Serum miR-15b-3p as a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker for Carotid Artery Stenosis

Abstract Background and aim Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a significant contributor to cerebral infarction. miR-15b-3p shows aberrant expression in various diseases. This research sought to assess serum miR-15b-3p expression in CAS, its diagnostic value, and the underlying mechanisms. Methods This study recruited 111 CAS patients and 157 healthy controls. miR-15b-3p’s diagnostic potential was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The role of miR-15b-3p for human vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs) was examined using cell transfection, proliferation assays, and apoptosis analysis. Targets of miR-15b-3p were identified through bioinformatics analysis and validated using dual-luciferase assays. Results Patients with CAS exhibited significantly elevated serum miR-15b-3p levels relative to controls. miR-15b-3p demonstrated 75.68% sensitivity and 81.82% specificity in CAS detection (AUC = 0.853) and could distinguish severe CAS (AUC = 0.788, sensitivity = 74.51%, specificity = 76.67%). miR-15b-3p promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of HA-VSMCs by targeting PTEN. In CAS patients, PTEN showed a negative correlation with miR-15b-3p levels (r = -0.601, P < 0.001). Conclusion Serum miR-15b-3p is elevated in CAS patients. It promotes the proliferation of HA-VSMC cells via targeting PTEN. Although miR-15b-3p holds promise diagnostic value for CAS, it is not yet sufficient for clinical diagnosis.