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MicroRNAs as biomarkers of disease onset

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules with the ability to posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression via targeting the 3′ untranslated region of messenger RNAs. miRNAs are critical for normal cellular functions such as the regulation of the cell cycle, differentiation, and apoptosis, and they target genes during embryonal and postnatal development, whereas their expression is unbalanced in various pathological states. Importantly, miRNAs are abundantly present in body fluids (e.g., blood), which are routinely examined in patients. These molecules circulate in free and exosome encapsulated forms, and can be efficiently detected and amplified by means of molecular biology tools such as real-time PCR. Together with relative stability, specificity, and reproducibility, they are seen as good candidates for early recognition of the onset of disease. Thus, miRNAs might be considered as biomarkers for many pathological states.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the grants DWM/N148/INCA/08 and 311/N-COST/2008, statutory funds from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and by Ph.D. grant from Adamed Ltd. A.J. is a recipient of a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Science. A.L. is a recipient of a Fellowship for Young Scientists funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology of Jagiellonian University is a beneficiary of structural funds from the European Union (grants POIG.02.01.00-12-064/08, 02.02.00-00-014/08, 01.0102-00-109/09, and 01.01.02-00-069/09). The Department of Medical Biotechnology participates in the COST CM0602 (ANGIOKEM) and TD0901 (HypoxiaNet) Actions, both supported by the European Commission.

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Correspondence to Jozef Dulak.

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Published in the special issue Biomarkers with Guest Editors Boguslaw Buszewski and Jochen Schubert.

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Ciesla, M., Skrzypek, K., Kozakowska, M. et al. MicroRNAs as biomarkers of disease onset. Anal Bioanal Chem 401, 2051–2061 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5001-8

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