Background
Carotid artery stenosis is a dynamic process associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, knowledge of biomarkers useful for identifying and quantifying high-risk carotid plaques associated with the increased inciden...
Background
Carotid artery stenosis is a dynamic process associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, knowledge of biomarkers useful for identifying and quantifying high-risk carotid plaques associated with the increased incidence of cerebrovascular events is insufficient. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression of ABCA1 and validate its target miRNA candidates in human carotid stenosis arteries to identify its potential as a biomarker.
Methods
Between July 2019 and April 2020, 50 patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent CEAs with tissue and blood sampling were consecutively enrolled in this prospective study. In human carotid stenosis arterial tissues and plasma, the expression of ABCA1 and its target miRNAs (miRNA-33a-5p, 33b-5p, and 148a-3p) were evaluated by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To evaluate the specific serum biomarkers of the patients with significant carotid artery stenosis, we compared the serum biomarkers of patients with significant carotid artery stenosis (n = 50) with those of normal subjects without carotid artery stenosis or other atherosclerosis risk factors (n = 6).
Result
ABCA1 was highly expressed in the common carotid artery, whereas its expression was lower in the internal region due to injury by stenosis (p < 0.05). In arterial tissues, the expression of miR-33a-5p and 33b-5p was not different, whereas the level of miR-148a-3p was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The expression of ABCA1 was significantly decreased in the plasma of stenosis patients but its expression was not different in arterial tissues (p < 0.05). However, significantly more target miRNAs were secreted by stenosis patients than normal patients (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
In carotid artery stenosis, histopathological transitions such as the accumulation of plaque and shrinkage of the arterial wall occurred as well as inflammatory reactions. ABCA1 was decreased by stenosis and the formation of plaques while its target miRNAs (miRNA-33a-5p, 33b-5p, and 148a-3p) were significantly increased in patient plasma but not in arterial tissues. Therefore, miRNA-33a-5p, 33b-5p, and 148a-3p represent possible biomarkers of carotid artery stenosis by directly targeting ABCA1.