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microRNA Expression Profiling in Archival Tissue Specimens: Methods and Data Processing

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Abstract

The discovery that the human genome codes for thousands (if not millions) of previously unrecognized non-protein coding RNAs with regulatory functions has changed our understanding of many physiological and pathological processes. A prominent class of non-coding RNAs with important functions in cancer initiation and progression comprised by very short single-stranded, mRNA translation modulating RNAs, termed microRNAs. The determination of microRNA expression profiles is now widely used in biology and pathology, employing a range of methodologies. A steadily growing number of studies describe the analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded, so-called “archival” specimens. However, procedures for data processing and calculations are far from standardized and differ considerably between published studies, making comparisons and meta-analyses still quite difficult. In this review, we provide a short overview of profiling methods used for archival samples and describe in detail a modified method for normalization and processing of raw data obtained by fluorescence-labeled bead technology from Luminex.Inc.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Britta Hasemeier for indispensable help in preparing the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry/Central Laboratories, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Thomas Streichert & Benjamin Otto

  2. Institute of Pathology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Ulrich Lehmann

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  1. Thomas Streichert
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Correspondence to Ulrich Lehmann.

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Streichert, T., Otto, B. & Lehmann, U. microRNA Expression Profiling in Archival Tissue Specimens: Methods and Data Processing. Mol Biotechnol 50, 159–169 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-011-9427-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-011-9427-1

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