2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

CIRCULATING PLASMA MIRNA AS NOVEL MOLECULAR BIOMERKERS IN CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE. SeungWoo Jung, Amy Bohan. Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA Congestive heart failure (CHF) carries poor prognosis in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Early identification of dogs predisposed to developing CHF is critical to improve long term survival outcome. The aim of this study is to characterize plasma molecular profiles in dogs with CHF secondary to MMVD and to develop novel molecular biomarkers via liquid biopsy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs and have been known to regulate expression levels of target genes involved in human CHF. Regulatory networks of miRNAs in dogs with MMVD need to be established to further enhance our understanding of CHF pathogenesis. The hypothesis tested in the study was that plasma miRNAs may be differentially expressed in dogs with CHF secondary to MMVD.