RESUMEN
The relationships of serum circNIPSNAP3A and circHIPK3 with metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) remain to be clarified. Three hundred and thirty-eight subjects were categorized into normal coronary artery, atherosclerosis and CAD groups. Clinical data including anthropometric indexes, medical history, and physiological and biochemical parameters were collected. Serum circNIPSNAP3A and circHIPK3 were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. CAD severity was evaluated by clinical manifestation, electrocardiogram and coronary angiography. Both CAD and atherosclerosis groups had a higher serum level of circNIPSNAP3A than the normal coronary artery group (P < 0.05 for all). The subjects with a high percentage (> 66th percentile) of circNIPSNAP3A had higher mean levels of triglycerides, uric acid and homocysteine, and lower mean levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI than those with a low percentage (< 33rd percentile) of circNIPSNAP3A. Notably, circNIPSNAP3A is significantly and independently associated with CAD, and subjects with a high percentage of circNIPSNAP3A had more diseased coronary branches and a higher incidence of acute coronary syndrome than those with a low percentage of circNIPSNAP3A. Regarding circHIPK3, subjects with a medium or high percentage of circHIPK3 had a lower mean level of apolipoprotein AI than those with a low percentage of circHIPK3, but no significant differences in the incidence and severity of CAD among the < 33rd, 33rd-66th, and > 66th percentiles of circHIPK3 were detected. Serum circNIPSNAP3A is related to cardiovascular risk factors and CAD severity, and may be a potential prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target for CAD.