Association between fine particulate matter and coronary heart disease: A miRNA microarray analysis.

Several studies have reported an association between residential surrounding particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM) and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the underlying biological mechanism remains unclear. To fill this research gap, this study enrolled a residentially stable sample of 942 patients with CHD and 1723 controls. PM concentration was obtained from satellite-based annual global PM estimates for the period 1998-2019. MicroRNA microarray and pathway analysis of target genes was performed to elucidate the potential biological mechanism by which PM increases CHD risk. The results showed that individuals exposed to high PM concentrations had higher risks of CHD than those exposed to low PM concentrations (odds ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 1.47 per 10 μg/m increase in PM). Systolic blood pressure mediated 6.6% of the association between PM and CHD. PM and miR-4726-5p had an interaction effect on CHD development. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that miR-4726-5p may affect the occurrence of CHD by regulating the function of RhoA. Therefore, individuals in areas with high PM exposure and relative miR-4726-5p expression have a higher risk of CHD than their counterparts because of the interaction effect of PM and miR-4726-5p on blood pressure.