HDL-bound microRNAs modulating cholesterol efflux and homeostasis and incidence of acute myocardial infarction: A population-based case-cohort study

ABSTRACT Background HDL particles can carry microRNAs (miRNAs), capable of regulating gene expression connected to HDL functions. Despite links to some cardiovascular risk factors, miRNA association with incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. Objectives Our aim was to elucidate the association between HDL-bound miRNAs (HDL-miRNAs) and incident AMI using a non-targeted approach in a population-based study. Methods We conducted a case-cohort study including 247 participants from the REGICOR cohort in northeastern Spain (51 AMI cases and a random sample of 196 participants, including seven overlapping AMI cases). HDL-miRNAs were isolated from apolipoprotein B-depleted serum and quantified by whole-genome miRNA sequencing. Associations between HDL-miRNAs and incident AMI were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. For AMI-associated HDL-miRNAs ( p -value