plasma levels of mir-29a and mir-146a in relation to carotid intima media thickness measurement for detection of carotid atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic vascular disorders and its sequalae, involving myocardial infarction and stroke, are major reasons of human diseases and death globally. moreover, carotid intima media thickness (cimt) measurement is used to evaluate subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. therefore, indicators are necessary for prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis. earlier research have exposed that mirna-29a could show an imperative role in atherosclerosis and levels of mir-29a were positively related with cimt. although no information concerning the levels of mir-29a or mirna 146a and their correlation with cimt is available, the objective of our study is to investigate the role of plasma mir-29a and mir-146a values as potential biomarkers of carotid atherosclerosis and to correlate them with cimt. the values of mir 29a and mir 146a were measured in plasma from 50 healthy volunteers (group i) and 50 patients with cimt greater than 1.2 (group ii) by quantitative real time –pcr (qrt-pcr). cimt was measured by carotid doppler to detect atherosclerosis in both groups. significant upregulation of mir 29a and mir 146a levels in group ii than group i. a positive correlation was demonstrated between both mir 29a and mir 146a with cimt and crp, respectively.  roc curves of combined mir 29a and mir 146a to detect cimt ˃ 1.2 showed sensitivity and specificity of 74.4% and 100% particularly. the combination of both mir 29a and mir 146a could act as promising biomarkers of carotid atherosclerosis in risky people, hence accelerating the diagnosis for proper management of atherosclerotic progression.