Differential Expression of miRNA-223 in Coronary In-Stent Restenosis

Bibliometric and visual analysis of miRNAs in heart diseases from 2004 to 2023

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) add a new dimension to HD forecast, diagnosis, and therapy based on the potential applications. The miRNA-related research in the heart disease (HD) field has received close attention in the past two decades. However, there is a lack of studies that comprehensively and objectively analyze the current situation of miRNA application in the HD field using the bibliometrics method.

Objective

To comprehensively analyze the global scientific outputs of miRNAs in HD research from 2004 to 2023.

Methods

All the articles and reviews of miRNA-related research in the HD field were retrieved using the Web of Science core collection (WOSCC) title search, and bibliometric analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel 2019, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrics (R-Tool of R-Studio).

Results

3,874 publications were included in the bibliometric analysis. Collaborative network analysis indicates that China with the maximum number of publications (2,063) and the USA with the highest total citations (59,331) are influential countries in this field. Peking Union Medical College is the most prolific university with the maximum publications (134), and the University of California System is the most authoritative institution regarding betweenness centrality (0.27). PLOS ONE tops the journal list of publications, closely followed by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and Scientific Reports with more than 100 articles. Considering the number of publications, citations, and total link strength overall, Olson. Eric N, Van Rooij Eva, Thum Thomas, Yang Baofeng, Wang Kun; and Lu Yanjie are authoritative authors in this field. The expression changes and regulatory mechanisms of specific miRNAs in various heart biological and pathophysiological processes have been the continuous research hotspots. "exosomes", "extracellular vesicles", "autophagy", and "management" have been novel hot research topics since 2018, which focused on the diagnosis and treatment of HD. The current research development trend is how to translate the achievement of miRNA-related diagnosis and therapeutic drugs for HD into the clinic.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the intellectual structure of miRNA in HD research, which may help scholars understand this field comprehensively and find partners.

Higher serum cystatin C and matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels effectively predict in-stent restenosis after stent implantation for intracranial and extracranial arterial stenosis

OBJECTIVE

This paper was performed to unravel the predictive value of serum cystatin C (Cys C) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels before vascular stent implantation for in-stent restenosis (ISR) 6-12 months after stent implantation for intracranial and extracranial arterial stenosis.

METHODS

One hundred and ninety-eight patients who underwent dilatation stenting for intracranial and extracranial arterial stenosis and completed Digital Subtraction Angiography or head and neck CT- Angiography review were selected for the study and were divided into ISR group (n = 33) and no ISR (NISR) group (n = 165) according to the presence or absence of ISR. Serum levels of Cys C, MMP-9, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), homocysteine (Hcy), fibrinogen (FIB), total bilirubin (TBIL), endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), angiotensin II (Ang II), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before vascular stent implantation were examined and compared between groups. ROC curves were employed for analyzing the predictive value of serum Cys C and MMP-9 alone or in combination for ISR. Pearson test was utilized for analyzing the serum Cys C and MMP-9 with vasoactive substances and inflammatory cytokines in patients in the ISR group. Logistic regression analysis was implemented to analyze the factors influencing ISR 6-12 months after stent implantation for intracranial and extracranial arterial stenosis.

RESULTS

Cys C, MMP-9, LDL, UA, Cr, Hcy, FIB, ET-1, NO, Ang II, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP were higher in the ISR group than in the NISR group, and TBIL was lower than in the NISR group (P < 0.05). The AUC of the combined serum Cys C and MMP-9 (AUC = 0.900) was greater than that of Cys C (AUC = 0.685) or MMP-9 (AUC = 0.870) alone (P < 0.05). Cys C and MMP-9 levels were positively correlated with ET-1, NO, Ang II, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP (r > 0, P < 0.05). Increased levels of Cys C, MMP-9, LDL-C, UA, Cr, Hcy, FIB, ET-1, NO, Ang II, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, and diabetes were risk factors for the development of ISR (OR > 1, P < 0.05), and TBil was protective factor (OR < 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Serum Cys C combined with MMP-9 levels are effective in predicting ISR.

Upregulation of microRNA-125b-5p alleviates acute liver failure by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) are the two most common subtypes of liver failure. They are both life-threatening clinical problems with high short-term mortality. Although liver transplantation is an effective therapeutic, its application is limited due to the shortage of donor organs. Given that both ACLF and ALF are driven by excessive inflammation in the initial stage, molecules targeting inflammation may benefit the two conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small endogenous noncoding interfering RNA molecules. Regulation of miRNAs related to inflammation may serve as promising interventions for the treatment of liver failure.

AIMS

To explore the role and mechanism of miR-125b-5p in the development of liver failure.

METHODS

Six human liver tissues were categorized into HBV-non-ACLF and HBV-ACLF groups. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were screened and identified through high-throughput sequencing analysis. Among these DE-miRNAs, miR-125b-5p was selected for further study of its role and mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN) -challenged Huh7 cells and mice in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

A total of 75 DE-miRNAs were obtained. Of these DE-miRNAs, miR-125b-5p was the focus of further investigation based on our previous findings and preliminary results. We preliminarily observed that the levels of miR-125b-5p were lower in the HBV-ACLF group than in the HBV-non-ACLF group. Meanwhile, LPS/D-GalN-challenged mice and Huh7 cells both showed decreased miR-125b-5p levels when compared to their untreated control group, suggesting that miR-125b-5p may have a protective role against liver injury, regardless of ACLF or ALF. Subsequent results revealed that miR-125b-5p not only inhibited Huh7 cell apoptosis in vitro but also relieved mouse ALF in vivo with evidence of improved liver histology, decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β levels. Based on the results of a biological prediction website, microRNA.org, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) was predicted to be one of the target genes of miR-125b-5p, which was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blot results in vitro and in vivo showed that miR-125b-5p could decrease the expression of Keap1 and cleaved caspase-3 while upregulating the expression of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1).

CONCLUSION

Upregulation of miR-125b-5p can alleviate acute liver failure by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and regulation of miR-125b-5p may serve as an alternative intervention for liver failure.