MicroRNAs regulating cluster of differentiation 46 (CD46) in cardioembolic and non-cardioembolic stroke

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 15;12(2):e0172131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172131. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Among the ischemic stroke subtypes, cardioembolic stroke is with poor functional outcome (Modified Rankin score ≥ 2). Early diagnosis of cardioembolic stroke will prove beneficial. This study examined the microRNAs targeting cluster of differentiation 46 (CD46), a potential biomarker for cardioembolic stroke. CD46 mRNA level was shown to be differentially expressed (p < 0.001) between cardioembolic stroke (median = 1.32) and non-cardioembolic stroke subtypes (large artery stroke median = 5.05; small vessel stroke median = 6.45). Bioinformatic search showed that miR-19a, -20a, -185 and -374b were found to target CD46 mRNA and further verified by luciferase reporter assay. The levels of miRNAs targeting CD46 were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in non-cardioembolic stroke patients (large artery stroke median: miR-19a = 0.63, miR-20a = 0.42, miR-185 = 0.32, miR-374b = 0.27; small artery stroke median: miR-19a = 0.07, miR-20a = 0.06, miR-185 = 0.07, miR-374b = 0.05) as compared to cardioembolic stroke patients (median: miR-19a = 2.69, miR-20a = 1.36, miR-185 = 1.05, miR-374b = 1.23). ROC curve showed that the miRNAs could distinguish cardioembolic stroke from non-cardioembolic stroke with better AUC value as compared to CD46. Endogenous expression of CD46 in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) were found to be regulated by miR-19a and miR-20a. Thus implicating that miR-19a and -20a may play a role in pathogenesis of cardioembolic stroke, possibly via the endothelial cells.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Area Under Curve
  • Base Sequence
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein / chemistry
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein / genetics
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • ROC Curve
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Stroke / genetics
  • Stroke / pathology*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Membrane Cofactor Protein
  • MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the research grants from National Research Foundation (NRF): R-184-002-165-281, National Medical Research Council (NMRC/EDG): R-183-000-230-275, and the National Medical Research Council (NMRC/IRG): R-183-000-290-213, Singapore; and the University of Malaya (UM/HIR): E0067 & E0036. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.