Identification and detection of microRNA kidney disease biomarkers in liquid biopsies

Abstract

Purpose of review MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging rapidly as a novel class of biomarkers of major organ disorders, including kidney diseases. However, current PCR-based detection methods are not amenable to development for high-throughput, cost-effective miRNA biomarker quantification. Recent findings MiRNA biomarkers show significant promise for diagnosis and prognosis of kidney diseases, including diabetic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, IgA nephropathy and delayed graft function following kidney transplantation. A variety of novel methods to detect miRNAs in liquid biopsies including urine, plasma and serum are being developed. As miRNAs are functional transcripts that regulate the expression of many protein coding genes, differences in miRNA profiles in disease also offer clues to underlying disease mechanisms. Summary Recent findings highlight the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers to detect and predict progression of kidney diseases. Developing in parallel, novel methods for miRNA detection will facilitate the integration of these biomarkers into rapid routine clinical testing and existing care pathways. Validated kidney disease biomarkers also hold promise to identify novel therapeutic tools and targets. Video abstract http://links.lww.com/CONH/A43

Liquid Biopsy: A New Avenue for the Diagnosis of Kidney Disease: Diabetic Kidney Disease, Renal Cancer, and IgA Nephropathy

“…New approaches are being created to identify miRNAs in fluid biopsies, such as urine, plasma, serum, and other bodily fluids. Since they act as functional transcripts that control the expressions of numerous protein-coding genes, disparities in miRNA patterns during disease offer important insights into the fundamental disease mechanisms and pathways [23].…”