Researchers at the Gorlaeus Laboratories determined the microRNA signature of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from stable and unstable CAD patients and unaffected controls.

The presence of CAD in general coincided with a marked 5-fold increase in the relative expression level of miR-135a, and a 4-fold decrease in the expression of miR-147 in PBMCs from CAD patients as compared to controls.

Unstable angina pectoris patients could be discriminated from stable patients based upon their relatively high expression level of a cluster of three microRNAs including miR-134, miR-198, and miR-370, suggesting that the microRNA signatures can be used to identify patients at risk for acute coronary syndromes.

(A) The relative expression level of several “housekeeping” microRNAs was determined in PBMCs from coronary artery disease patients (CAD; black bars) and unaffected controls (Control; white bars). Data are expressed as fold change compared to control and represent means + SEM of three (control) or six (CAD) different RNA pools derived from a respective total of 20 and 50 subjects. (B) The relative expression level of microRNAs that were differentially expressed between PBMCs from coronary artery disease patients (CAD; black bars) and unaffected controls (Control; white bars). ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗P < 0.001 (two-way ANOVA) (C) The calculated ratio of microRNA-135a and microRNA-147 expression levels in PBMCs from CAD patients (black bar) and controls (white bar). ∗∗P < 0.01 (t-test).

Reference

Hoekstra M et al. (2010) The peripheral blood mononuclear cell microRNA signature of coronary artery disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 394(3), 792-97. [abstract]