Elevated serum miR-142-5p correlates with ischemic lesions and both NSE and S100β in ischemic stroke patients.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the correlation between miRNAs and known nerve injury markers neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100β in ischemic stroke (IS) patients, exploring its efficacy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 86 IS patients and 32 healthy controls. Clinical and neurological examinations were performed in the admitted patients and the severity of neurological deficits was assessed by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Plasma extraction and serum isolation were performed on all subjects before and 2 weeks after admission. miR-142-5p in serum, and NSE and S100β contents were measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA.

Results: Ischemic lesions were more severe in IS patients, and NSE and S100β were abnormally elevated. miR-142-5p in the serum of IS patients was 2.85 times higher. After 2 weeks of treatment, serum miR-142-5, NSE, and S100β decreased. Patients' serum levels of miR-142-5p were 57.5% lower. Serum miR-142-5, NSE, and S100β were lower in patients with disease improvement than in patients with poor recovery. Additionally, miR-142-5 was positively correlated with NSE (P < 0.0001) and S100β (P = 0.0147), and also with the NIHSS score (P = 0.0004).

Conclusions: miR-142-5p, NSE, and S100β in peripheral blood (PB) of IS patients are elevated, and miR-142-5p is positively correlated with NSE and S100β.