Differential expression of microRNA in endothelial cells incubated with serum of hypertension patients with blood-stasis syndrome.

Objective: To screen out blood-stasis syndrome (BSS)-associated microRNA and therefore determine the possible target for treating hypertension.

Methods: A high-energy sequencing method and digital gene expression sequencing theory were adopted to sequence microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA), and to determine differential expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells incubated with serum samples from hypertension patients with or without BSS, and healthy controls. The results were confirmed using gene prediction software.

Results: A total of 13 miRNAs and 11 mRNAs showed statistical difference both in the BSS/normal groups and BSS/non-BSS groups, respectively. Four pairs of target mRNA/miRNA were identified: FRMD4A/hsa-miR-34a, MAP3K14/hsa-miR-34a, PER1/hsa-miR-34a, and FGF2/hsa-miR-132.

Conclusion: Four mRNA/miRNA pairs mentioned above seem to be involved in pathogenesis and maintenance of hypertension with BSS.