Diagnostic Potential of miRNA-15a-5p for the Early Detection of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, is caused by reduced or complete cessation of blood flow to the part of the myocardium. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in various cellular mechanisms and have the potential to be used as diagnostic markers in certain diseases such as MI, atherosclerosis, heart failure coronary artery disease, hypertrophy, and fibrosis. The present study was conducted to assess the early diagnostic potential of circulatory miRNA-15a-5p. By using bioinformatics tools, it was found that BCL2, an antiapoptotic gene, is the putative target of miRNA-15a-5p. The blood was collected from the 50 MI patients recruited in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. qRT-PCR analysis showed significantly upregulated miRNA-15a-5p in MI patients’ blood and isoproterenol-induced MI rats’ blood and tissue samples. The decreased level of the antiapoptotic gene, BCL2, was confirmed by qRT-PCR in the circulation of both MI patients and MI rat model. The toxic potential of isoproterenol for MI induction in rats was confirmed by disrupted heart tissue histology, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in rat serum and tissue homogenate samples. In serum samples, liver function tests, and lipid profiling showed elevated levels in the MI rat model. Concludingly, this study provides future insights for miRNA research that will advance the development of diagnostic markers for the early detection of MI in patients.