Specific Genes and microRNAs as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for the Potential Progression of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Akram  Gholipour; Molood  Farsi; Faezeh  Sari; Zahra  Khajali; Majid  Maleki; Mahshid  Malakootian

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i12.20846

Akram Gholipour Cardiogenetic Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran
Molood Farsi Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Faezeh Sari Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Khajali Cardiogenetic Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran
Majid Maleki Cardiogenetic Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran
Mahshid Malakootian Cardiogenetic Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i12.20846

Keywords: Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Biomarkers; Genes; MicroRNAs

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs due to obstruction of small pulmonary arteries. Its exact cause is unknown. We aimed to identify specific genes, signaling pathways, and microRNAs (miRNAs) as novel diagnostic biomarkers for PAH progression.

Methods: We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from PAH and control samples in the GSE144932 and GSE131793 datasets using GEO2R. We performed GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses. miRNAs targeting common DEGs were identified using miRDB and TargetScan.

Results: MYLK and CLU were upregulated in both datasets, implicating calcium signaling and coagulation pathways, respectively. In silico analysis showed that miR-9-5p, miR-3179, and miR-580-3p potentially target MYLK; miR-369-3p potentially targets CLU; and miR-499a-5p potentially targets both.

Conclusion: This study identifies MYLK and CLU, and their associated miRNAs (miR-9-5p, miR-3179, miR-580-3p, miR-499a-5p, and miR-369-3p), as potential noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for PAH, requiring experimental validation.