title: Xuezhikang therapy increases miR-33 expression in patients with low HDL-C levels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNA-33a and -b (miR-33a/b) have been revealed to be posttranscriptional regulators of HDL metabolism. Xuezhikang (XZK) is a marked natural HDL-raising polypill. We aim to evaluate the effects of XZK on the expression of circulating miR-33a/b in patients with low plasma HDL-C levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 participating patients with low baseline levels of HDL cholesterol were assigned to receive an XZK capsule, 600 mg twice daily for 6 months. The expression of circulating miR-33a/b was detected at baseline and after XZK therapy measured with quantitative reverse-transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) HDL-C level after XZK treatment was 1.19 (0.13) mmol/L, representing an increase of 11.2% from baseline (P < 0.001). Q-PCR analysis of plasma miRNAs revealed an increase in relative miR-33a/b expression with XZK treatment. The miR-33a expression was raised from 0.81 to 1.73 (P = 0.012); miR-33b expression was increased from 1.2 to 2.75 (P < 0.001). The changes of miR-33a and miR-33b were inversely related to the posttreatment LDL-C levels (r = -0.37, P = 0.019; r = -0.33, P = 0.035, resp.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with low HDL-C levels, XZK therapy raised plasma levels of miR-33a and miR-33b, which may inhibit cellular cholesterol export and limit the HDL-raising effect of XZK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Ruihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Yongyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: National Center for Pharmaceutical Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: National Center for Pharmaceutical Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Mian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.affiliation: National Center for Pharmaceutical Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Guanhua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C550416:MIRN33a microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; C496822:xuezhikang