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Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) control many physiological and pathological processes leading to the development of various medical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. Research on ncRNAs in ascending aortic aneurysm are scarce. A few studies describe DNA methylation in atherosclerosis, dissection or aneurysm of the ascending aorta, as well as gene expression in aneurysm in a presence of atherosclerosis. However, these studies do not focus on ncRNA genes. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to characterize DNA methylation of ncRNAs in the ascending aortic aneurysm individually and in combination with atherosclerosis. DNA methylation was measured in six patients (men aged 48-64 years) with an aneurysm of the ascending aorta (dilated part, non-dilated proximal part of the arch (intact tissue) and an atherosclerotic plaque localized in the proximal part of the aortic arch. DNA methylation was determined using RRBS on an Illumina HiSeq1500.

Of the 2,322,700 CpG sites analyzed between dilated and intact aorta, only two sites are located in the first intron of the NR2F1-AS1 gene. In atherosclerotic plaques and intact aortic tissue, we identified 480 DMS, and 28 of them were related to ncRNA genes. Non-coding RNAs play a role in the development of ascending aortic aneurysm regardless of the presence of aortic atherosclerotic lesions. NR2F1-AS1 gene could be a marker for the development of ascending aortic aneurysmas its DNA methylation pattern differs in combined and isolated forms of atherosclerosis and ascending aortic aneurysm.