Identification of MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for detecting ischemic stroke

Genes Genomics. 2022 Jan;44(1):9-17. doi: 10.1007/s13258-021-01060-9. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Abstract

Background: Increasing epidemic of ischemic stroke (IS) makes it urgent to understand the pathogenesis and regulatory mechanism, previous studies have described microRNAs (miRNAs) is part of the brain's response to ischemia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to screen potential biomarkers for the prediction and novel treatment of IS.

Methods: Differentially expressed miRNAs were screened from three newly diagnosed IS patients and three controls by RNA sequencing technology. Furthermore, target prediction databases were then used to analysis the target genes of different expressed miRNAs, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database were used to identify the functions and the main biochemical and signal pathways of differentially expressed target genes.

Results: Our results revealed that 27 miRNAs were differentially expressed in IS, among which, hsa-miR-659-5p was the most highly increased and was first found to be associated with IS. In addition, KEGG pathway analyses showed that differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly significantly enriched in lysosome pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, spliceosome pathway, base excision repair pathway.

Conclusions: miRNAs were involved in IS pathogenesis, and hsa-miR-659-5p, hsa-miR-151a-3p and hsa-miR-29c-5p as the three highest |log2FoldChange| regulation in this study, which may be the biomarkers of IS and need further study.

Keywords: Biomarker; Differential expression analysis; Ischemic stroke; KEGG; microRNAs.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke / diagnosis
  • Ischemic Stroke / genetics*
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MIRN151a microRNA, human
  • MIRN29C microRNA, human
  • MIRN659 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs