Uncovering potential lncRNAs and mRNAs in progression from acute myocardial infarction to myocardial fibrosis to heart failure

Background: In spite of modern reperfusion therapies, morbidity and mortality of heart failure (HF) post myocardial infarction (MI) remain elevated. The aim of this study was to identify potential long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs in progression from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to myocardial fibrosis (MF) to HF. Methods: Firstly, blood samples from 3 AMI patients, 3 MF patients and 3 HF patients were used for RNA sequencing. Secondly, differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were obtained in MF vs AMI and HF vs MF, followed by functional annotation of common differentially expressed mRNAs between two groups. Thirdly, interaction networks of lncRNA-nearby targeted mRNA and lncRNA-co-expressed mRNA were constructed in MF vs AMI and HF vs MF. Finally, expression validation and diagnostic capability analysis of selected lncRNAs and mRNAs were performed. Results: Several lncRNA-co-expressed/nearby targeted mRNAs pairs including AC005392.3/AC007278.2-IL18R1, AL356356.1/AL137145.2-PFKFB3 and MKNK1-AS1/LINC01127-IL1R2 were identified. Several signaling pathways including TNF signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction (involved IL18R1), fructose and mannose metabolism and HIF-1 signaling pathway (involved PFKFB3), hematopoietic cell lineage and fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis (involved IL1R2) and estrogen signaling pathway (involved FKBP5) were screened out. FKBP5, IL1R2, IRAK3, LRG1, RNASE1 and PLAC4 had a potential diagnostic value for HF. blood samples from 3 AMI patients, 3 MF patients and 3 HF patients were used for RNA sequencing.