microRNA biomarkers

microRNA biomarkers

The expression of microRNAs is highly regulated. The expression of about 10 % of all microRNAs is enriched or even restricted to a specific type of tissue or cell. These microRNAs are crucial regulators of tissue function by regulating cell differentiation and tissue homeostasis. The remaining microRNAs are abundantly expressed in various tissues and cell types. Their function is frequently associated with cell proliferation, differentiation and programmed cell-death.

It has been shown that microRNA expression is subject to change during the onset and progression of disease. This has led to the application of microRNAs as disease biomarkers.

MicroRNAs are actively released from cells into the supernatant. This mechanism greatly facilitates the application of microRNAs as disease biomarkers. The presence of circulating microRNAs has been detected in various biofluids including serum/plasma, urine, and saliva.

Circulating microRNAs are released within vesicles as well as in association with RNA binding proteins and appear to be very stable in biofluids. Close to 50 % of the RNA contained in extracellular vesicles in serum and plasma are microRNAs. The remaining 50 % are other non-coding RNAs and to a small extent mRNAs.

Circulating microRNAs serve as non-invasive biomarkers for human diseases. MicroRNA biomarkers have utility for the following applications:

  • toxicology: tissue health surrogate
  • diagnosis: early diagnosis of asymptomatic diseases
  • monitoring: detection of treatment response or adverse events
circulating microRNAs (c) TAmiRNA / Klapper figure legend:
1. microRNA transcription in the cell nucleus
2. microRNA processing in the cell cytoplasm
3. microRNAs regulate mRNA translation, a mechanism called RNA interference or gene silencing
4./5. microRNAs become packaged by the donor cell into microvesicles/exosomes for cellular export
6. circulating microRNAs can be stabilized by RNA-binding proteins as well
7. circulating microRNAs are detected in various biofluids including serum/plasma, urine or saliva
8. circulating microRNAs can be taken up by acceptor cells at close or distant sites in the body

our competence: novel microRNA based biomarkers

At TAmiRNA we are developing novel microRNA based biomarkers for diagnosis and early prediction of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. TAmiRNA uses microRNA biomarkers to develop companion diagnostics and to monitor disease progression.

further reading
1. Bartel DP. MicroRNAs: target recognition and regulatory functions. Cell 2009;136:215–33.
2. De Guire V, Robitaille R, Tétreault N, Guérin R, Ménard C, Bambace N, et al. Circulating miRNAs as sensitive and specific biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of human diseases: promises and challenges. Clin Biochem 2013;46:846–60.
3. Hackl M, Heilmeier U, Weilner S, Grillari J. Circulating microRNAs as novel biomarkers for bone diseases – Complex signatures for multifactorial diseases? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015 Oct 23. pii: S0303-7207(15)30116-7. doi:10.2016/j,mce.2015.10.015