ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the expression and clinical significance of circDLGAP4 from peripheral blood in coronary heart disease (CAD). @*Methods@#The relative expression level of circDLGAP4 in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) from 142 CAD patients and 169 healthy controls were detected by real-time PCR. Logistic regression, Spearman correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used to investigate the correlation of circDLGAP4 with CAD. THP-1 macrophages were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to construct an atherosclerotic foam cell model. The levels of circDLGAP4 mRNA were detected at different time points. @*Results@#The mRNA expression of circDLGAP4 in PBLs of CAD patients was significantly decreased compared with controls (P=0.019). With increased unit (2 -ΔCt ) of circDLGAP4 expression, the risk of CAD occurrence reduced by 41.6% (adjusted OR=0.584, 95% CI: 0.394-0.866, P=0.007). The expression of circDLGAP4 was negatively correlated with T2DM history (β=-0.182，P=0.030). The level of circDLGAP4 in ox-LDL-treated THP-1 macrophages was decreased in a time-dependent manner. @*Conclusion@#The expression of circDLGAP4 was significantly decreased in PBLs of CAD patients and THP-1 macrophages-derived foam cells, and might be a protective factor in the pathophysiology of CAD.