Fig. 1: miR-1204 is upregulated with aging in patients with aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD).

A miRNA-selective strategies in plasma samples. B Venn diagram showing common miRNAs in older adults and patient datasets. C Plasma miR-1204 expression was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in the indicated groups. n = 70 (young normal), n = 88 (elder normal), n = 116 (young patient), and n = 156 (elder patient). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparison test. D Correlation between miR-1204 expression in the plasma and age of patients with AAD. n = 272. Statistical analysis was performed using two-tailed Spearman’s correlation test. E Differences in plasma miR-1204 expression between patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) and those with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were determined using qRT-PCR. n = 108 (young patients with TAAD), n = 8 (young patients with AAA), n = 101 (elder patients with TAAD), and n = 55 (elder patients with AAA). Statistical analysis was performed using two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test. F Expression of several differentially expressed miRNAs (identified in panel B) in aortic samples from healthy participants and patients with AAD were determined using qRT-PCR. n = 6 except for hsa-miR-376b-5p in elder patient group, n = 5 for hsa-miR-376b-5p in elder patient group. Statistical analysis was performed using two-tailed Student’s t test with Welch’s correction. G Representative images (left) and quantification (right) of miR-1204 in the aortas of healthy participants and patients with AAD detected by in situ hybridization staining. n = 8 (young normal), n = 8 (elder normal), n = 10 (young patient), n = 10 (elder patient). Statistical analysis was performed using two-tailed Welch’s ANOVA followed by Dunn’s multiple comparison test. Scale bar indicates 100 μm. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ns not significant. Source data are provided as a source data file.