Extracellular RNAs in Relation to Cardiometabolic Risk

Background: Extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) send genetic data from cell to cell. This is how they affect the way cells communicate with each other. There are many types of exRNA, and they each serve different roles. But they have also been linked to some diseases. Researchers want to measure exRNAs to see how they relate to certain traits over time. They will use blood samples that were taken as part of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Objectives: To identify cross-sectional associations of exRNAs with age, sex, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Eligibility: People ages 30-70 who had blood taken as part of the FHS Third Generation cohort. Design: Researchers will study samples that have already been collected in the FHS. There will be no active participant contact for this project, only use of data that are collected as part of planned follow up from other studies. As part of the FHS, participants gave blood samples. They gave permission for the blood to be used for research. The exRNAs from the blood samples will be studied to see how they relate to certain traits. These include age, sex, and body mass index. The exRNAs will also be studied for their usefulness as biomarkers of risk for subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. No study participants will be contacted for this study....