title: A study of microRNAs from dried blood spots in newborns after perinatal asphyxia: a simple and feasible biosampling method.
abstract: The potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as bedside biomarkers in selecting newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) for neuroprotection has yet to be explored. Commonly, blood-based biomarker tests use plasma or serum which don't allow evaluation of both intracellular and extracellular changes.
  
  
  
  We describe a technique to extract and compare expression of miRNAs from a single small 6-mm-diameter dried blood spot (DBS) stored at room temperature with those from EDTA-blood, plasma, and urine. Three miRNAs (RNU6B, let7b, and miR-21) were quantified via extraction and quantitative RT-PCR performed from a DBS and compared with levels from EDTA-blood, plasma, and urine. Secondarily, candidate miRNAs let7b, miR-21, miR-29b, miR-124, and miR-155 in DBS were evaluated as potential biomarkers for HIE.
  
  
  
  Candidate miRNAs were extractable in all biosamples from newborns, with the highest expression in DBS. There was a good correlation between miRNAs' levels in DBS and EDTA-blood at -80 °C. No significant difference was observed in the miRNA levels between the favorable and unfavorable outcome groups for babies with HIE.
  
  
  
  DBS may be useful for studying the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Center of Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.|Neonatal Unit, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.|Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, UK.
authors.forename: Vennila
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ponnusamy
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Homerton University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kapellou
authors.affiliation: Center of Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Imaging Services, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evanson
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Liang-Fong
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Center of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michael-Titus
authors.affiliation: Center of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ping K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Center of Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.|Neonatal Unit, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Divyen K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000235:genetics; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs