MicroRNA-19b is a potential biomarker of increased myocardial collagen cross-linking in patients with aortic stenosis and heart failure

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 16:7:40696. doi: 10.1038/srep40696.

Abstract

This study analyzed the potential associations of 7 myocardial fibrosis-related microRNAs with the quality of the collagen network (e.g., the degree of collagen fibril cross-linking or CCL) and the enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX) responsible for CCL in 28 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) of whom 46% had a diagnosis of chronic heart failure (HF). MicroRNA expression was analyzed in myocardial and blood samples. From the studied microRNAs only miR-19b presented a direct correlation (p < 0.05) between serum and myocardium. Compared to controls both myocardial and serum miR-19b were reduced (p < 0.01) in AS patients. In addition, miR-19b was reduced in the myocardium (p < 0.01) and serum (p < 0.05) of patients with HF compared to patients without HF. Myocardial and serum miR-19b were inversely correlated (p < 0.05) with LOX, CCL and LV stiffness in AS patients. In in vitro studies miR-19b inhibition increased (p < 0.05) connective tissue growth factor protein and LOX protein expression in human fibroblasts. In conclusion, decreased miR-19b may be involved in myocardial LOX up-regulation and excessive CCL, and consequently increased LV stiffness in AS patients, namely in those with HF. Serum miR-19b can be a biomarker of these alterations of the myocardial collagen network in AS patients, particularly in patients with HF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnosis
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / drug therapy
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / genetics*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Comorbidity
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Fibrosis
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Heart Failure / genetics*
  • Heart Failure / metabolism*
  • Heart Function Tests
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / blood
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MIRN19 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Collagen