死的阳性预测值、阴性预测值、敏感度和特异度均高于单独诊断。结论：血清CK-MBmass,hs-cTnT和CK-MB在AMI患者含量升高,并且与患者心功能和心肌梗死范围有关,适用于AMI的联合诊断。     

循环microRNAs的外泌形成机制及其对乳腺癌侵袭和转移的影响

目前乳腺癌的临床诊疗主要依赖影像学和相对较少的预后/预测指标(如雌激素受体、孕激素受体、HER2等).这些生物标志物主要是基于原发肿瘤病灶的生物学检测,可用于转移或复发的检测指标很少,尤其是在切除肿瘤原发灶后,复发监测很困难.循环cell-free microRNAs(circulating cf-miRNAs,或简称circulating miRNAs)的发现为改变现有乳腺癌临床诊疗模式提供了可能.Cell-free miRNA通过外泌体、微囊或转运蛋白的主动外泌机制,可能在循环miRNA的形成中起着重要作用.Cell-free miRNA特别是circulating miRNA不仅自身可以作为信号分子影响肿瘤细胞和组织微环境,而且还可以与其他信号通路发生交互通讯来调控肿瘤部位新生血管的形成和肿瘤细胞表型的上皮-间质转换,影响乳腺癌的侵袭和转移.本文综述了循环miRNA的特征与分泌机制,特别是乳腺癌相关的循环miRNA参与作为一种液体活检生物标志物在乳腺癌诊断、预后评价和疗效评估的临床意义.     

A 2015 survey of established or potential epigenetic biomarkers for the accurate detection of human cancers

Context The silencing or activation of cancer-associated genes by epigenetic mechanisms can ultimately lead to the clonal expansion of cancer cells. Objective The aim of this review is to summarize all relevant epigenetic biomarkers that have been proposed to date for the diagnosis of some prevalent human cancers. Methods A Medline search for the terms epigenetic biomarkers, human cancers, DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs was performed. Results One hundred fifty-seven relevant publications were found and reviewed. Conclusion To date, a significant number of potential epigenetic cancer biomarkers of human cancer have been investigated, and some have advanced to clinical implementation.     

Predictive value of circulating miR-328 and miR-134 for acute myocardial infarction

MicroRNA (miRNAs) is demonstrated to be present in the blood of humans and has been increasingly suggested as a novel biomarker for various pathological processes in the heart, including myocardial infarction, myocardial remodeling and progression to heart failure. In this study, we aim to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating miR-328 and miR-134 in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Circulating levels of miR-328 and miR-134 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR in plasma samples from 359 AMI patients and 30 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) were measured using electrochemiluminescence-based methods. MiRNAs were assessed for discrimination of a clinical diagnosis of AMI and for association with primary clinical endpoint defined as a composite of cardiogenic death and development of heart failure within 6 months after infarction. Results showed that levels of plasma miR-328 and miR-134 were significantly higher in AMI patients than in healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed significant diagnostic value of miR-328 and miR-134 for AMI. However, neither of them was superior to hs-cTnT for the diagnosis. Additionally, increased miRNA levels were strongly associated with increased risk of mortality or heart failure within 6 months for miR-328 (OR 7.35, 95 % confidence interval 1.07–17.83, P < 0.001) and miR-134 (OR 2.28, 95 % confidence interval 1.03–11.32 P < 0.001). In conclusion, circulating miR-328 and miR-134 could be potential indicators for AMI, and the miRNA levels are associated with increased risk of mortality or development of heart failure.     

A Panel of 4 microRNAs Facilitates the Prediction of Left Ventricular Contractility after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

Prediction of clinical outcome after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is challenging and would benefit from new biomarkers. We investigated the prognostic value of 4 circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) after AMI.

Methods

We enrolled 150 patients after AMI. Blood samples were obtained at discharge for determination of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) and levels of miR-16, miR-27a, miR-101 and miR-150. Patients were assessed by echocardiography at 6 months follow-up and the wall motion index score (WMIS) was used as an indicator of left ventricular (LV) contractility. We assessed the added predictive value of miRNAs against a multi-parameter clinical model including Nt-proBNP.

Results

Patients with anterior AMI and elevated Nt-proBNP levels at discharge from the hospital were at high risk of subsequent impaired LV contractility (follow-up WMIS>1.2, n = 71). A combination of the 4 miRNAs (miR-16/27a/101/150) improved the prediction of LV contractility based on clinical variables (P = 0.005). Patients with low levels of miR-150 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.08 [0.01–0.48]) or miR-101 (0.19 [0.04–0.97]) and elevated levels of miR-16 (15.9 [2.63–95.91]) or miR-27a (4.18 [1.36–12.83]) were at high risk of impaired LV contractility. The 4 miRNA panel reclassified a significant proportion of patients with a net reclassification improvement of 66% (P = 0.00005) and an integrated discrimination improvement of 0.08 (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that panels of miRNAs may aid in prognostication of outcome after AMI.     

急性心肌梗死患者血清外连素、MEG3、HSP-70水平与心肌损伤标志物及心血管不良事件的关系研究

目的:研究急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者血清外连素、母系表达基因3(MEG3)、热休克蛋白70(HSP-70)水平与心肌损伤标志物及心血管不良事件的关系。方法:选取2015年1月-2020年1月期间我院接受治疗的AMI患者200例作为AMI组,另选取同期在我院健康体检的人群100例作为对照组,对比对照组、AMI组心肌型肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、肌红蛋白(Myo)、心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnI)、外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70。对比心血管不良事件与非心血管不良事件患者的CK-MB、Myo、cTnI、外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70水平。采用Pearson相关性分析AMI患者血清外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70水平与心肌损伤标志物的关系。结果:AMI组CK-MB、Myo、cTnI、外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70均高于对照组(P<0.05)。随访过程中,有59例发生心血管不良事件纳为心血管不良事件组,剩余141例未发生心血管不良事件纳为非心血管不良事件组。心血管不良事件组患者的CK-MB、Myo、cTnI、外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70均高于非心血管不良事件组(P<0.05)。AMI患者外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70水平与CK-MB、Myo、cTnI均呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论:AMI患者中外连素、MEG3 RNA、HSP-70均呈现异常高表达,且与心肌损伤标志物密切相关,可考虑作为AMI患者早期确诊的新型标志物。     

Identification of molecular signatures in acute myocardial infarction based on integrative analysis of proteomics and transcriptomics

BackgroundMyocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most serious cardiovascular diseases, characterized by a rapid and irreversible decline in myocardial function. Early detection of patients with MI and prolonging the optimal therapeutic window of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are particularly important. This study aimed to identify the diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for acute myocardial infarction.MethodWe generated the AMI mouse models by ligating the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Six time points—Sham, AMI 10-min, 1-h, 6-h, 24-h, and 72-h—were chosen to examine the molecular changes that occur during the AMI process. RNA-seq and DIA-MS were performed on the infarcted left ventricular tissues of AMI mice at each time point. Co-expression pattern genes were screened from myocardial infarction samples at different time points by time-series analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were used to examine these genes. Using the Interactive Gene/Protein Retrieval Tool (STRING) database, the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed and the hub genes were identified. In order to evaluate the diagnostic value of hub genes, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed. An independent data set, GSE163772, confirmed the diagnostic value of hub genes further.ResultWe obtained the expression profiles at different time points after the occurrence of heart failure through high-throughput sequencing, and found 167 genes with similar expression patterns through time series analysis. The immune response and immune-related pathways had the greatest enrichment of these genes. Among them, Itgb2 Syk, Tlr4, Tlr2, Itgax, and Lcp2 may play key roles as hub genes. Combined with the results of proteomic analysis, it was found that the expression of Coro1a in both omics increased with time. The results of external validation showed that TLR2, ITGAX, and LCP2 had good predictive ability for AMI diagnosis.ConclusionItgb2, Syk, Tlr4, Tlr2, Itgax, Lcp2 and Coro1a are considered to be the seven key genes significantly associated with AMI. Our results may provide potential targets for the prevention of adverse ventricular remodeling and the treatment of AMI.     

院前急救联合绿色通道模式对急性心肌梗死PPCI术患者救治效果和术后不良心血管事件的影响

摘要 目的：探讨院前急救联合绿色通道模式对行急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术（PPCI）的急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者救治效果和术后不良心血管事件的影响。方法：选取2017年1月~2019年6月期间我院收治的行PPCI术的AMI患者200例,采用随机数字表法将患者分为对照组（n=100）和研究组（n=100）,对照组患者予以传统急诊模式,研究组患者予以院前急救联合绿色通道模式,比较两组患者救治效果、满意度、确诊时间、心肌再灌注治疗时间、住院时间、术后不良心血管事件。结果：研究组抢救时间、急救反应时间、确诊时间、心肌再灌注治疗时间以及住院时间均短于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组治疗后的临床总有效率高于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组的总满意度为91.00%（91/100）,高于对照组的76.00%（76/100）（P<0.05）。研究组术后不良心血管发生事件发生率为2.00%（2/100）,低于对照组的17.00%（17/100）（P<0.05）。结论：行PPCI术的AMI患者给予院前急救联合绿色通道模式,救治效果显著,可有效提高患者满意度,减少术后不良心血管事件的发生率。     

Innate immune response after acute myocardial infarction and pharmacomodulatory action of tacrolimus in reducing infarct size and preserving myocardial integrity

Background

This study investigated the association between innate immune reaction and myocardial damage after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and anti-inflammatory role of tacrolimus in reducing infarct size. Male mini-pigs (n=18) were equally categorized into sham control (SC), untreated AMI (by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery), and AMI-Tacrolimus (AMI-Tac) (0.5 mg intra-coronary injection 30 minutes post-AMI). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at post-AMI days 2, 5 and 21 before sacrificing the animals.

Results

By post-AMI day 21, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lowest in untreated AMI animals, significantly higher in SC than in AMI-Tac group (all p<0.003). Infarct areas at basal, middle, and apical levels, numbers of CD14+ and iNOS+ cells in infarct area (IA) and peri-IA, and protein expression of CD14, CD68, and Ly6g from circulating inflammatory cells showed an opposite pattern compared with that of LVEF in all groups (all p<0.005). Protein expressions of MCP-1, MIP-1, TNF-α, NF-κB, iNOS, and IL-12 in IA and peri-IA exhibited an identical pattern compared to that of CD14, CD68, and Ly6g from circulating inflammatory cells (all p<0.01). Expressions of myocardial damage biomarkers in IA and peri-IA [γ-H2AX, β-myosin heavy chain (MHC), Smad3, TGF-β] were highest in AMI and higher in AMI-Tac than in SC, whereas expressions of myocardial integrity biomarkers (connexin43, mitochondrial cytochrome-C, α-MHC, BMP-2, Smad1/5) were opposite to those of damage biomarkers (all p<0.001).

Conclusion

Innate immune responses were markedly augmented and LVEF was significantly reduced after AMI but were remarkably improved after tacrolimus treatment.     

Atherosclerosis-Related Circulating miRNAs as Novel and Sensitive Predictors for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

The dysregulated expressions of circulating miRNAs have been detected in various cardiovascular diseases. In our previous experiments, the altered expressions of circulating miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-361-5p and miRNA-519e-5p were confirmed in patients with coronary atherosclerosis by miRNA microarrays. However, the expression levels of these circulating miRNAs in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are still unknown. In the present study, our aims were to examine the expressions of circulating miR-21-5p, miR-361-5p and miR-519e-5p in AMI patients, and assess their clinical applications for diagnosing and monitoring AMI.

Results

Two different cohorts were enrolled in this study. The first cohort included 17 AMI patients and 28 healthy volunteers, and the second cohort included 9 AMI patients, 9 ischemic stroke patients, 8 patients with pulmonary embolism, and 12 healthy volunteers. Quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA assays were preformed to detect the concentrations of plasma miRNAs and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), respectively. The results showed that the plasma levels of miR-21-5p and miR-361-5p were significantly increased in AMI patients, whereas the concentration of circulating miR-519e-5p was reduced. Interestingly, the levels of these circulating miRNAs correlated with the concentrations of plasma cTnI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that these three circulating miRNAs had considerable diagnostic accuracy for AMI with high values of area under ROC curve (AUC). Importantly, combining the three miRNAs significantly increased the diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, cell experiments demonstrated that these plasma miRNAs may originate from injured cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia. In addition, the levels of all the three circulating miRNAs in ischemic stroke (IS) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were elevated, whereas the decreased level of plasma miR-519e-5p was only detected in AMI. ROC analysis demonstrated that circulating miR-519e-5p may be a useful biomarker for distinguishing AMI from other ischemic diseases.

Conclusions

Circulating miRNAs may be novel and powerful biomarkers for AMI and they could be potential diagnostic tool for AMI.     

Tumour biomarkers—Tracing the molecular function and clinical implication

In recent years, with the increase in cancer mortality caused by metastasis, and with the development of individualized and precise medical treatment, early diagnosis with precision becomes the key to decrease the death rate. Since detecting tumour biomarkers in body fluids is the most non‐invasive way to identify the status of tumour development, it has been widely investigated for the usage in clinic. These biomarkers include different expression or mutation in microRNAs (miRNAs), circulating tumour DNAs (ctDNAs), proteins, exosomes and circulating tumour cells (CTCs). In the present article, we summarized and discussed some updated research on these biomarkers. We overviewed their biological functions and evaluated their multiple roles in human and small animal clinical treatment, including diagnosis of cancers, classification of cancers, prognostic and predictive values for therapy response, monitors for therapy efficacy, and anti‐cancer therapeutics. Biomarkers including different expression or mutation in miRNAs, ctDNAs, proteins, exosomes and CTCs provide more choice for early diagnosis of tumour detection at early stage before metastasis. Combination detection of these tumour biomarkers may provide higher accuracy at the lowest molecule combination number for tumour early detection. Moreover, tumour biomarkers can provide valuable suggestions for clinical anti‐cancer treatment and execute monitoring of treatment efficiency.     

Performance of Serum microRNAs -122, -192 and -21 as Biomarkers in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Objectives

Liver biopsies are the current gold standard in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) diagnosis. Their invasive nature, however, still carries an increased risk for patients’ health. The development of non-invasive diagnostic tools to differentiate between bland steatosis (NAFL) and NASH remains crucial. The aim of this study is the evaluation of investigated circulating microRNAs in combination with new targets in order to optimize the discrimination of NASH patients by non-invasive serum biomarkers.

Methods

Serum profiles of four microRNAs were evaluated in two cohorts consisting of 137 NAFLD patients and 61 healthy controls. In a binary logistic regression model microRNAs of relevance were detected. Correlation of microRNA appearance with known biomarkers like ALT and CK18-Asp396 was evaluated. A simplified scoring model was developed, combining the levels of microRNA in circulation and CK18-Asp396 fragments. Receiver operating characteristics were used to evaluate the potential of discriminating NASH.

Results

The new finding of our study is the different profile of circulating miR-21 in NASH patients (p<0.0001). Also, it validates recently published results of miR-122 and miR-192 to be differentially regulated in NAFL and NASH. Combined microRNA expression profiles with CK18-Asp396 fragment level scoring model had a higher potential of NASH prediction compared to other risk biomarkers (AUROC = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.754–0.908; p<0.001). Evaluation of score model for NAFL (Score = 0) and NASH (Score = 4) had shown high rates of sensitivity (91%) and specificity (83%).

Conclusions

Our study defines candidates for a combined model of miRNAs and CK18-Asp396 levels relevant as a promising expansion for diagnosis and in turn treatment of NASH.     

Circulating exosomal long non‐coding RNAs in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Exosomes are attracting considerable interest in the cardiovascular field as the wide range of their functions is recognized in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the regulatory role of exosomal long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in AMI remains largely unclear. Exosomes were isolated from the plasma of AMI patients and controls, and the sequencing profiles and twice qRT‐PCR validations of exosomal lncRNAs were performed. A total of 518 differentially expressed lncRNAs were detected over two‐fold change, and 6 kinds of lncRNAs were strikingly elevated in AMI patients with top fold change and were selected to perform subsequent validation. In the two validations, lncRNAs ENST00000556899.1 and ENST00000575985.1 were significantly up‐regulated in AMI patients compared with controls. ROC curve analysis revealed that circulating exosomal lncRNAs ENST00000556899.1 and ENST00000575985.1 yielded the area under the curve values of 0.661 and 0.751 for AMI, respectively. Moreover, ENST00000575985.1 showed more significant relationship with clinical parameters, including inflammatory biomarkers, prognostic indicators and myocardial damage markers. Multivariate logistic model exhibited positive association of ENST00000575985.1 with the risk of heart failure in AMI patients. In summary, our data demonstrated that circulating exosomal lncRNAs ENST00000556899.1 and ENST00000575985.1 are elevated in patients with AMI, functioning as potential biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of pateints with AMI.