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    Oral Communication

    Venous Thromboembolism

    Epidemiology of Venous Thromboembolism I

    OC 63.2 - Plasma expression levels of microRNA-145 are associated with risk of future venous thromboembolism

    Tuesday, June 27, 2023
    15:00 – 15:15 ET
    Room: 520
    Session Available As: On-Demand

      Presenting Author(s)

    • Vânia M. Morelli, MD PhD

      Researcher
      Thrombosis Research Group (TREC), Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
      Tromsø, Troms, Norway

      • Co-Author(s)

    • Sigrid K. Brækkan, PhD (she/her/hers)

      Professor
      Thrombosis Research Center (TREC), Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
      Tromsø, Troms, Norway

    • Omri Snir, PhD

      Researcher
      Thrombosis Research Group (TREC), Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
      Tromsø, Troms, Norway

    • KH

      Kristian Hveem

      Professor
      Department of Public Health, K. G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
      Trondheim, Nord-Trondelag, Norway

    • JH

      John-Bjarne Hansen, MD, PhD

      Professor
      Thrombosis Research Center (TREC), Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
      Tromsø, Troms, Norway

    Background: MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding RNAs that execute their function by targeted downregulation of gene expressions. Growing evidence indicates that miRs are involved in the pathophysiology of several human diseases. Recently, miR-145 has been shown to regulate the expression levels of tissue factor and factor XI in vitro and to decrease venous thrombus formation in animal models. However, the role of miR-145 for the risk of future venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains unknown.

    Aims: To investigate the association between plasma miR-145 levels and risk of future VTE in a population-based case-cohort study.

    Methods: Cases with incident VTE (n=512) and a subcohort (n=1902) were derived from the third survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3), a Norwegian population-based cohort study. The expression levels of miR-145 were determined in plasma samples obtained at cohort baseline using commercially available assays from QIAGEN (Hilden, Germany). The study population was divided into quartiles based on log-transformed expression levels of miR-145 in the subcohort participants, and weighted Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained.

    Results: Elevated levels of miR-145 expression in plasma were associated with decreased risk of VTE (Table 1). Participants with miR-145 levels in the highest quartile had a 50% lower risk of VTE (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.37-0.66) compared with those with miR-145 levels in the lowest quartile in age- and sex-adjusted analysis. Risk estimates remained virtually the same after further adjustment for body mass index.

    Conclusion(s): Our results indicate that expression levels of miR-145 are inversely associated with VTE risk. Our finding of a protective role of miR-145 against VTE is consistent with previous experimental data. Future studies are needed to confirm the potential of miR-145 as a predictive biomarker and for preventive treatment of VTE.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Upon completion, participant will be able to define the role of microRNA-145 in hemostasis
    • Upon completion, participant will be able to describe the potential role of microRNA-145 in venous thromboembolism
    • Upon completion, participant will be able to question whether microRNA-145 could serve as a therapeutic target for venous thromboembolism