Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Jan;231(1):25-30.
doi: 10.1002/jcp.25056.

MicroRNA as Biomarkers and Diagnostics

Jin Wang  1 , Jinyun Chen  2 , Subrata Sen  1   3
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNA as Biomarkers and Diagnostics

Jin Wang et al. J Cell Physiol. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that are involved in regulating a range of developmental and physiological processes; their dysregulation has been associated with development of diseases including cancer. Circulating miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs have also been proposed as being useful in diagnostics as biomarkers for diseases and different types of cancer. In this review, miRNAs are discussed as biomarkers for cancer and other diseases, including viral infections, nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes. We summarize some of the clinical evidence for the use of miRNAs as biomarkers in diagnostics and provide some general perspectives on their use in clinical situations. The analytical challenges in using miRNAs in cancer and disease diagnostics are evaluated and discussed. Validation of specific miRNA signatures as biomarkers is a critical milestone in diagnostics.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abelson JF, Kwan KY, O’Roak BJ, Baek DY, Stillman AA, Morgan TM, Mathews CA, Pauls DL, Rasin MR, Gunel M, Davis NR, Ercan-Sencicek AG, Guez DH, Spertus JA, Leckman JF, Dure LSt, Kurlan R, Singer HS, Gilbert DL, Farhi A, Louvi A, Lifton RP, Sestan N, State MW. Sequence variants in SLITRK1 are associated with Tourette’s syndrome. Science. 2005;310(5746):317–320. - PubMed
    1. Ai J, Zhang R, Li Y, Pu JL, Lu YJ, Jiao JD, Li K, Yu B, Li ZQ, Wang RR, Wang LH, Li Q, Wang N, Shan HL, Li ZY, Yang BF. Circulating microRNA-1 as a potential novel biomarker for acute myocardial infarction. Biochem Bioph Res Co. 2010;391(1):73–77. - PubMed
    1. Albinsson S, Suarez Y, Skoura A, Offermanns S, Miano JM, Sessa WC. MicroRNAs are necessary for vascular smooth muscle growth, differentiation, and function. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 2010;30(6):1118–1126. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ambros V. The functions of animal microRNAs. Nature. 2004;431(7006):350–355. - PubMed
    1. Anadol E, Schierwagen R, Elfimova N, Tack K, Schwarze-Zander C, Eischeid H, Noetel A, Boesecke C, Jansen C, Dold L, Wasmuth JC, Strassburg CP, Spengler U, Rockstroh JK, Odenthal M, Trebicka J. Circulating MicroRNAs as a Marker for Liver Injury in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients. Hepatology. 2015;61(1):46–55. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources