title: Circulating miR-21 and eNOS in subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship of miR-21, nitric oxide (NOx) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with subclinical atherosclerosis in carotid arteries by measuring carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with hypertension and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 28 hypertensive and 28 healthy controls were enrolled. MiR-21 expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and NOx, and eNOS levels were measured by ELISA assay. CIMT was evaluated by ultrasonography and CIMT ≥ 0.8 mm was accepted as increased CIMT (iCIMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  C-reactive protein (CRP) level, plasma miR-21 expression level and CIMT were found to be significantly higher in the hypertension group when compared to the control group (p = 0.009, p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). NOx and eNOS levels were significantly lower in the hypertension group compared to the control group (p < 0.001, both). MiR-21 level was positively correlated with the clinical systolic blood pressure, clinical diastolic blood pressure, CRP and CIMT. MiR-21 was also negatively correlated with NOx and eNOS. Eighteen patients with hypertension had iCIMT. MiR-21 and CRP levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001), whereas NOx and eNOS levels were significantly lower in patients with iCIMT (p < 0.001, both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreased levels of NOx and eNOS found in this study indicate the co-existence of endothelial dysfunction and hypertension once more. In the absence of microalbuminuria, the increased miR-21 expression in patients with iCIMT made us conclude that this miRNA might be involved in the early stages of atherosclerotic process in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine .
authors.forename: Mahir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine .
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yavuzer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cardiology .
authors.forename: Burçak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kılıçkıran Avcı
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine .
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yürüyen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine .
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yavuzer
authors.affiliation: c Department of Radiology , and.
authors.forename: Süleyman Atilla
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dikici
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical Genetics, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey .|e Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , Erzurum Technical University , Erzurum , Turkey .
authors.forename: Ömer Faruk
authors.initials: ÖF
authors.lastname: Karataş
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical Genetics, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey .|f Department of Medical Genetics/Molecular Biology and Genetics , Biruni University , Istanbul , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özen
authors.affiliation: g Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Hafize
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cardiology .
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Öngen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012313:RNA; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: Carotid intima media thickness; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; hypertension; microRNA-21; nitric oxide