Hematocrit-Related Alterations of Circulating microRNA-21 Levels in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Preliminary Study.

Viera Nemcekova, Zuzana Kmecova, Lenka Bies Pivackova, Eva Goncalvesova, Peter Krenek, Gabriel Doka, Jan Klimas

Genetic testing and molecular biomarkers 2021 Apr

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Aim: Circulating microRNA-21 (miR-21) has been utilized as a diagnostic tool in the assessment of heart failure (HF). Blood constitution may be altered when HF occurs and miR-21 may affect hematopoiesis. Sample hemolysis may influence the determination of circulating miRNAs, challenging the diagnostic use of miRNAs. Methods: We examined the relationship between blood measurements and miR-21 levels in ambulant chronic HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; n = 19). Healthy volunteers (n = 11) served as controls. Serum miR-21 levels were measured through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and we calculated the hemolysis score (H-score). Study was approved by an Institutional Review Board (EK FaF UK 02/2018). Results: MiR-21 serum levels were reduced in HFrEF patients compared with the controls (p < 0.05), without relationship to New York Heart Association class, left ventricular ejection fraction or N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels. MiR-21 levels decreased markedly in anemic patients, compared with those with normal hematocrits (p < 0.05). We found a significant relationship between miR-21 to hematocrit (p < 0.05) and hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.05). Importantly, we found a correlation between hematocrit and sample H-score (p < 0.05) in the cohort of HFrEF patients; however, there was no correlation between hemolysis and miR-21. Conclusion: Circulating miR-21 levels were decreased in HFrEF patients and hematocrit was identified as a factor associated with this abnormality. This suggests that miR-21 mirrors other characteristics of HFrEF patients rather than the standard identifiers of HF severity and progression.

Citation

Viera Nemcekova, Zuzana Kmecova, Lenka Bies Pivackova, Eva Goncalvesova, Peter Krenek, Gabriel Doka, Jan Klimas. Hematocrit-Related Alterations of Circulating microRNA-21 Levels in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Preliminary Study. Genetic testing and molecular biomarkers. 2021 Apr;25(4):302-306