Lina An1,2, Liming Gao3, Min Ning1, Feng Wu2, Feifei Dong2, Xiushi Ni1, Yiying Wu4, Qing Jing5, Yanhong Gao6. 1. Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval medical University, 168 Changhai Road, 200433, Shanghai, China. 3. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 150 Jimo Road, 200092, Shanghai, China. 4. Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, China. yiyingwu@sina.com. 5. Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 320 Yueyang Road, 200031, Shanghai, China. qjing@sibs.ac.cn. 6. Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, 200080, Shanghai, China. yhgao@aliyun.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for vascular endothelial injury and atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular diseases. Early diagnosis of vascular endothelial injury is important for the prevention and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate sensitive circulating microRNA (miRNA) as a potential diagnostic biomarker of vascular endothelial injury in a hyperlipidemic rat model. METHODS: The miRNA expression profile was detected by miRNA microarray. The hyperlipidemic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 combined with a high-fat diet. Plasma miRNA levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the types of highly expressed miRNAs between human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). A total of 10 highly expressed miRNAs in endothelial cells were selected as candidate miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-126, let-7a, miR-23a, miR-221, miR-125b, miR-26a, miR-29a, miR-16, and miR-100. The plasma levels of let-7a, miR-126, miR-21, and miR-26a were significantly elevated in hyperlipidemic rats at 30 and 50 days after modeling, while the plasma level of miR-29a was significantly decreased. No significant change was found in the plasma levels of miR-125b, miR-23a, miR-221, miR-100, and miR-16. Interestingly, a significant reduction in plasma miR-29 level was detected as early as 20 days after modeling, which was earlier than for soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‑1 (sICAM-1). CONCLUSION: The plasma levels of endothelial cell-enriched miRNAs were correlated with vascular endothelial injury induced by hyperlipidemia. miR-29a might serve as a potential early diagnostic biomarker of endothelial injury-related diseases.
BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for vascular endothelial injury and atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular diseases. Early diagnosis of vascular endothelial injury is important for the prevention and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate sensitive circulating microRNA (miRNA) as a potential diagnostic biomarker of vascular endothelial injury in a hyperlipidemic rat model. METHODS: The miRNA expression profile was detected by miRNA microarray. The hyperlipidemic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 combined with a high-fat diet. Plasma miRNA levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the types of highly expressed miRNAs between human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). A total of 10 highly expressed miRNAs in endothelial cells were selected as candidate miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-126, let-7a, miR-23a, miR-221, miR-125b, miR-26a, miR-29a, miR-16, and miR-100. The plasma levels of let-7a, miR-126, miR-21, and miR-26a were significantly elevated in hyperlipidemic rats at 30 and 50 days after modeling, while the plasma level of miR-29a was significantly decreased. No significant change was found in the plasma levels of miR-125b, miR-23a, miR-221, miR-100, and miR-16. Interestingly, a significant reduction in plasma miR-29 level was detected as early as 20 days after modeling, which was earlier than for soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‑1 (sICAM-1). CONCLUSION: The plasma levels of endothelial cell-enriched miRNAs were correlated with vascular endothelial injury induced by hyperlipidemia. miR-29a might serve as a potential early diagnostic biomarker of endothelial injury-related diseases.