AUTHOR=Agulló Laura , Segura Ana , Ortuño-Miquel Samanta , Brinca Ana Teresa , Micol-Ponce Rosa , Arrarte Vicente , Ponce María Rosa , Miró-Martínez Pau , Zandonai Thomas , Peiró Ana M. 

TITLE=Circulating miRNA-21 is an innovative biomarker for cardiovascular events in erectile dysfunction patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1301925

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2024.1301925

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>It is well-known that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) play a relevant role in many kinds of diseases by regulating the expression of genes involved in various pathophysiologic processes, including erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).</p></sec><sec><title>Purpose</title><p>This study aimed to identify the miRNA-21 profile in the blood samples of patients with ED, CVD, and the combination of both pathologies to elucidate the potential function of miRNA-21.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A total of 45 patients with CVD and/or who underwent the erectile function test were included and divided into the following categories: CVD with ED (cases, <italic>n </italic>= 29) and controls (<italic>n </italic>= 16) with either ED or CVD. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis verified the results. miRNA-21 expression was quantified, and informatics analysis was applied to predict the functions of this differentially expressed miRNA-21.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>A total of 64% of cases (63 ± 9 years, 66% with severe ED, 56% with CV ejection fraction) first presented ED as the sentinel clinical manifestation. Serum miRNA-21 levels in the control ED were significant, up to 10-fold higher than in the CVD controls and cases. A significant inverse (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0368, <italic>β</italic> = −2.046) correlation was found between erectile function and miRNA-21 levels.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Our study provides comprehensive insights into the functional interaction between miRNA-21 and ED in CVD patients. Its relevance lies in the potential of miRNA as a biomarker to be applied in the cardiovascular predictive medicine field.</p></sec>