Issues and prospects of microRNA-based biomarkers in blood and other body fluids.
Cell-free circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood are good diagnostic biomarker candidates for various physiopathological conditions, including cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes and other diseases. Since their discovery in 2008 as blood biomarkers, the field has expanded rapidly with a number of important findings. Despite the initial optimistic views of their potential for clinical application, there are currently no circulating miRNA-based diagnostics in use. In this article, we review the status of circulating miRNAs, examine different analytical approaches, and address some of the challenges and opportunities.
Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
John R
JR
Chevillet
Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
Inyoul
I
Lee
Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Hilary A
HA
Briggs
Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China. dr.hyq@hotmail.com.
Yuqing
Y
He
Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. kwang@systemsbiology.org.
Kai
K
Wang
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs