Expression and Change of miRs 145, 221 and 222 in Hypertensive Subjects Treated with Enalapril, Losartan or Olmesartan

Chymase in Plasma and Urine Extracellular Vesicles: Novel Biomarkers for Primary Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising liquid biopsy for various diseases. For the first time, using plasma and urinary EVs, we assessed the activity of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), a central regulator of renal, cardiac, and vascular physiology, in patients with control (Group I) or uncontrolled (Group II) primary hypertension.

METHODS

EVs were isolated from 34 patients with history of hypertension, and characterized for size and concentration by nanoparticle tracking analyses, exosomal biomarkers by immunogold labeling coupled with transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry and immunoblotting. EVs were analyzed for the hydrolytic activity of chymase, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, and neprilysin (NEP) by HPLC.

RESULTS

Plasma and urinary EVs were enriched for small EVs and expressed exosomal markers (CD63, CD9, and CD81). The size of urinary EVs (but not plasma EVs) was significantly larger in Group II compared to Group I. Differential activity of RAS enzymes was observed, with significantly higher chymase activity compared to ACE, ACE2, and NEP in plasma EVs. Similarly, urinary EVs exhibited higher chymase and NEP activity compared to ACE and ACE2 activity. Importantly, compared to Group I, significantly higher chymase activity was observed in urinary EVs (p = 0.03) from Group II, while no significant difference in activity was observed for other RAS enzymes.

CONCLUSIONS

Bioactive RAS enzymes are present in plasma and urinary EVs. Detecting chymase in plasma and urinary EVs uncovers a novel mechanism of angiotensin II-forming enzyme and could also mediate cell-cell communication and modulate signaling pathways in recipient cells.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

A panel of plasma microRNAs improves the assessment of surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients

OBJECTIVE

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) present increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease compared with the general population. Moreover, CV risk factors that have causal relationship with atherosclerosis do not seem to fully explain the accelerated process that they exhibit. We evaluated the association of a 10 microRNAs panel with surrogate markers of subclinical arteriosclerosis (carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaque presence (cPP), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and distensibility) in a cohort of RA patients.

METHODS

199 patients with RA were included. Surrogate markers of arteriosclerosis were measured with My Lab 60 X-Vision sonographer. MicroRNAs were extracted from plasma and quantified with qPCR. Multivariate models and classification methods were performed.

RESULTS

Multivariate models showed that microRNAs-24 (β  =  15.48), 125a (β  =  9.93), 132 (β  =  11.52), 146 (β  =  15.12), 191 (β  =  13.25) and 223 (β  =  13.30) were associated with cIMT globally. MicroRNA-24 (OR = 0.41), 146 (OR = 0.36) and Let7a (OR = 0.23) were associated with cPP in men. Including the microRNAs in a PLS-DA model properly classified men with and without cPP. MicroRNA-96 (β = -0.28) was associated with PWV in male patients. Finally, several miRNAs were also associated with cIMT, cPP and arterial stiffness in the high DAS28 group and in the earlier tertile groups of disease duration.

CONCLUSION

Plasmatic expression of microRNA-24, 96, 103, 125a, 132, 146, 191, 223 and Let7a were associated with surrogate markers of CV disease and could be predictors of CV risk in patients with RA.

Arterial Stiffness and Adult Onset Vasculitis: A Systematic Review

Chronic inflammation represents the cornerstone of the raised cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD), including vasculitis. Standardized mortality ratios in these patients are higher as compared to the general population, and the excess of premature mortality is due to early atherosclerotic events. Thus, IRD patients need appropriate CV risk assessment and management according to this CV disease (CVD) burden. Adequate control of CV risk is still lacking in usual care, but early diagnosis of silent and subclinical CVD is crucial to improve the long-term prognosis of these patients. Increased arterial stiffness may provide a pathophysiological link between inflammation and increased cardiovascular risk. Several noninvasive methods are now available to estimate artery stiffness in the clinical setting, including pulse wave velocity assessment. The independent predictive value of arterial stiffness for cardiovascular events has been demonstrated in general as well as in selected populations, and reference values adjusted for age and blood pressure have been suggested. Thus, arterial stiffness is an interesting biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification. This systematic review summarizes the additional value that PWV measurement can provide in the setting of vasculitis, with a focus in the different clinical stages and CV risk prevention. This systematic review is registered with registration number: Prospero CRD42021259603.

Dysregulated miR-222-3p in plasma exosomes of preeclampsia patients and its In vitro effect on HTR8/SVneo extravillous trophoblast cells by targeting STMN1

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of miR-222-3p in plasma exosomes (Exos) and plasma for preeclampsia (PE) and the effect of miR-222-3p targeting STMN1 in PE.

METHODS

MiR-222-3p levels in total plasma and plasma Exos were detected in PE patients and healthy controls. A bioinformatics database and dual-luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-222-3p and STMN1. Trophoblast HTR-8/Svneo cells were transfected with miR-222-3p inhibitors with/without STMN1 shRNA, followed by MTT, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. The mRNA and protein expressions were measured by qRT‒PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

MiR-222-3p levels in total plasma and plasma Exos were higher in PE patients than in healthy controls, particularly in severe PE patients. In addition, miR-222-3p levels in total plasma and plasma Exos from PE patients were positively correlated with diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The area under the curve (AUC) of miR-222-3p in total plasma for PE diagnostic efficiency was 0.798, with a sensitivity of 76.67% and specificity of 71.93%, while the AUC of miR-222-3p in plasma Exos was 0.708 (sensitivity: 61.67%; specificity: 78.95%). In vitro, miR-222-3p targeted STMN1 in HTR-8/Svneo cells. Low miR-222-3p expression reversed the inhibitory effect of STMN1 shRNA on the proliferation, invasion and migration of HTR/SVneo cells.

CONCLUSION

PE patients had increased miR-222-3p expression in total plasma and plasma Exos, which both have high diagnostic efficiency for PE. MiR-222-3p can target STMN1 to promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of HTR-8/Svneo cells and is a potential therapeutic target of PE.

Association of Circulating miR-145-5p and miR-let7c and Atherosclerotic Plaques in Hypertensive Patients

Aim: Hypertension is a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis. Increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaques are considered subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. This study aimed at evaluating the serum expression of miRNAs previously related to adverse vascular remodeling and correlating them with carotid plaques and cIMT in hypertensive patients. Methods: We cross-sectionally evaluated the clinical and carotid characteristics as well as serum expression of miR-145-5p, miR-let7c, miR-92a, miR-30a and miR-451 in 177 hypertensive patients. Carotid plaques and cIMT were evaluated by ultrasound, and the expression of selected miRNAs was evaluated by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Among all participants (age = 60.6 ± 10.7 years, 43% males), there were 59% with carotid plaques. We observed an increased expression of miR-145-5p (Fold Change = 2.0, p = 0.035) and miR-let7c (Fold Change = 3.8, p = 0.045) in participants with atherosclerotic plaque when compared to those without plaque. In the logistic regression analysis adjusted for relevant covariates, these miRNAs showed a stronger association with carotid plaques (miR-145-5p: Beta ± SE = 0.050 ± 0.020, p = 0.016 and miR-let7c: Beta ± SE = 0.056 ± 0.019, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Hypertensive patients with carotid plaques have an increased expression of miR-145-5p and miR-let7c, suggesting a potential role of these miRNAs as a biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis in hypertensive individuals.