Micro-RNA and mRNA myocardial tissue expression in biopsy specimen from patients with heart failure

Aims: There is increasing evidence that changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression occur in chronic heart failure and these may be involved in the pathogenesis. In this study we have explored the expression of selected myocyte and fibroblast-related microRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are associated with hypertrophy, apoptosis and fibrosis in biopsy specimens from patients with relatively new onset heart failure compared to a group of patients without heart failure. Methods and Results: Myocardial biopsy specimens taken from Chinese patients presenting with recent heart failure were compared with a group of patients without heart failure undergoing routine cardiac surgery (n = 34). miRNAs (miR-1, -21, -23, -29, -30, -130, -133, -195, -199, -208, and -320) and corresponding mRNA expression were measured by real-time quantitative-PCR method. miR-1, -21, -23, -29, -130, -195 and -199 were significantly up-regulated in the heart failure group when compared to those without heart failure (all p < 0.01). However, miR-30, -133, -208 and -320 were not significantly different. Related mRNAs (casp3, coll I, coll III and TGF) were also significantly up-regulated (all p < 0.05) in the heart failure group. Conclusion: Certain selected microRNAs involved in apoptosis, hypertrophy and fibrosis are up-regulated in the myocardium of patients with a clinical history of heart failure compared to those without. These specific miRNAs may be the most suitable for circulating biomarkers in the early stages of chronic heart failure and possibly future therapeutic targets. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.