Mastaneh Zeraatiannejad - Department of Biology, Zarghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarghan, Iran.
Mohammad Javad Mokhtari - Department of Biology, Zarghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarghan, Iran.
Afshin Borhani-Haghighi - Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Fast diagnosing ischemic stroke (IS) is a critical issue in clinical studies, as it allows more effective therapy and stops the progression of IS. The blood level of circular RNAs (CircRNAs) after stroke may be a rapid diagnostic marker. Methods: In this study, the blood level of circRNAs was evaluated using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We used logistic and linear regression analysis to assess the potential of circRNAs levels with the risk of IS. Results: circRNA DLG associated protein ۴ (CircDLGAP۴) was decreased in patients compared with controls, and logistic regression showed its expression negatively associated with IS risk. The expression level of human genome version ۳۸_Circular_۰۰۰۸۹۸۰ (hg۳۸_circ_۰۰۰۸۹۸۰) was reduced significantly in patients with small vessel disease (SVD), and the linear regression analysis showed a negative relationship between hg۳۸_circ_۰۰۰۸۹۸۰ expressions with SVD subtype. hg۳۸_circ_۰۰۰۸۹۸۰ expression relative to controls showed a significant association with IS risk. Conclusions: Taken together, we found a significant decrease in the level of hg۳۸_circ_۰۰۰۸۹۸۰ after IS; it may act as a novel circRNA in IS pathophysiology with a positive correlation with stroke severity.

Biomarkers, Circular RNAs, Ischemic strokes.