Circulating miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
Backgroud: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness of the elder people. This research was intended to demonstrate the different expression of microRNAs (miRNA) in AMD patients and whether they can be used as biomarkers for AMD.


METHODS
MiRNAs expression was measured by microarray of 6 AMD cases and 6 gender matched controls. In a larger-sample case-control study with 126 AMD cases and 140 controls, whole blood samples were detected for the differences of miRNA expression.


RESULTS
A total of 216 differentially expressed miRNAs (111 increased and 105 decreased miRNAs) were detected from circulating miRNA microarray. Expanded case-control study results showed that the expression of miR-27a-3p, miR-29b-3p and miR-195-5p was increased significantly. Moreover, the level of miR-27a is higher in patients with wet AMD compared to patients with dry AMD. All 3 miRNAs showed a potential diagnostic value for AMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating miRNA levels were significantly varied in AMD patients. Three miRNAs, miR-27a-3p, miR-29b-3p and the miR-195-5p, might be potential diagnostic biomarkers for AMD.
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Chengda
C
Ren
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Qingyu
Q
Liu
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Qingquan
Q
Wei
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Wenting
W
Cai
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Mengmei
M
He
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's hospital, Department of First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Yaru
Y
Du
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Ding
D
Xu
Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Yan
Y
Wu
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth people's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jing
J
Yu
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs
Age-related macular degeneration; Case-control; Diagnosis; Microarray; microRNA