MicroRNA-29a: A potential biomarker in the development of intracranial aneurysm

Abstract Aim To identify serum microRNA-29a (miR-29a) level in patients with intracranial aneurysm and its role in the development of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Methods Case group included 165 IA patients hospitalized in the department of neurosurgery between January 2010 and January 2012 while control group enrolled 220 healthy volunteers. Morning fasting blood samples were collected from peripheral vein. RT-PCR was used for miR-29a detection. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn. Survival curves were drawn for survival analysis with Kaplan-Meier method and Long-rank test was conducted. MiR-29a expression Glasgow Prognosis Score (GOS) was used for prognosis scaling. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed for prognosis analysis. Results Cases had significantly higher miR-29a expressions than controls ( P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis indicated that miR-29a expression in IA had high effectiveness in IA diagnosis. Close associations were identified between miR-29a expression and rupture, Hunt-Hess level and surgical timing (all P < 0.05). GOS strongly associated with history of hypertension, aneurysm location, rupture, Hunt-Hess level and miR-29a expression. Patients with low miR-29a expression had longer disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with high miR-29a expression (both P < 0.05). MiR-29a expression, tumor aneurysm, rupture and Hunt-Hess were risk factors to the prognosis of IA (all P < 0.05). Conclusion MiR-29a may be closely related to IA development and therefore could be a useful predicator of IA prognosis, providing a new target for IA therapy.