Relationship between serum microRNA-223 and microRNA-126 and plaque stability in patients with carotid atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background Numerous researches have demonstrated the essential functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cardiovascular disease. Herein, we want to probe into the roles of miR-126 and miR-223 in the prediction of plaque stability of carotid atherosclerosis (CA). Methods First, miRNA microarray was performed to analyze the differentially expressed miRNA in serum of normal controls and CA patients. Next, the differential expression of miR-223 and miR-126 in CA was verified and the correlations of their expression levels with plaque stability-related factors were analyzed. Then, the predictive efficacy of miR-223 and miR-126 on plaque stability was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve, then the targeting relationships of miR-223 and miR-126 with COX2 were verified by online prediction and luciferase activity assay. Finally, the relationship between COX2 expression and CA plaque stability was analyzed. Results Expression levels of miR-223 and miR-126 were decreased in the serum of CA patients and they had good diagnostic efficacy for CA. Additionally, we found that the expression levels of miR-223 and miR-126 in the serum of CA patients with unstable plaque were lower than those with stable plaque. miR-223 and miR-126 were negatively correlated with plaque instability-related indicators, while COX2, a direct target gene of miR-223 and miR-126, was positively related to plaque instability-related indicators. Conclusion This study indicates that miR-223 and miR-126 are lowly expressed in serum of CA patients, which can be used as a clinical indicator for predicting the plaque stability in CA patients.