LncRNA CASC11 was downregulated in coronary artery disease and inhibits transforming growth factor-β1

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Cancer Susceptibility 11 (CASC11) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This case–control study enrolled patients with CAD and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. The plasma levels of lncRNA CASC11 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) were measured. Diagnostic values of lncRNA CASC11 and TGF-β1 for CAD were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Correlations between plasma levels of lncRNA CASC11 and TGF-β1 were analysed using linear regression. RESULTS: The study enrolled 82 patients with CAD and 82 healthy controls. Plasma levels of lncRNA CASC11 were downregulated in patients with CAD, while plasma TGF-β1 levels were upregulated in patients with CAD, compared with healthy controls. Plasma levels of lncRNA CASC11 and TGF-β1 distinguished patients with CAD from healthy controls and were inversely correlated in both groups. LncRNA CASC11 over-expression mediated the downregulation of TGF-β1 in human primary coronary artery endothelial cells, while TGF-β1 over-expression showed no significant effects on lncRNA CASC11 levels. An 8-year follow-up study showed that low lncRNA CASC11 levels were closely correlated with a higher mortality rate in patients with CAD. CONCLUSION: LncRNA CASC11 is downregulated in CAD and inhibits TGF-β1.