Dorota Studzińska, Sabina Lichołai, Kamil Polok, Hanna Plutecka, Piotr Kica, Piotr Grazda, Maciej Chwała, Marek Sanak, Wojciech Szczeklik
The relationship between Th17-related immune mechanisms and miRNA regulation in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is still not fully understood. This prospective study aimed to investigate the potential role of miR-21-5p in mediating Th17 pathway alterations contributing to AAA formation.
Samples were obtained from patients with infrarenal AAA undergoing elective open surgery and from a control group of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients without aneurysms, both at the time of surgical admission. Aneurysmal tissue fragments were collected intraoperatively. Total RNA was isolated, and miR-21-5p expression together with Th17-related markers were quantified using RT-qPCR and Luminex assays. Additionally, an in vitro model using human endothelial cells transfected with a synthetic miR-21-5p mimic was employed to study mechanistic effects.
A total of 60 participants were included—30 AAA cases and 30 matched controls. Circulating miR-21-5p levels were markedly elevated in AAA patients. Functional analysis revealed that miR-21-5p downregulates genes essential for endothelial development, vascular permeability regulation, and endothelial response to growth factors. Th17-associated cytokine levels were also increased in AAA patients and were particularly elevated in the midsection of the aneurysmal wall.
These findings suggest that elevated miR-21-5p contributes to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, key processes driving the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, miR-21-5p, Th17 pathway, Interleukin 17A, Interleukin 21
Journal Issue: IJC Heart & Vasculature
Published by: Elsevier
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