PBMC miRNAs expressed in response to high choleterol, high fat (HCHF) diet in baboons

Blood elements (microRNAs) responds to environmental stimuli such as diet. HCHF diet is atherogenic and stimulates initiation of atherosclerosis, the primary cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). PBMCs are involved in the initiation of atherosclerosis. To retard the prevalence of CVD, it is important to identify novel therapeutic targets and reliable and accurate biomarkers of early-stage atherosclerosis. Treatment and detection of the disease at an early stage prior to advancement to a clinical stage, which is costly and life-threatening, is fundamentally important. Baboon is a well-characterized model of early-stage atherosclerosis and could play a vital role in elucidating the novel targets. The overall goal of the study is to identify coordinated networks of PMBC miRNAs and miRNA target-genes that respond to HCHF diet.

血液中的微小RNA（microRNAs，miRNAs）会响应饮食等环境刺激。高胆固醇高脂（HCHF）饮食具有致动脉粥样硬化性，可触发动脉粥样硬化的发生，而动脉粥样硬化是心血管疾病（CVD）的主要诱因。外周血单个核细胞（PBMCs，Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells）参与了动脉粥样硬化的发生过程。为遏制心血管疾病的患病率，识别动脉粥样硬化早期阶段的新型治疗靶点以及可靠精准的生物标志物至关重要。在病情进展至临床阶段（该阶段治疗成本高昂且会危及生命）前对疾病进行早期检测与干预，具有根本性的重要意义。狒狒是一种经过充分表征的动脉粥样硬化早期模型，可为阐明新型治疗靶点发挥关键作用。本研究的总体目标是，识别出可响应高胆固醇高脂（HCHF）饮食的外周血单个核细胞miRNA及其靶基因的协同调控网络。