MicroRNA Profile of Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease caused by repeated episodes of collapse of the upper airway during sleep and is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is high heterogeneity in the impact of OSA on patients. Until now, the profile of OSA patients at risk of developing CVD has not been defined, including the measurable variables that could be used to predict the CVD risk of a patient with OSA. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study was to identify the microRNA (mi­RNA) profile associated with CVD in patients with OSA. <b><i>Method:</i></b> This is an observational, cross-sectional study that included 132 male patients. Three groups were defined as OSA patients, OSA patients with hypertension, and OSA patients who developed a major cardiovascular event. Polysomnography and ambulatory blood pressure measurements were performed. The expression profiling of 188 miRNAs in plasma was performed in 21 subjects (matched by BMI and age) by the TaqMan low density array (TLDA). miRNAs differentially expressed in the different subgroups of patients and miRNAs that correlated with the cardiovascular risk SCORE were selected for validation by RT-qPCR in the 111 remaining patients. <b><i>Results:</i></b> From the TLDA analysis, 7 miRNAs were selected for validation. Differential expression was not confirmed in any of the miRNAs. miR-143 was associated with nocturnal systolic blood pressure. miR-107 correlated with 24-h blood pressure parameters and with nocturnal hypertension. miR-486 was associated with the cardiovascular risk SCORE. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The circulating profile of miRNAs does not seem to be different in any of the subgroups of patients with OSA and different cardiovascular risk factors. Nevertheless, miR-107 and miR-143 are associated with specific blood pressure parameters in patients with OSA and miR-486 is associated with the cardiovascular risk SCORE.

MicroRNA-486-5p functions as a diagnostic marker for carotid artery stenosis and prevents endothelial dysfunction through inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress

“…MiR-486-5p has been revealed to have protective effects in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases [ 17 , 24 ]. In patients with high blood pressure, significantly reduced miR-486-5p has been detected, which shows a close association with the cardiovascular risk score [ 17 ]. In addition, decreased exosomal miR-486-5p is related to antiangiogenesis in refractory intracranial atherosclerosis [ 24 ].…”

“…MiR-486-5p is one of the important miRNAs with high abundance expression in the heart, downregulation of miR-486-5p has been detected in coronary atherosclerotic plaques via microarray experiments [ 16 ]. In addition, significantly reduced miR-486-5p is detected in individuals with high blood pressure, which shows a significant association with the cardiovascular risk score [ 17 ]. These results demonstrate the important influence of miR-486-5p on arteriosclerosis, which encourages us to explore its role in CAS.…”

Endogenous controls and microRNA profile in female patients with obstructive sleep apnea

“…Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of miRNAs as potentially useful biomarkers for personalized management of OSA 9 , 10 , 25 , 26 . Previous studies from our group identified a set of miRNAs that act as ECs in male patients with OSA 14 .…”

Genomic Variants and Multilevel Regulation of ABCA1, ABCG1, and SCARB1 Expression in Atherogenesis

“…The level of miR-486 elevated in the blood of patients with CAD [151] and is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases [109,206].…”