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2026№6

MicroRNA in heart failure and acute transplanted heart rejection: Diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-101

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/therapy.2026.6.70-82

O.P. Shevchenko, S.O. Sharapchenko, DA. Velikiy, O.E. Gichkun Ersin, N.P. Mozheiko, A.O. Shevchenko, S.V. Gautier

1) Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation; 2) I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation; 3) N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (Pirogov University), Moscow, Russian Federation
Introduction. Heart transplantation (HT) remains a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage chronic heart failure (CHF). However, acute cellular rejection (ACR) of the cardiac graft is one of the leading causes of graft dysfunction and recipient mortality. Endomyocardial biopsy serves as the “gold standard” for the life-time diagnosis of specific myocardial diseases. The search for new minimally invasive laboratory technologies for the early detection of cardiac graft pathology is extremely important. MicroRNAs are known to be involved in various biological processes and immune response mechanisms.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of circulating microRNAs (miR-27, -101, -142, -339, -424), as well as their combination with ST2 stimulating growth factor analysis, in the diagnosis of ACR in transplanted hearts.
Material and methods. The study included 83 patients with CHF, 66 of whom underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation (CT). The expression levels of 5 microRNAs (miR-27, -101, -142, -339, -424) were measured before and after CT using polymerase chain reaction. Plasma ST2 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ACR was verified by immunohistochemistry of biopsy specimens.
Results. Plasma miR-27 and miR-101 levels in recipients with ACR significantly differed from those in recipients without rejection. MiR-101 test in combination with ST2 demonstrated the best diagnostic performance for acute cellular rejection (ACR) (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 100%). In patients with CHF, measuring miR-101 expression levels during preoperative evaluation is significant for predicting the development of ACR.
Conclusion. MiR-101 has been shown to have high potential as an ACR biomarker in both cardiac transplant recipients and patients with CHF. MiR-101 can be used in multimarker panels for noninvasive diagnosis and prognosis of ACR.

Keywords

chronic heart failure
heart transplantation
acute cellular rejection
miR-101
miR-27
stimulating growth factor ST2
Full text (in Russian)

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About the Authors

Olga P. Shevchenko, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), professor, deputy director for research work, Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: transplant2009@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6964-6465. eLibrary SPIN: 5480-7422
Sofya O. Sharapchenko, PhD (Biology), leading researcher at the Department of regulatory mechanisms in transplantology, Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: nyashka1512@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9295-9136. eLibrary SPIN: 9830-9987
Dmitriy A. Velikiy, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), chief researcher at the Department of regulatory mechanisms in transplantology, Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: dim_vel@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8742-5102. eLibrary SPIN: 9205-8830
Olga E. Gichkun Ersin, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), associate professor, leading researcher at the Department of regulatory mechanisms in transplantology, Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: gichkunoe@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3475-3161. eLibrary SPIN: 2631-3782
Natalya P. Mozheiko, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), head of the Department of pathological anatomy, Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: npm_72@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4841-7070. eLibrary SPIN: 7625-2590
Alexey O. Shevchenko, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), professor, corresponding member of RAS, chief researcher at the Center for personalized translational technologies for the treatment of critical conditions, Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: alxxshevchenko@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4719-9486. eLibrary SPIN: 3923-9795
Sergey V. Gautier, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), professor, academician of RAS, chief external expert-transplantologist of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia, director of Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: priemtranspl@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0633-678X. eLibrary SPIN: 5969-5749

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