Objective: MicroRNAs have been explored as potential biomarkers for many pathological processes including coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to compare the circulating levels of selected atherosclerosis-associated miRNAs in patients with a history of early-onset coronary artery disease with that of age- and sex-matched healthy controls and older patients with late-onset coronary artery disease.
Methods: Study population consisted of 30 patients with early onset coronary artery disease, 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and 30 patients with late-onset coronary artery disease. Plasma levels of 13 microRNAs (endothelial cell-related miR-126, -92a/b; vascular smooth muscle cell-related miR-145; inflammation-related miR-16, -21, -125b, -146a/b, -147b, -150, -155; lipometabolism-related miR-27b, -122, -370) were evaluated by using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: In patients with early onset coronary artery disease, plasma expressions of the lipometabolism-related miR-27b, miR-122; inflammation-related miR-125b, miR-146a/b, miR-147b, miR-150, miR-155; and VSMC-related miR-145 were significantly downregulated and endothelial cell-related miR-126 was significantly upregulated compared to age- and sexmatched healthy controls. Circulating microRNA profile of patients with early onset coronary artery disease was also different from that of older patients with late-onset coronary artery disease. Plasma levels of miR-21, miR-27b, miR-122, miR-125b, miR-146b, miR-147b, and miR-155 were lower and plasma levels of miR-16 and miR-92a were higher in patients with early onset coronary artery disease compared to older patients with late-onset coronary artery disease.
Conclusion: MicroRNAs are promising biomarkers for early onset coronary artery disease.