MicroRNA-224 (rs188519172 A>G) Gene Variability is Associated with a Decreased Susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease: A Case-Control Study

Aim: The microRNAs regulate the expression of multiple genes involved in diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we have investigated the association between the miR-224 gene polymorphism (rs188519172A>G) and susceptibility of coronary artery disease CAD. Methodology: Hundred CAD patients and 100-matched healthy control were included. Genotyping of the miR-224 (rs188519172A>G) polymorphism was performed using Amplification refractory mutation system PCR method (ARMS-PCR). Results: A significant difference was observed in the genotype distribution among CAD patients and healthy controls (P=0.018). The frequencies of all three genotypes GG, GA, AA reported in the patient’s samples were 33%, 66% and 01%, and in the healthy controls samples, were 16%, 82% and 2% respectively. A multivariate analysis based on logistic regression was conducted for each group to estimate the association between miR-224 rs188519172 genotypes and risk to coronary artery disease. Results show that the miR-224 (rs188519172 A>G) polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk to CAD in a codominant model, GA genotype vs. GG (OR = 0.39 (95 % CI, 0.19-0.76), RR 0.58 (0.38-0.90, P=0.006). In the dominant model, (GA+AA vs. GG), there was also a significant association with the OR=0.38 (95 % CI (0.19-0.76), RR 0.58 (0.38-0.89), and P=0.006. Whereas, in the recessive model, (GG+GA vs. AA), there was no significant association of CAD with OR=0.49 (95% CI (0.044-5.54), RR 0.74 (0.33-1.68), and P=0.48. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that miR-224 (rs188519172) GA genotype is associated with a decreased susceptibility to CAD.