Stage-Associated MicroRNA Expression Patterns in Human Great Saphenous Veins Across Chronic Venous Disease Severity

INTRODUCTION: Chronic venous disease (CVD) is characterized by progressive venous wall remodeling, extracellular matrix dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate vascular processes, but their expression in human venous tissue across disease stages remains incompletely defined. We evaluated global miRNA expression in great saphenous veins across CVD severity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional pilot study, paraffin-embedded vein samples were obtained from patients with CVD and classified according to CEAP criteria into early-stage (C2-C3; G1) and advanced-stage (C4-C5; G2). Vein segments from patients without venous reflux undergoing arterial revascularization served as controls. Global miRNA expression profiling was performed using the GeneChip® miRNA 4.0 Array with multiple-testing correction. Direct statistical comparison between G1 and G2 was not performed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven samples were analyzed (6 controls, 12 G1, 9 G2). A total of 155 miRNAs were significantly dysregulated in CVD compared with controls. Most miRNAs were detected in both G1 and G2 comparisons, whereas 36 were identified only in the G1 vs control comparison, and two (hsa-miR-7977 and hsa-miR-23a-5p) only in the G2 vs control comparison. CONCLUSION: miRNA profiling suggests stage-associated expression patterns in human saphenous veins, indicating early molecular remodeling during CVD progression. These findings are exploratory and require independent validation.