Atherosclerotic Conditions Promote the Packaging of Functional MicroRNA-92a-3p into Endothelial Microvesicles

Rationale: Microvesicle-incorporated microRNAs (miRs) are biomarkers and effectors of cardiovascular disease. Whether microvesicle-miR expression is regulated in coronary artery disease (CAD) or not is unknown. Objective: Here, we explore the expression of circulating microvesicle-miRs in patients with CAD and investigate the role of microvesicle-miR in endothelial cells. Methods and Results: Circulating microvesicles were isolated from patients’ plasma by using ultracentrifugation. Electron microscopy was used to determine the size of the microvesicles. A Taqman miR array revealed certain microvesicle-miRs are significantly regulated in patients with stable CAD compared with patients with ACS. To validate the miR array results, 180 patients with angiographically excluded CAD (n=41), stable CAD (n=77), and acute coronary syndrome (n=62) were prospectively studied. Nine miRs involved in regulation of vascular performance—miR-126-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-let-7d-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-139-5p, ...