RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Serum levels of microRNA-125a are decreased in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension and correlate inversely with hemodynamics
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P3416
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Lars Huber
A1 Silvia Ulrich
A1 Max Gassmann
A1 Ursula Treder
A1 Rudolf Speich
A1 Matthias Brock
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3416.abstract
AB Background. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA fragments associated with gene silencing that have emerged as important mediators of vascular remodelling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Here we addressed the role of miR-125a as potential biomarker in precapillary pulmonary hypertension.Methods. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from 31 patients, who had precapillary PH confirmed by right-heart catheterization (WHO group 1: 25 patients, group 4: 6 patients), and from 23 healthy control subjects. RNA was isolated from sera using miRNeasy kit. miR-125a levels were measured with quantitative PCR method and were median-normalized to c. elegans miRNAs spike-in controls.Results. Normalized ct values of miR-125a were found to be significantly altered in patients with PH as compared to healthy controls (28.91 ± 0.89 vs. 27.77 ± 1.29, p < 0.001) showing reduced levels of miR-125a in PH. In PH patients, levels of circulating miR-125a were inversely correlated with mean pulmonary arterial pressure (R = -0.33, p = 0.08) and pulmonary vascular resistance (R = -0.32, p = 0.11), indicating that higher pressures are associated with lower serum levels of miR-125a. No significant differences were found in the miR-125a ct values between different groups of patients with PH (WHO group 1: 28.94 ± 0.88, group 4: 28.78 ± 1.01, p = 0.69) or between female and male patients.Conclusion. These data identify miR-125a as potential biomarker in precapillary PH. Serum levels of miR-125a might be used as diagnostic tool to predict presence and severity of PH.