Diagnostic potential of circulating LncRNAs in human cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major killer of the human population around the world. Identifying effective diagnostic biomarkers for CVDs is particularly important in order to guide optimizing treatment. Accumulating evidence on aberrantly regulated circulating long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) promise to serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for various types of CVDs. We summarized studies to identify the potential diagnostic values of LncRNAs in CVD patients. We included articles reporting on the association between LncRNAs and diagnosis in CVDs. We calculated sensitivities, specificities, and area under the curves of LncRNAs. The pooled overall sensitivity and specificity for LncRNAs expression profile in differentiating CVD patients from controls (non-CVDs or healthy subjects) were 0.74 (95%CI 0.68–0.80) and 0.81 (95%CI 0.76–0.85), respectively; the overall positive likelihood ratio, 3.9 (95%CI 3.1–4.9); the negative likelihood ratio, 0.32 (95%CI 0.25–0.40); corresponding to an area under curve of 0.85 (95%CI 0.82–0.88) and overall diagnostic odds ratio 12 (95%CI 9–18). Subgroup analysis showed that the detection of LncRNAs expression in plasma substantially improved the diagnostic accuracy. Likewise, meta-regression analysis indicated that the detection method and sample size were the main source of heterogeneity. All these results suggested a relatively good reference value of LncRNAs as auxiliary biomarkers for CVDs, and should be considered in cases where the diagnosis is uncertain. Population-based prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease

“…It was shown that LncRNAs predict ESRD in patients with T1DM [ 104 ]. Moreover, in a meta-analysis of 30 studies, LncRNAs had good sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between patients with CVD and controls [ 105 ].…”

LncRNA CASC11 was downregulated in coronary artery disease and inhibits transforming growth factor-β1

“…3 With the advantage of their noninvasive nature, circulating biomarkers, such as blood lncRNAs, have shown promising potential in disease diagnosis. 14 A novel lncRNA named CoroMarker has been identified as a promising biomarker for CAD. 10 CoroMarker is upregulated in CAD and is independent of other CAD biomarkers.…”

Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Cardiovascular Disease Complication of Type 2 Diabetes

“…One suggestion is to use the noncoding RNA biomarkers in the blood to improve the detection. A systematic review of circulating lncRNAs as a predictor of CVD future events showed that among the 30 studies, the lncRNA expression signatures have a moderate sensitivity with high specificity [ 177 ]. However, these lncRNAs have a strong potential to differentiate CVD patients from those without CVD or healthy controls (AUC: 0.85) [ 177 ].…”

“…A systematic review of circulating lncR-NAs as a predictor of CVD future events showed that among the 30 studies, the lncRNA expression signatures have a moderate sensitivity with high specificity [177]. However, these lncRNAs have a strong potential to differentiate CVD patients from those without CVD or healthy controls (AUC: 0.85) [177]. Among those lncRNAs discussed in the previous section, some of them have been validated or investigated as potential biomarkers of HF for diagnostic purposes, especially in circulating blood or plasma samples.…”