Correlation of Serum miRNA-346 and LRP6 Protein Levels with Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

Objective MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function to silence target gene expression by repressing transcription or inducing mRNA degradation, thereby suppressing protein translation. Bioinformatics databases predict that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 gene ( LRP6 ) is a downstream target gene of human miRNA-346. LRP6 protein plays an important role in regulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels, and knockout of the LRP6 gene or reduced LRP6 protein activity is closely associated with hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to investigate the expression levels of serum miRNA-346 and LRP6 protein in patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD). Methods Patients who underwent coronary angiography for the first time at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College between February 2023 and June 2023 were enrolled. Based on clinical presentation, they were divided into three groups: acute coronary syndrome (ACS, n  = 52), stable angina pectoris (SAP, n  = 58), and control ( n  = 40). Serum miRNA-346, LRP6 protein, and LDL-c levels were compared among the groups, and correlations between these parameters and disease status were analyzed. Results Serum miRNA-346 levels in the ACS group were significantly higher than those in the SAP and control groups ( H  = 8.885, P  < 0.05). A weak correlation was observed between miRNA-346 and LRP6 protein levels ( r  = 0.196, P  < 0.05). A moderate negative correlation was found between LRP6 protein and LDL-c levels ( r  = − 0.530, P  < 0.001). Conclusion Serum miRNA-346 is involved in the pathological process of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. A weak correlation exists between miRNA-346 and LRP6 protein levels.