biostudies-literatureKarere GMAmerican Heart AssociationNCRR NIH HHSAmerican Heart Association-American Stroke AssociationNHLBI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthNIH HHS3467https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9977938biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)Identification of potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers indicative of burden of early atherosclerosis that occur prior to advancement to life-threatening unstable plaques is the key to eradication of CAD prevalence and incidences. We challenged 16 baboons with a high cholesterol, high fat diet for 2 years and evaluated early-stage atherosclerotic lesions (fatty streaks, FS, and fibrous plaques, FP) in formalin-fixed common iliac arteries (CIA). We used small RNA sequencing to identify expressed miRNAs in CIA and in baseline blood samples of the same animals. We found 412 expressed miRNAs in CIA and 356 in blood samples. Eight miRNAs (miR-7975, -486-5p, -451a, -191-5p, -148a-3p, -17-5p, -378c, and -144-3p) were differentially expressed between paired fatty streak lesion and no-lesionScientific reportsPotential miRNA biomarkers and therapeutic targets for early atherosclerotic lesions.PMC9977938P51 RR013986P01 HL028972C06 RR014578K01 HL130697C06 RR017515P51 OD011133C06 RR015456C06 RR013556K01HL1306974POST18150019P01HL028972Li GKonar AVandeBerg JLGlenn JPKarere GMCox LAfalsePotential miRNA biomarkers and therapeutic targets for early atherosclerotic lesions.Identification of potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers indicative of burden of early atherosclerosis that occur prior to advancement to life-threatening unstable plaques is the key to eradication of CAD prevalence and incidences. We challenged 16 baboons with a high cholesterol, high fat diet for 2 years and evaluated early-stage atherosclerotic lesions (fatty streaks, FS, and fibrous plaques, FP) in formalin-fixed common iliac arteries (CIA). We used small RNA sequencing to identify expressed miRNAs in CIA and in baseline blood samples of the same animals. We found 412 expressed miRNAs in CIA and 356 in blood samples. Eight miRNAs (miR-7975, -486-5p, -451a, -191-5p, -148a-3p, -17-5p, -378c, and -144-3p) were differentially expressed between paired fatty streak lesion and no-lesion2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Mar2025-04-04T20:10:10.723Z2025-04-04T20:10:10.723ZS-EPMC99779383685945810.1038/s41598-023-29074-1