micro-RNA screening and prediction model construction for diagnosis of salt-sensitive essential hypertension

Abstract

Commonly used tests for diagnosis of salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH) are complex and time-consuming, so new methods are required. Many studies have demonstrated roles for miRNAs in hypertension; however, the diagnostic value of miRNAs has yet to be determined for human SSH. In this study, we examined miRNA expression profiles by initial high-throughput miRNA sequencing of samples from patients with salt-sensitive and salt-resistant hypertension (SSH and SRH, respectively; n = 6, both groups), followed by validation by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in a larger cohort (n = 91). We also evaluated differences in baseline characteristics (e.g., age, sex, body mass index, consumption of specific foods) between the SSH and SRH groups. Of 36 miRNAs identified as differentially expressed between SSH and SRH groups by RNA-Seq, 8 were analyzed by qRT-PCR. There were significant differences in the expression levels of hsa-miR-361-5p and hsa-miR-362-5p between the 2 groups (P = .023 and.049, respectively). In addition, there were significant differences in sauce and poultry consumption between the 2 groups (P = .004 and.001, respectively). The areas under the curve (AUC) determined by receptor operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for hsa-miR-361–5p and all 8 miRNAs were 0.793 (95% CI, 0.698–0.888; sensitivity = 73.9%, specificity = 74.4%; P < .001) and 0.836 (95% CI, 0.749–0.922; sensitivity = 80.4%, specificity = 81.4%; P < .001), respectively, when sauce and poultry consumption were included in the models. Assay feasibility and economic considerations make hsa-miR-361-5p combined with the dietary factors the preferred markers for diagnosis of SSH.

Opportunities for microRNAs in the Crowded Field of Cardiovascular Biomarkers

“…miR-4516, intronic to the PKD1 gene locus, was the only miRNA that was higher in salt-sensitive patients and lower in inverse salt-sensitive patients compared with controls. Qi et al (88) used whole blood and qPCR to screen potential miRNAs as biomarkers for salt sensitivity in 91 participants. Their strongest signal was for miR-361-5p, which was associated with the risk of salt sensitivity.…”

The regulatory role of microRNAs in angiogenesis‐related diseases

“…Exhilaratingly, one study found for the first time that plasma miR‐30a and miR‐29 in white‐coat hypertension (WCH) patients are significantly higher while plasma miR‐133 in WCH patients is lower than hypertension patients and healthy controls, indicating that plasma miR‐30a, miR‐29 and miR‐133 have promising clinical values as biomarkers for identifying WCH patients from hypertension patients and normotensive individuals 180. Moreover, whole blood miR‐361‐5p and miR‐362‐5p are reduced in salt‐sensitive hypertension (SSH) compared with salt‐resistant hypertension (SSR) 181. This helps to develop a flexible, non‐invasive SSH diagnostic method that can avoid the previous tests with complex procedures.…”

Molecular mechanisms in vascular injury induced by hypertension: Expression and role of microRNA‑34a

“…Recent studies demonstrated that numerous miRNAs were involved in the development of hypertension by mediating vascular remodeling and injury of the heart, kidney and other organs (19,20). For instance, miR-122 induced endothelial NO metabolic disorder and disrupted diastolic and contractile function of the vascular endothelium by targeting solute carrier family 7 member 1, leading to the development of primary hypertension (21).…”