ObjectiveTo explore the expression levels of N-Myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) protein and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in peripheral blood of patients with ischemic stroke, and analyze its correlation with patient prognosis.

MethodsA total of 300 patients with ischemic stroke were selected as the observation group, and divided into mild group (n=99), moderate group (n=113) and severe group (n=88) according to the National Institute of Health stroke scale. According to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) 90 days after discharge, they were divided into poor prognosis group (mRS>3, n=108) and good prognosis group (mRS ≤ 3, n=192). At the same time, 278 healthy subjects were randomly selected as the control group. The clinical data of patients were collected, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression levels of NDRG2 protein and mTOR in peripheral blood. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between NDRG2 protein, mTOR, and routine biochemical indicators in patients with ischemic stroke. The patients were followed up for 3 months after discharge, and the ROC curve was used to analyze the value of NDRG2 protein and mTOR in predicting poor prognosis of ischemic stroke.

ResultsThe levels of NDRG2 protein and mTOR in the peripheral blood of patients in the observation group was significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The levels of NDRG2 protein and mTOR in the peripheral blood of patients with severe neurological deficits were higher than those in the moderate and mild groups, and which in the moderate group was also higher than those in the mild group (P < 0.05). The peripheral blood NDRG2 protein and mTOR levels in ischemic stroke patients were positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), homocysteine (Hcy), D-dimer (D-D), lipoprotein a, hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P < 0.01). The levels of NDRG2 protein and mTOR in peripheral blood of patients with good prognosis were lower than those of patients with poor prognosis (P < 0.01). The peripheral blood NDRG2 protein and mTOR levels were evaluated for poor prognosis in ischemic stroke, with AUC of 0.733 and 0.952, sensitivity of 62.04% and 89.81%, and specificity of 76.56% and 89.58%, respectively. The AUC of the combined assessment of ischemic stroke was 0.958, with a sensitivity of 86.11% and a specificity of 93.23%.

ConclusionsThe levels of NDRG2 protein and mTOR in peripheral blood of patients with ischemic stroke are both high. The combined detection of NDRG2 protein and mTOR has high predictive value for poor prognosis of ischemic stroke.