Circulating MicroRNAs Characterize Insufficient Coronary Collateral Artery Development in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion

Abstract

Coronary collateral artery growth, arteriogenesis, significantly impacts mortality after an acute coronary event. We aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that differentiate between insufficient or sufficient coronary collateral artery development in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO).CTO patients (n=41) were dichotomized based on their pressure‐derived collateral flow index (CFI = (wedge pressure – central venous pressure)/(aortic pressure – central venous pressure)) into low (CFI< 0.39) and high arteriogenic responders (CFI > 0.39). MiRNA profiling on aortic plasma and verification by qPCR, revealed higher levels of miR423‐5p (p < 0.05), miR10b (p < 0.05), miR30d (p < 0.05) and miR126 (p < 0.001) were present in low arteriogenic responders. Receiver operator characteristic curves showed that only miR126 can distinguish patients with low arteriogenic response (area under curve 0.812, p < 0.01, cut‐off 0.037).In conclusion, we have identified miRNAs linked with poor collateralization and found miR126 as the most suitable circulating biomarker to distinguish patients with poor or adequate coronary artery collateral capacity.Supported by the Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (EMINENCE).