Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate miRNA-33 and miRNA-155 expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) and carotid specimens of patients affected by Critical Carotid Artery Stenosis (CAS). Material and Methods: We selected 17 asymptomatic (CAS-A group) and 10 symptomatic (CAS-S group) patients with CAS. Ten patients with traditional cardiovascular risk factors (RF group), matched for age and sex, were used as control group. Results: A significant increase in miRNA-33 expression was observed both in peripheral blood and in carotid specimens of CAS-A patients (p 0.04) in comparison with CAS-S and RF, whereas no significant difference were found among the groups regarding miRNA-155 expression both in peripheral blood and in carotid specimens. Conclusions: This is to our knowledge the first report on miRNAs expression in human PBMCs from CAS patients. Results of this study suggest that miRNA-33 in involved in the process underling plaque formation and growth, but not in plaque instability and ischemic brain damage, whereas miRNA-155 is expressed during all the phases of atherosclerotic disease.
Highlights
MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post transcriptionally by facilitating mRNA degradation and translation repression [1]
Blood samples were collected in tubes containing 0.2 ml sodium heparin and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation (LympholyteVR, Cedarlane, Hornby, CA) as previously described [11]
No significant difference were observed regarding miR-155 expresson, despite relative quantification revealed an higher level of miR-155 in Carotid Artery Stenosis (CAS)-A patients compared to CAS-S (Figure 2, Table 4). This is to our knowledge the first report on miRNAs expression in human PBMCs from CAS patients
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post transcriptionally by facilitating mRNA degradation and translation repression [1]. MiRNAs have emerged as critical endogenous regulators of several biological processes, such as cell proliferation development and death [2], angiogenesis and cholesterol metabolism [1,3]. As miRNAs participate in all of the main biological processes, deregulation of their functions may be responsible for several disorders, including Atherosclerosis (ATS) [4,5]. Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Stenosis (CAS) leading to cerebrovascular disease, represents one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality around the world [6]. The aim of this study was to evaluate miRNA-33 and miRNA-155 expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) and carotid specimens of patients affected by Critical Carotid Artery Stenosis (CAS)
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