Biomarker value of plasma endothelial microvesicle-derived circRNA 0006222 in vascular ageing and carotid atherosclerosis

BackgroundEndothelial microvesicles (EMVs) carrying circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as promising novel biomarkers of ageing-associated disorders. This study investigated the potential of plasma EMVs-circ_0006222 as vascular ageing (VA) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) biomarkers.MethodsA circRNA microarray was applied to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs in plasma EMVs obtained from CAS participants, VA participants and healthy controls. VA was assessed according to intima thickness, and CAS was evaluated by using computed tomography angiography. The plasma EMVs-circ_0006222 level was determined via qRT-PCR. EMVs-circ_0006222 levels in patients of different ages and with different severities of CAS were compared. The diagnostic potential of EMVs-circ_0006222 was evaluated by using multivariable logistic regression and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.ResultsA total of 47 healthy controls, 81 VA participants and 216 CAS participants were included in this study. Plasma EMVs-circ_0006222 levels were observed to be negatively associated with age. The plasma level of EMVs-circ_0006222 was markedly reduced in elderly participants, as well as VA and CAS participants; moreover, the decrease was most evident in the CAS group. The plasma EMVs-circ_0006222 level was declined in the severe CAS compared with the mild and moderate CAS subjects. Plasma EMVs-circ_0006222 level was identified by multivariate logistic regression as a significant, independent risk factor for VA and CAS. The areas under the ROC curve of plasma EMVs-circ_0006222 for diagnosing VA and CAS were 0.628 and 0.773, respectively.ConclusionPlasma EMVs-circ_0006222 may serve as a promising biomarker for VA and CAS.