RNA-seq identifies circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers for plaque rupture in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background Plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE) are the two major pathological phenotypes in acute coronary syndrome. Since microRNAs have been found to be involved in the mechanisms of PR and PE, we investigated the diagnostic utility of microRNAs in differentiating between patients with PR and patients with PE. Methods MicroRNA sequencing was performed on plasma from 21 patients with PR, 20 patients with PE and 17 healthy control subjects (HCs). 24 miRNAs were selected for validation in 20 PR patients and 20 PE patients and 8 miRNAs were further validated in an independent replication cohort (82 patients with PR, 84 patients with PE and 59 HCs) by applying quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then we analyzed pathways associated with significant miRNAs in PR. Results MiR-744-3p, miR-324-3p and miR-330-3p were significantly upregulated in the PR group compared with the PE group (Log10miR-744-3p: 0.26[‐−0.28—1.57] versus −0.41[−0.83—-0.03], padj Conclusion A set of circulating microRNAs (miR-744-3p, miR-330-3p, and miR-324-3p) is associated with PR and has clinical utility as a diagnostic marker for distinguishing the plaque phenotype in STEMI patients.