Analysis of the association of the methylation levels of MIR10B and MIR21 genes in blood leukocytes with advanced carotid atherosclerosis

Complications of atherosclerosis remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. MiRNAs are short regulatory molecules that are involved in all processes of pathogenesis. Expression of miRNAs is regulated by DNA methylation. Methylation and/or expression of MIR10B and MIR21 genes are known to vary in atherosclerotic tissues of the arteries, but there is no data about the changes in the methylation levels of these genes in blood leukocytes and their association with atherosclerosis risk factors. Objective. To evaluate the association of methylation levels of MIR10B and MIR21 genes in the blood leukocytes with risk factors and pathogenetically significant traits of carotid atherosclerosis. Material and Methods. DNA for the study was extracted from the samples of blood leukocytes of 122 patients with advanced carotid atherosclerosis as well as from blood leukocytes of 135 individuals in the control group. The DNA methylation level was analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Results. The methylation level of the MIR10B and MIR21 genes in leukocytes of patients with atherosclerosis is higher than in the leukocytes of the control group. In leukocytes of patients with carotid atherosclerosis the methylation level of the MIR21 gene promoter was correlated with type 2 diabetes and serum cholesterol level, and the methylation level of the coding region of the MIR10B gene was correlated with smoking. Conclusions. The level of DNA methylation in the regions of MIR10B and MIR21 genes in blood leukocytes is associated with the risk of advanced atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries.