title: Serum MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of AMD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness worldwide. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum have emerged as novel candidate biomarkers for many diseases. The aim of the present study was to identify a serum microRNA (miRNA) expression profile specific for dry and wet forms of AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum miRNA expression was first screened using TaqMan® Human MicroRNA Array A (Applied Biosystems). An extensive, self-validated, individual, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) study was then performed on a cohort of 300 AMD patients (150 wet form and 150 dry form) and 200 controls. The Mann-Whitney U test and nonparametric Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miRNA expression analysis revealed increased expression of miR661 and miR3121 in serum of patients with dry AMD and miR4258, miR889, and Let7 in patients with wet form. Expression of analyzed miRNA was not observed or remained at low level in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in miRNA serum profile exist between patients with wet and dry form of AMD, which indicates miRNAs as potential biomarkers of AMD. Further studies should be performed to confirm its significance in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szemraj
authors.affiliation: Medical Centre Sal-Med, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielecka-Kowalska
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oszajca
authors.affiliation: Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goś
authors.affiliation: Department of Eye Diseases, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jurowski
authors.affiliation: Medical Centre Sal-Med, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szemraj
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C000588866:KDR protein, human; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2