Altered Plasma miR-144 as a Novel Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be involved in coronary artery disease (CAD) and corresponding disease severity. The aim of this study is to determine plasma levels of miR-144 in CAD and its association with the severity of this disease. METHODS: Plasma levels of miR-144 in 60 CAD patients including stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n=29), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (NSTEMI) (n=17), or ST-elevation MI (STEMI) (n=14) and 20 non-CAD subjects were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). Associations of miR-144 expression with basic clinical characteristics and the severity of CAD were then analyzed. RESULTS: The QRT-PCR results showed that plasma miR-144 levels were increased in CAD patients, and among CAD patients, higher SYNTAX scores and STEMI were significantly associated with higher miR-144 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Higher plasma levels of miR-144 were significantly associated with the presence as well as severity of CAD. As a potential biomarker for CAD, plasma miR-144 may be useful in predicting CAD and its severity.