Serum miR-222 is independently associated with atrial fibrillation in patients with degenerative valvular heart disease

Abstract

Background: Inflammation is involved in the progression of degenerative valvular heart disease (DVHD). microRNA-222 (miR-222) contributes to inflammation-mediated vascular remodeling, but its involvement in DVHD in relation to atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the changes in miR-222, interleukin (IL)-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with DVHD complicated with AF.

Methods: This was a case control study of patients with DVHD who were hospitalized at the Geriatrics Department of the Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between 01/2017 and 08/2018. The participants were grouped according to the presence of AF, and serum miR-222, IL-6, hs-CRP, and NT-proBNP levels were compared.

Results: There were fifty-two participants (28 males) in the DVHD with AF group, aged 60-80 years (73.0 ± 5.9 years). Sixty participants (31 males) were included in the DVHD without AF group, aged 60-80 years (71.9 ± 6.92 years). There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure between the two groups. The serum levels of miRNA-222, IL-6, hs-CRP, and NT-proBNP in DVHD patients were significantly higher in those with AF compared with the non-AF group (all P < 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed that IL-6, hs-CRP, and NT-proBNP levels were positively correlated with miR-222 levels in all patients (IL-6: r = 0.507, P < 0.01; hs-CRP: r = 0.390, P < 0.01; NT-proBNP: r = 0.509, P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Serum miR-222 was independently associated with AF in patients with DVHD.

Keywords: Brain natriuretic peptide; Degenerative valvular heart disease; Interleukin-6; MicroRNA.

Fig. 1

Serum miRNA-222, IL-6, hs-CRP, and NT-proBNP levels. a MiRNA-222 levels in the DVHD with AF (0.473 ± 0.154) and DVHD without AF (0.389 ± 0.160) groups (P = 0.006). b IL-6 levels in the DVHD with AF (5.26 ± 1.68 ng/L) and DVHD without AF (4.31 ± 1.73 ng/L) groups (P = 0.004). c hs-CRP levels in the DVHD with AF (5.00 ± 1.86 mg/L) and DVHD without AF (4.33 ± 1.65 mg/L) groups (P = 0.046). d NT-proBNP levels in the DVHD with AF (897.37 ± 452.16 pg/ml) and DVHD without AF (695.22 ± 372.18 pg/ml) groups (P = 0.011). IL-6, Interleukin (IL)-6; hs-CRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide; DVHD, degenerative valvular heart disease; AF, atrial fibrillation