MiR-146a gene variant rs2910164 might be associated with coronary in-stent restenosis risk: Results from a pilot study and meta-analysis

Abstract

Coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) is an adverse effect that occurs in 20-35% of patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. The fact that not all patients will develop ISR indicates that genetic factors contribute to ISR susceptibility. Previous studies have reported that various micro RNA (miRNA) molecules regulate biological processes underlying ISR development, including miR-146a which is involved in regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and neointima formation. Nucleotide variants in miRNA genes can affect the function of mature miRNAs. mir-146a rs2910164 gene variant is located in the seed region of mature miR-146a, key region for the regulation of target mRNAs. The current study aimed to examine the association between rs2910164 variant in mir-146a gene and coronary ISR risk in a group of Serbian patients and to enhance the study by performing a meta-analysis. Samples of peripheral blood were obtained from 61 patients who previously underwent PCI with stent implantation, 25 (41%) of which had angiographically confirmed ISR. There were no significant differences in allele and genotype distribution of rs2910164 variant between patients with and without ISR. In a Serbian group of patients, the analyzed variant was not associated with the ISR risk. Results of the meta-analysis showed that heterozygous GC genotype is associated with decreased risk to ISR (OR=0.475, P=0.006), indicating its protective role in ISR formation.