Circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for endocrine disorders

Abstract

Specific, sensitive and non-invasive biomarkers are always needed in endocrine disorders. miRNAs are short, non-coding RNA molecules with well-known role in gene expression regulation. They are frequently dysregulated in metabolic and endocrine diseases. Recently it has been shown that they are secreted into biofluids by nearly all kind of cell types. As they can be taken up by other cells they may have a role in a new kind of paracrine, cell-to-cell communication. Circulating miRNAs are protected by RNA-binding proteins or microvesicles hence they can be attractive candidates as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of extracellular miRNA's and our knowledge about their origin and potential roles in endocrine and metabolic diseases. Discussions about the technical challenges occurring during identification and measurement of extracellular miRNAs and future perspectives about their roles are also highlighted.

The Role of miR-342 in Vascular Health. Study in Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Mononuclear Cells, Plasma, Inflammatory Cytokines and PANX2

“…Power calculation was undertaken as part of a previously published study to detect improvement in EPCs [ 13 ]. The minimum number of patients/healthy controls required was 20 in each group.…”

“…Currently, there are strong links between miRNA and their role in many cellular pathways, including cell proliferation, apoptosis and immune response pathways, to name a few [ 13 ]. This introduces the idea that miRNAs may be responsible for the regulation of inflammation associated with T1DM and the association between their regulation and cardiovascular health.…”

Dysregulated Circulating micro RNAs Markers: New Evidence into Expression Pattern in Children with T1D among Egyptian Population

“…Emerging role of miRNAs in modulating gene expression has greatly developed, and are being recently implicated in the presentation of different diseases [14][15][16]. Validity Reliability in the level of expression of these circulating molecules favored the extreme ability to be recognized as key biomarkers of disease etiogenesis and progression status [17,18]. In fact, this was evidenced by the relation of these molecules to 60% or more of the coding genes that thought to be in linkage to various endocrinal and autoimmune diseases [19][20][21].…”

MicroRNA-33b-5p is overexpressed and inhibits GLUT4 by targeting HMGA2 in polycystic ovarian syndrome: An in vivo and in vitro study

“…miRNAs consist of a group of small non-coding RNAs, some of which play key roles in modulating the functions of human bodies (25,34,35). Numerous miRNAs have been demonstrated to be involved in endocrine and metabolic diseases (36,37), and several miRNAs (e.g., miR-93 and miR-145) have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42). miRNA-93 was initially revealed to play an important role in modulating GLUT4 expression, and thus be involved in the development of insulin resistance in PCOS patients (27).…”