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 H2O2 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.