Circulating lncRNA MHRT predicts survival of patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that lncRNA myosin heavy-chain-associated RNA transcripts (MHRT) can inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. It is one of the major pathological changes leading to chronic heart failure. METHODS: The expression level of lncRNA MHRT was assessed by qRT-PCR. Diagnostic values of lncRNA MHRT for chronic heart failure were analyzed by ROC curve analysis. Cell apoptosis was detected by cell apoptosis assay. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that expression of lncRNA MHRT in plasma was down-regulated in patients with chronic heart failure compared to that in healthy people. Down-regulation of lncRNA MHRT distinguished chronic heart failure from healthy people. Over-expression of lncRNA MHRT inhibited the apoptosis of human cardiomyocyte cell line AC16 after H(2)O(2) treatment. Follow-up study showed that chronic heart failure patients with lower expression levels of lncRNA MHRT had worse survival conditions compared to patients with higher expression levels of lncRNA MHRT. CONCLUSION: We concluded that circulating lncRNA MHRT might serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for chronic heart failure treatment.