Sex-specific microRNAs in women with diabetes and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction or HFpEF associate with microvascular injury

Barend W. Florijn*, Gideon B. Valstar, Jacques M.G.J. Duijs, Roxana Menken, Maarten J. Cramer, Arco J. Teske, Chahinda Ghossein-Doha, Frans H. Rutten, Marc E.A. Spaanderman, Hester M. den Ruijter, Roel Bijkerk, Anton Jan van Zonneveld

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are microcirculation defects following diabetes mellitus (DM). Unrecognized HFpEF is more prevalent in women with diabetes compared to men with diabetes and therefore sex-specific diagnostic strategies are needed. Previously, we demonstrated altered plasma miRs in DM patients with microvascular injury [defined by elevated plasma Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) levels]. This study hypothesized the presence of sex-differences in plasma miRs and Ang-2 in diabetic (female) patients with LVDD or HFpEF. After a pilot study, we assessed 16 plasma miRs in patients with LVDD (n = 122), controls (n = 244) and female diabetic patients (n = 10). Subsequently, among these miRs we selected and measured plasma miR-34a, -224 and -452 in diabetic HFpEF patients (n = 53) and controls (n = 52). In LVDD patients, miR-34a associated with Ang-2 levels (R2 0.04, R = 0.21, p = 0.001, 95% CI 0.103–0.312), with plasma levels being diminished in patients with DM, while women with an eGFR < 60 ml/min and LVDD had lower levels of miR-34a, -224 and -452 compared to women without an eGFR < 60 ml/min without LVDD. In diabetic HFpEF women (n = 28), plasma Ang-2 levels and the X-chromosome located miR-224/452 cluster increased compared to men. We conclude that plasma miR-34a, -224 and -452 display an association with the microvascular injury marker Ang-2 and are particularly targeted to women with LVDD or HFpEF.

Original languageEnglish
Article number13945
JournalScientific Reports
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiopoietin-2/analysis
  • Biomarkers/blood
  • Diabetes Complications/genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus/genetics
  • Female
  • Heart Failure/genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs/genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Stroke Volume/genetics
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/genetics
  • Ventricular Function, Left/genetics

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