title: Plasma microRNA-100 is associated with coronary plaque vulnerability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although numerous studies have reported altered plasma levels of various microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with cardiovascular disease, there are no data on the relationship between plasma miRNAs and vulnerable coronary plaque. In this study, we investigated whether plasma miRNAs might be a sensitive marker of coronary plaque vulnerability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) was performed in 32 consecutive patients with angina pectoris who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Three-dimensional analysis of IB-IVUS was performed to determine the percentage of lipid volume (%LV) and fibrous volume (%FV). Circulating miRNAs were measured in EDTA-plasma simultaneously obtained from the aorta and the coronary sinus (CS). Muscle-enriched (miR-133a, miR-208a, miR-499), vascular-enriched (miR-92a, miR-100, miR-126, miR-127, miR-145), and myeloid cell-enriched miRNAs (miR-155, miR-223) were measured. Plasma miR-100 was higher in the CS than in the aorta, but there were no significant differences in the levels of other miRNAs between the aorta and CS. Plasma miR-100 in the aorta was positively correlated with %LV (r=0.48, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with %FV (r=-0.41, P<0.05). Importantly, transcoronary concentration gradient of circulating miR-100 was more strongly correlated with %LV (r=0.53, P<0.01) and %FV (r=-0.56, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  miR-100 might be released into the coronary circulation from vulnerable coronary plaques. This study provides insights into the role of miRNAs in coronary atherosclerotic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Japan. soeki@tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soeki
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niki
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uematsu
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ise
authors.forename: Kenya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusunose
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hotchi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tobiume
authors.forename: Shusuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Daiju
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taketani
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakatsuki
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimabukuro
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: C544266:MIRN100 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs