Circulating Non-coding RNAs and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Dyslipidemia and Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular diseases and stroke are the major causes of morbidity and death in Taiwan. There is a clear need to identify novel mediators of atherosclerosis in dyslipidemic patients to provide insights into the pathogenesis, to tailor clinical care based on cardiovascular risks, and to develop new therapeutic strategies.

While the roles of lncRNAs in human diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders are beginning to emerge, it remains unclear how lncRNA regulation contributes to atherosclerotic vascular diseases in patients with dyslipidemia. In this proposal, we seek to apply next-generation sequencing technology to investigate circulating (plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC]) lncRNA expression in control subjects and in dyslipidemic patients with and without atherosclerotic vascular diseases (CAD, ischemic stroke and PAOD). The results from these experiments will lead to better understanding of how circulating lncRNAs contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular complications.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Cardiovascular Diseases

Detailed Description

Cardiovascular diseases and stroke are the major causes of morbidity and death in Taiwan. Patients with dyslipidemia are prone to atherosclerosis, which predispose to various cardiovascular pathology including coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke and peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD). There are, however, no reliable biomarkers to detect atherosclerotic vascular diseases among dyslipidemic patients or to predict the risks of cardiovascular morbidities and mortality among patients with atherosclerosis. There is a clear need to identify novel mediators of atherosclerosis in dyslipidemic patients to provide insights into the pathogenesis, to tailor clinical care based on cardiovascular risks, and to develop new therapeutic strategies.

It has become increasingly clear that the transcription of the eukaryotic genome is far more pervasive and complex than previously appreciated. While the expression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) account for only ~1% of all transcribed species, up to 90% of the mammalian genome is transcribed as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a heterogeneous group of non-coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. LncRNAs have been shown to be functional and involved in specific physiological and pathological processes through epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. While the roles of lncRNAs in human diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders are beginning to emerge, it remains unclear how lncRNA regulation contributes to atherosclerotic vascular diseases in patients with dyslipidemia.

In this proposal, we seek to apply next-generation sequencing technology to investigate circulating (plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC]) lncRNA expression in control subjects and in dyslipidemic patients with and without atherosclerotic vascular diseases (CAD, ischemic stroke and PAOD). We will test the hypothesis that circulating lncRNA expression signature can reflect the atherosclerotic disease states in patients with dyslipidemia. A gene co-expression network analysis will be conducted to identify lncRNAs that are functionally involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. With the experimental results from an initial dyslipidemic cohort, we will establish an atherosclerosis scoring model on the basis of circulating lncRNA expression signature to facilitate the detection of atherosclerotic vascular diseases in patients with dyslipidemia. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the lncRNA-based atherosclerosis scoring system will then be tested in an independent, large validation cohort. Next, we propose to test the hypothesis that circulating lncRNAs can be novel prognostic biomarkers to predict atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular outcomes in dyslipidemic patients. The results from these experiments will lead to better understanding of how circulating lncRNAs contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular complications. These studies will also establish a set of novel, lncRNA-based diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in dyslipidemic patients to improve clinical preventive and therapeutic care. In addition, the findings from these studies will help to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent atherosclerotic vascular diseases in patients with dyslipidemia.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 1000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan, 100
    • Recruiting
    • National Taiwan University Hospital
    • Contact: Kai-Chien Yang, M.D. Ph.D.; Phone Number: 88327 +886223123456; Email: kcyang@ntu.edu.tw
    • Principal Investigator: Chau-Chung Wu, M.D. Ph.D.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

patients with dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic vascular diseases, or at least one CV risk factors

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Dyslipidemia: Total cholesterol (TC) >200 mg/dL; LDL-C > 130 mg/dL ; TG > 200 mg/dL; male HDL-C < 40 mg/dL, female HDL-C < 50 mg/dL, or under lipid lowering therapy

2. Atherosclerotic vascular disease:

   1. Coronary atherosclerosis as evidenced by cardiac catheterization examination, having history of myocardial infarction as evidenced by ECG or hospitalization, angina patient showing ischemic ECG changes or positive response to stress test;
   2. Cerebral vascular disease, cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage (excluding intracerebral hemorrhage associated with other diseases); transient ischemic attack (TIA) with carotid artery ultrasound confirming atheromatous change with more than 70% blockage;
   3. Peripheral atherosclerosis with symptoms of ischemia and confirmed by Doppler ultrasound or angiography in history.
3. Control subjects: Age, gender-matched healthy adults without dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic diseases will be recruited as control subjects.

Exclusion Criteria The main exclusion criteria will be hemodynamically significant valvular or congenital heart disease, life-threatening malignancy, treatment with immunosuppressive agents, or any condition or situation which, in the opinion of the investigator, might be not suitable for this registration.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Composite cardiovascular outcome	The composite cardiovascular (CV) outcome will be any CV events (coronary, cerebral, or peripheral vascular diseases)	up to 5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chau-Chung Wu, M.D., Ph. D., National Taiwan University Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 10, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): September 12, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 15, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 13, 2017
• Last Verified: September 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: CV disease; lnRNA
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dyslipidemias; Atherosclerosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 201505165RINC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES