title: Investigation of microRNA expression profiles associated with human alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes in human alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression levels of plasma miRNAs of 78 male ACM patients and 78 healthy men were detected by using the 6th-generation miRCURY™ LNA array (v.16.0). The prediction analysis for microarrays (PAM) method was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs. Target genes of the identified differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using TargetScan 5.2 and Miranda. Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to perform functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis of target genes respectively, followed by real-time RT-PCR analysis to validate the expression changes of miRNAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. Nine differentially expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-506, hsa-miR-1285, hsa-miR-512-3P, hsa-miR-138, hsa-miR-485-5P, hsa-miR-4262, hsa-miR-548c-3P, has-miR-548a-5P and kshv-miR-K12-1), involved in multiple functions and pathways, were selected for real-time RT-PCR confirmation. Moreover, two significantly important subpathways (neurotrophin signaling pathway and inositol phosphate metabolism) were predicted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The screened differentially expressed miRNAs may be involved in the development of ACM. Specific miRNAs, such as miR-138, may be considered as a new target for the early diagnosis and treatment of human ACM.
authors: Department of Cardiology, First Clinical College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Jing
authors: Chengmei
authors: C
authors: Jin
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Pingyan
authors: P
authors: Huo
authors: Lijun
authors: L
authors: Zhou
authors: Ye
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Ye
authors: Y
authors: Tian
mesh_terms: D002310:Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs