Dialysis M ethod Alters the Expression of MicroRNA‐33a and Its Target Genes ABCA1 , ABCG1 in THP ‐1 Macrophages

Atherosclerosis and accompanying cardiovascular disease are the first causes of mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Anti‐atherosclerotic effects of hemodiafiltration ( HDF ) have been reported. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of serum derived from a healthy group ( n  = 23), before and after hemodialysis ( HD ) therapy ( n  = 23), and before and after HDF therapy ( n  = 17) on the expression of microRNA‐33a and its target genes adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette transporter A1 , G1 ( ABCA1 , ABCG1 ) in THP ‐1 macrophages. Meanwhile, blood lipids and high‐sensitivity C ‐reactive protein (hs‐ CRP ) were measured in these groups. Our data showed that the expression of miRNA‐33a was lower ( P  < 0.05) and ABCA1 and ABCG1 were higher ( P  < 0.05) in the healthy group than pre‐ HD and pre‐ HDF . miR‐33a was significantly decreased ( P  < 0.05) but ABCA1 , ABCG1 was significantly increased ( P  < 0.05) in post‐ HDF compared with pre‐ HDF , while these parameters in pre‐ and post‐ HD groups did not show any significant change ( P  > 0.05). High density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL ‐C) was higher and hs‐ CRP was lower in the healthy group than pre‐ HD and pre‐ HDF groups. Moreover, a significant increase of HDL ‐C ( P  < 0.05) and decrease ( P  < 0.05) of hs‐ CRP was shown in post‐ HDF compared with pre‐ HDF , but HD appeared to have no significant change in these subjects. HDF therapy can downregulate miR‐33a expression, and then result in ABCA1 , ABCG1 upregulation and an increase in circulating HDL ‐C, leading to a possible anti‐atherosclerosis effect to some extent.