title: microRNAs for peripheral blood fraction identification: Origin, pathways and forensic relevance.
abstract: microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, with a length of 18 to 24 nucleotides that play a regulatory role in several cellular processes. Since their discovery, they have been identified in cells, tissues, organs, and body fluids and their potential as molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis of various pathologic conditions has been explored. However, little is known about the origin of the extracellular miRNAs and what factors influence the levels of circulating miRNAs. This information could help the refinement of miRNAs as more effective biomarkers. Additionally, the identification of the origin of miRNAs may prove to be very useful in the association of particular miRNAs with specific pathologies. This review aims to gather information concerning the origin of miRNAs in plasma and serum, as well as to assess their potential to be use as biomarkers for these peripheral blood fractions.
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Molecular Oncology & Viral Pathology Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Molecular Oncology & Viral Pathology Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navega
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology & Viral Pathology Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, 4050-167 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria José Carneiro
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology & Viral Pathology Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Luísa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Molecular Oncology & Viral Pathology Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Research Department, Portuguese League Against Cancer (NRNorte), Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences of Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: ruimedei@ipoporto.min-saude.pt.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Biological biomarkers; Body fluids; Forensic science; miRNA origin; miRNA profiling