MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Diseases

MicroRNAs in chronic pediatric diseases (Review)

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with a length of 20-24 nucleotides. They bind to the 3'-untranslated region of target genes to induce the degradation of target mRNAs or inhibit their translation. Therefore, they are involved in the regulation of development, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation and other biological processes (including hormone secretion, signaling and viral infections). Chronic diseases in children may be difficult to treat and are often associated with malnutrition resulting from a poor diet. Consequently, further complications, disease aggravation and increased treatment costs impose a burden on patients and their families. Existing evidence suggests that microRNAs are involved in various chronic non-neoplastic diseases in children. The present review discusses the roles of microRNAs in five major chronic diseases in children, namely, diabetes mellitus, congenital heart diseases, liver diseases, bronchial asthma and epilepsy, providing a theoretical basis for them to become therapeutic biomarkers in chronic pediatric diseases.

Circulating miR-21-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-320a-3p in patients with atrial fibrillation in combination with hypertension and coronary artery disease

Aim. To study the plasma profiles of circulating extracellular microribonucleic acids (miRNAs), potentially including in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in combination with hypertension (HTN) or coronary artery disease (CAD).

Material and methods. The study included patients with AF in combi  nation with HTN (n=21) or CAD (n=10), as well as following control groups: patients with uncomplicated HTN without AF (n=28), patients with stable CAD without AF (n=10) and healthy individuals (n=30). MiRNA samples were isolated from blood plasma of the study participants. MiRNAs were detected by TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The relative plasma levels of five candidate miRNAs were estimated relative to the reference miR-16-5p.

Results. Among the analyzed circulating plasma miRNAs, a higher level of miR-320a-3p was associated with AF, while increased levels of miR 146a-5p and miR-21-5p are potentially associated with presence of both AF and CAD.

Conclusion. Differences were found in the plasma miRNA profiles (miR-21-5p, miR-320a-3p, miR-146a-5p) between patients with AF, regardless of concomitant disease (CAD or HTN), and healthy individuals in the control group.

CircRNA PLOD2 enhances ovarian cancer propagation by controlling miR-378

It has been confirmed that circular RNA participates in tumorgenesis through a variety of ways, so it may be used as a molecular marker for tumor diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the expression of circ-LOPD2 in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The dual luciferase report was used to verify the target of circ-LOPD2, and the silencing and overexpression of circ-CSPP1 in cell lines was used to explore its relationship with miRNA-378. The cell proliferation was detected by CCK8 method, and the expression level of miRNA-378 was detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that circ-LOPD2 was highly expressed in ovarian cancer (OC) tissues, circ-LOPD2 expression levels were higher in OVCAR3 and A2780, and circ-LOPD2 expression levels in CAOV3 were lower. After silencing circ-LOPD2, the growth ability of OVCAR3 and A2780 cells decreased, while overexpression of circ-LOPD2 led to the opposite result. We also found that miR-378 is a target of circ-LOPD2. Silencing circ-LOPD2 will increase the expression of miR-378, and overexpression of circ-LOPD2 will decrease the expression of miR-378. In summary, our results show that circ-LOPD2 as a miR-378 sponge promotes the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells, which may in turn promote the development of OC.

Effects of miRNA-140 on the Growth and Clinical Prognosis of SMMC-7721 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

Background

A growing number of studies have suggested that microRNAs exert an essential role in the development and occurrence of multiple tumours and act as crucial regulators in various biological processes. However, the expression and function of miRNA-140 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are not yet adequately identified and manifested.

Methods

The expression of miRNA-140 was determined in HCC tissues and adjacent nontumour tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to explore the correlation between miRNA-140 expression level and the survival rate of patients with HCC. Additionally, overexpression experiments were conducted to investigate the biological role of miRNA-140 in HCC cells. Bioinformatics was used to predict the related target genes and pathways of miRNA-140.

Results

QRT-PCR results signified that the expression level of miRNA-140 in HCC was lower than that of adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.0001). Compared with the control group, the SMMC-7721 HCC cells in the miRNA-140 mimic group had a decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05), whereas those in the miRNA-140 inhibitor group had an increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05). Cell cycle arrest occurred in the G0/1 phase. Prognosis analysis showed that the expression level of miRNA-140 was not related to the prognosis of HCC. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier test revealed that patients with lower miRNA-140 expression levels in liver cancer tissue had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.004) and overall survival (OS) times (P = 0.010) after hepatectomy. Cox regression analysis further indicated that miRNA-140 was an independent risk factor that may affect the DFS (P = 0.004) and OS times (P = 0.014) of patients after hepatectomy. Our results suggested that miRNA-140 might be a crucial regulator involved in the HCC progression and is thus considered a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

The role of miRNAs in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance

PURPOSE

This review aims to summarize the key findings of several miRNAs and their roles in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance, characterize the disease pathogenesis, and establish a new theoretical basis for diagnosing, treating, and preventing polycystic ovary syndrome.

METHODS

Relevant scientific literature was covered from 1992 to 2020 by searching the PubMed database with search terms: insulin/insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, microRNAs, and metabolic diseases. References of relevant studies were cross-checked.

RESULTS

The related miRNAs (including differentially expressed miRNAs) and their roles in pathogenesis, and possible therapeutic targets and pathways, are discussed, highlighting controversies and offering thoughts for future directions.

CONCLUSION

We found abundant evidence on the role of differentially expressed miRNAs with its related phenotypes in PCOS. Considering the essential role of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of PCOS, the alterations of associated miRNAs need more research attention. We speculate that race/ethnicity or PCOS phenotype and differences in methodological differences might lead to inconsistencies in research findings; thus, several miRNA profiles need to be investigated further to qualify for the potential therapeutic targets for PCOS-IR.

miRNAs as a novel clinical biomarker and therapeutic targets in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder in females of the reproductive age. PCOS is commonly manifested as ovulatory dysfunction, clinical and biochemical excess androgen level, and polycystic ovaries. Metabolic sequelae associated with PCOS, including insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), obesity and increased cardiometabolic risk. The underlying pathology of PCOS is not fully understood with various genetic and environmental factors have been proposed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), are endogenously produced, small non-coding, single-stranded RNAs that capable of regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Altered miRNAs expression has been associated with various disorders, including T2DM, IR, lipid disorder, infertility, atherosclerosis, endometriosis, and cancer. Given that PCOS also present with similar features, there is an increasing interest to investigate the role of miRNAs in the diagnosis and management of PCOS. In recent years, studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are present in various body fluids, including follicular fluid of women with PCOS. Therefore, it may act as a potential biomarker and could serve as a novel therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS. This review aims to summarise the up to date research on the relation between miRNAs and PCOS and explore its potential role in the diagnosis and the management of PCOS.

Inhibition of miR-383 suppresses oxidative stress and improves endothelial function by increasing sirtuin 1

Previous research has shown that suppression of miR-383 can prevent inflammation of the endothelium, as well as postpone the development of atherosclerosis. However, the role of miR-383 in endothelial cell apoptosis in diabetes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of miR-383 in high glucose-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in endothelial cells. A series of experiments involving qualitative polymerase chain reaction, cell transfection, luciferase assay, assessment of cell death, detection of catalase and superoxide dismutase concentrations, detection of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and western blot analysis were performed in this study. We found that miR-383 expression was promoted, while NAD+-dependent deacetylase and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expressions were suppressed in the endothelium of the aorta in db/db mice as well as in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which were treated with high glucose (HG). Increased expression of miR-383 decreased expression of SIRT1, while suppression of miR-383 promoted expression of SIRT1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, suppression of miR-383 following transfection with miR-383 suppressor repressed cell death and generation of ROS in HUVECs. SIRT1 knockdown by siRNA-SIRT1 reversed the suppressive effect of miR-383 inhibition on ROS production and cell apoptosis induced by HG treatment. Overall, the findings of our research suggested that suppression of miR-383 repressed oxidative stress and reinforced the activity of endothelial cells by upregulation of SIRT1 in db/db mice, and targeting miR-383 might be promising for effective treatment of diabetes.

MiR-1180 promotes cardiomyocyte cell cycle re-entry after injury through the NKIRAS2-NFκB pathway

Heart failure (HF) is associated with a considerable number of symptoms and significantly impaired health for humans, including reduced quality of life and physical functioning. Previous studies have indicated that miRNAs have important roles in regulating the development of HF. MiR-1180 is involved in the proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and chemoresistance of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms and role of miR-1180 in the functioning of cardiomyocytes remains unclear. In this study, we found that miR-1180 promotes cell activity and cell cycle processes by driving energy generation through NKIRAS2, which declines over time during development. The expression of miR-1180 is down-regulated in cells subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation, and use of an miR-1180 mimic significantly reduced myocardial injury and cell apoptosis. In addition, miR-1180 regulates the NFκB pathway through NKIRAS2 in cardiomyocytes. These findings suggest that miR-1180 maybe a novel therapeutic target for use in getting cardiomyocytes to re-enter the cell cycle as well as for cardiac repair following myocardial injury.

Implicating androgen excess in propagating metabolic disease in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been traditionally perceived as a reproductive disorder due to its most common presentation with menstrual dysfunction and infertility. However, it is now clear that women with PCOS are at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, from impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. PCOS is characterised by androgen excess, with cross-sectional data showing that hyperandrogenism is directly complicit in the development of metabolic complications. Recent studies have also shown that C11-oxy _C19 androgens are emerging to be clinically and biochemically significant in PCOS, thus emphasising the importance of understanding the impact of both classic and C11-oxy _C19 androgens on women's health. Here we discuss androgen metabolism in the context of PCOS, and dissect the role played by androgens in the development of metabolic disease through their effects on metabolic target tissues in women.

[Full - transcriptome analysis of miRNA expression in mononuclear cells in patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure of various etiologies]

It is known that micro RNAs are an important regulatory element in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Different levels of expression of these molecules in various pathologies makes miRNA a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.

AIM

Analysis of miRNA expression levels in mononuclear blood cells (MBC) of patients with acute decompensation f chronic heart failure (CHF) of various etiologies and evaluation of the possibility of their use as a biological marker.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

7 male patients with acute decompensation of CHF with a reduced ejection fraction (EF), NYHA functional class II-IV (FC) according to NYHA [mean (M) EF 29.2%, standard deviation (SD) 13.27%] in age 38 to 65 years old [median (Me) 58 years]. In 3 patients, heart failure developed as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP), in 4 patients - against the background of post - infarction cardiosclerosis of the ischemic nature [group of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD)]. The control group - 5 age - matched (from 41 to 57 years old, Me 49 years old) healthy male volunteers. A complete transcript analysis of miRNA expression in MNCs was performed for all patients and healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

Differentially expressed miRNAs were determined in patients with CHF (regardless of etiology) compared with healthy individuals: miR-182, miR-144, miR-183, miR-486-5p, miR-143 (log2FC >1, FDR p - value.

Role of microRNA in the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most typical metabolic syndrome in women of reproductive age, with a high prevalence and an increased risk of long-term complications. PCOS mainly manifests as hyperandrogenism (HA), ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries, in addition to being relevant to infertility, insulin resistance (IR), obesity, lipid abnormalities, and chronic low-grade inflammation. The etiology of this syndrome remains largely unknown. microRNAs (miRNAs), small, noncoding RNAs (nearly 22 nucleotides long), regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Abnormal miRNA levels are closely associated with the occurrence of diseases, such as diabetes, cancers, and atherosclerosis, and miRNAs can be used as predictors and diagnostic biomarkers for cancer. Interestingly, the roles of miRNAs in PCOS pathology have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Research has established that alterations in miRNA expression in women with PCOS compared with healthy women may act as noninvasive biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in PCOS. This article aims to summarize the latest research on the relationship between miRNAs and the clinical manifestations of PCOS while also providing a few mechanisms based on previous studies. Understanding the relationship between miRNAs and PCOS will provide guidance for researchers to further explore the complexity and heterogeneity of PCOS.

MicroRNA-708-5p affects proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by targeting URGCP

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancer of the skeletal system which remains a challenge for the current therapeutic strategies due to unclear etiology and molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. The current study aimed to determine the expression levels, role and molecular mechanism of microRNA-708-5p (miR-708-5p) in the development of osteosarcoma. The expression level of miR-708-5p was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. miR-708-5p was overexpressed in SaOS-2 cells using miR-708-5p mimics. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were determined using Cell Counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. The results indicated that miR-708-5p was significantly downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cells, and its overexpression significantly inhibited cell viability, invasion and migration and induced apoptosis of SaOS-2 cells. Furthermore, the present results indicated that miR-708-5p directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region of up-regulator of cell proliferation (URGCP) and negatively regulated its expression in SaOS-2 cells. Taken together, the current study suggested that miR-708-5p may inhibit the growth and invasion of osteosarcoma cells via regulating the URGCP/NF-κB signaling pathway. Further research on these molecules in osteosarcoma may provide novel insights into the target therapy for this disease.