Resistin and prooxidant-antioxidant balance: Markers to discriminate acute coronary syndrome from stable angina.

BACKGROUND: Resistin and oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) including acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum resistin and prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in ACS occurrence in order to differentiate it from stable angina. Moreover, we aimed to determine the correlation between resistin and PAB in patients with ACS and its difference from patients with stable CHD. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on 50 patients with ACS and 50 patients with stable CHD who underwent coronary angiography (CAG). Serum resistin level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PAB and other variables were analyzed using standard methods. RESULTS: A significant increase in serum resistin and PAB was observed in patients with ACS (2.55 ± 0.13 ng/ml and 123.5 ± 5.58 HK unit, respectively) compared to patients with stable CHD (1.53 ± 0.12 ng/ml and 95.9 ± 2.7 HK unit, respectively) (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant positive correlation was seen between serum resistin and PAB in patients with ACS (r = 0.39; P = 0.005), but this correlation was not found in patients with stable CHD (r = 0.21; P = 0.140). Resistin (r = 0.52; P < 0.001) and PAB (r = 0.55; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with ACS, but this association was not found in patients with stable CHD (resistin: r = 0.24; P = 0.090; PAB: r = -0.02: P = 0.910). CONCLUSION: High serum resistin or PAB levels, and their association with the occurrence of ACS, can be used as a robust discriminating factor to differentiate ACS from stable CHD.

Association of serum microRNA-21 levels with Visfatin, inflammation, and acute coronary syndromes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. It seems that microRNA-21 (miR-21) and Visfatin, a novel adipocytokine, play roles in inflammation and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of miR-21 with Visfatin, inflammation, atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Based on coronary angiography and electrocardiogram (ECG), 53 patients with ACS and 52 patients with stable CAD were enrolled in this study. We assayed serum miR-21, Visfatin, and routine chemistries using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and automated analyzer, respectively. We used a regression analysis to describe the relationship between the variables. Serum miR-21 level in 2-ΔCt value was significantly higher in ACS patients (10.52 ± 1.01-fold) than the stable CAD patients (4.4 ± 0.79-fold) (F = 4.59, p < 0.001). In addition, serum Visfatin was significantly higher in ACS patients (17.5 ± 0.61 ng/ml) than the stable CAD patients (12.7 ± 0.49 ng/ml) (F = 2.62, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the serum miR-21 level correlated positively with serum Visfatin level (r = 0.26, p = 0.008), hs-CRP (r = 0.29, p = 0.003), age (r = 0.21, p = 0.034) and negatively with HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.28, p = 0.004). We concluded that the increased serum miR-21 and Visfatin may be involved in the pathogenesis of ACS through promoting inflammation or may result from inflammatory responses to ACS. Furthermore, the potential role of miR-21 and Visfatin in plaque instability and inflammation warrants further investigations.

The role of serum levels of microRNA-21 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death. It seems that microRNA-21 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of circulating miR-21 and MMP-9 as biomarkers for ACS. Based on coronary angiography and electrocardiography results, 50 patients with ACS and 50 patients with stable coronary artery disease (stable CAD) were enrolled in this study. Samples were collected from patients and stored at -80 °C. Serum miR-21 gene expression was measured by quantitative real-time PCR method. Serum total MMP-9 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Also, the activity of MMP-9 was measured by gelatin zymography. Patients with ACS had a significantly higher miR-21 level compared to the stable CAD ([Formula: see text] = 0.88 ± 0.06 and 0.31 ± 0.08 respectively, P < 0.001). At the same time, the serum levels and activity of MMP-9 were significantly higher in ACS patients compared to those with stable CAD (324.01 ± 17.57 and 204.6 ± 12.39 ng/mL, P < 0.001, and 2524.5 ± 131.3 and 1280.8 ± 19.6 units, P < 0.001, respectively). miR-21 expression levels were correlated positively with MMP-9, hs-CRP, and age and negatively with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.33, P < 0.001, r = 0.22, P < 0.031, r = 0.26, P < 0.008, r = -0.32, P < 0.001, respectively). We concluded that increased serum expression of miR-21 and higher serum activity of MMP-9 may be useful indicators for ACS. However, we suggest further studies to be performed.