Abstract:
Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) and microRNA (miR)-520b in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and coronary CTA calcium score (CACS) of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Methods A total of 110 CHD patients were set as the CHD group, and healthy volunteers in the same period were set as the control group.The peripheral blood was collected to determine the expression levels of USP22 and miR-520b in PBMC.The CHD group was grouped into no coronary artery calcification (CAC) group (20 cases), less CAC group (16 cases), mild CAC group (23 cases), moderate CAC group (29 cases), and severe CAC group (22 cases) according to the CACS grading standard.The differences in the expression levels of USP22 and miR-520b in each group were compared, and the influencing factors of CAC in CHD patients were analyzed.Pearson coefficient was performed to analyze the correlation of the expression levels of USP22 and miR-520b with CACS.
Results The expression level of USP22 in the CHD group (1.87±0.28) was notably higher than that in the control group (1.12±0.16) (P < 0.01), and the expression level of miR-520b (0.64±0.12) was lower than that in the control group (1.06±0.15) (P < 0.01).Among the groups of different calcification degrees in CHD groupthe expression level of USP22 was consistent with no CAC group < less CAC group < mild CAC group < moderate CAC group < heavy CAC group (P < 0.01), and the expression level of miR-520b was consistent with no CAC group >less CAC group>mild CAC group>moderate CAC group >heavy CAC group (P < 0.01).The expression level of USP22 in PBMC of CHD group was positively correlated with CACS (r=0.560, P < 0.01), and the expression level of miR-520b was negatively correlated with CACS (r=-0.593, P < 0.01).With the increase in the number of coronary lesions, the expression level of USP22 increased and the expression level of miR-520b decreased (P < 0.01).USP22 and miR-520b in PBMC were related factors affecting the occurrence of CAC in CHD patients (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).
Conclusions The expression level of USP22 in PBMC of CHD patients is increased, and the expression level of miR-520b is decreased, which is notably correlated with CAC, and has a certain reference value for clinical prediction of CAC in CHD patients.