Prediction of coronary heart disease incidence in a general male population by circulating non-coding small RNA sRNY1-5p in a nested case-control study

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 19;11(1):1837. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81221-8.

Abstract

During the development of atherosclerotic lesion, s-RNYs (small RNAs of about 24/34 nucleotides) are derived by the processing of long Ro-associated non-coding RNAs (RNYs) in macrophages. The levels of serum s-RNYs have been found significantly upregulated in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to age-matched CHD-free individuals. The present study aimed to examine the predictive value of serum s-RNYs for CHD events in the general male population. Within the frame of nested-case-control study, the GENES study, we measured the absolute expression of a RNY-derived small RNA, the s-RNY1-5p, in the serum of individuals (without CHD at baseline) who encountered a CHD event within 12 years of follow-up (n = 30) (Cases) and compared them to individuals who remained event-free (Controls) (n = 30). The expression of s-RNY1-5p in serum was significantly upregulated in Cases compared to Controls (p = 0.027). The proportion of CHD event-free was significantly higher among individuals with serum s-RNY1-5p below the median value (631 molecules/mL). In a multivariable model adjusted for age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, the risk of CHD events increased more than fourfold in individuals with serum s-RNY1-5p above the median value (HR, 4.36; 95% CI 1.22-15.60). A positive association with CHD events was also observed when considering s-RNY1-5p as a continuous variable (p = 0.022). Based on our results, we conclude that serum s-RNY1-5p is an independent predictor of CHD events in a general male population and might be a relevant biomarker for early detection of cardiovascular diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atherosclerosis / complications
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Coronary Disease / blood
  • Coronary Disease / complications
  • Coronary Disease / epidemiology*
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / blood*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • Smoking

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • RNA, Long Noncoding