Objective  To investigate the correlations between the levels of serum microRNA (miRNA)-210, interleukin-17(IL-17) and the degree of carotid artery stenosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

  Methods  A total of 95 patients with ACI were prospectively selected as research subjects, the serum miR-210 and IL-17 levels of patients were detected, the degree of carotid stenosis was evaluated, and they were divided into severe stenosis group, moderate stenosis group and mild stenosis group according to the severity of carotid stenosis, the correlations between serum miR-210, IL-17 levels and the degree of carotid artery stenosis in patients with ACI were analyzed.

  Results  There was significant differences in the levels of miRNA and inflammatory factors in patients with different degree of carotid stenosis (P < 0.05); Kendall's tau-b correlation analysis showed that miR-15b and miR-210 were negatively correlated with the degree of carotid artery stenosis in ACI patients (r=-0.594, -0.910, P < 0.001), IL-17, IL-1β and TNF-α were positively correlated with the degree of carotid artery stenosis in ACI patients (r=0.801, 0.599, 0.440, P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum miR-210 level was negatively correlated with serum IL-17 level in ACI patients (rs=-0.697, P < 0.001).

  Conclusion  The serum miR-210 and IL-17 levels are related to the degree of carotid artery stenosis in ACI patients. With the decrease of serum miR-210 level and increase of IL-17 level, the degree of carotid artery stenosis is aggravated.