miR-146a has been implicated in the regulation of the immune response as well as in inflammatory process of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we have investigated the expression of miR-146a and its targets, TLR4 a IRAK1, in aortic valve stenosis. A total of 58 patients with aortic stenosis (non- and atherosclerotic; tissue obtained during standard aortic valve replacement) were enrolled. The relative expression of mir-146a was higher in valvular tissue from patients with atherosclerosis compared to those without atherosclerosis (p = 0.01). Number of the IRAK1 and TLR4 transcripts did not differ between the investigated groups. There was a trend toward elevation of miR-146a expression in context of inflammatory infiltrate observed in the valvular tissue from patients with atherosclerosis (p = 0.06). In conclusion, in line with the acknowledged role of miR-146a in atherosclerotic inflammation, our data suggest it may be extended to the specific location of aortic valves in aortic stenosis.

Department of Cardiac Surgery Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc Czechia

Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Czechia

Department of Pathological Physiology Faculty of Medicine Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Czechia

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine Palacky University Olomouc Czechia

Internal Medicine 1 Cardiology Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc Czechia

Laboratory of Cardiogenomics University Hospital Olomouc Olomouc Czechia

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