Circulating microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Infectious Disease

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding endogenous RNA molecules that regulate a wide range of biological processes by post-transcriptionally regulating gene expression. Thousands of these molecules have been discovered to date, and multiple miRNAs have been shown to coordinately fine-tune cellular processes key to organismal development, homeostasis, neurobiology, immunobiology, and control of infection. The fundamental regulatory role of miRNAs in a variety of biological processes suggests that differential expression of these transcripts may be exploited as a novel source of molecular biomarkers for many different disease pathologies or abnormalities. This has been emphasized by the recent discovery of remarkably stable miRNAs in mammalian biofluids, which may originate from intracellular processes elsewhere in the body. The potential of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of disease has mainly been demonstrated for various types of cancer. More recently, however, attention has focused on the use of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers of infectious disease; for example, human tuberculosis caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sepsis caused by multiple infectious agents, and viral hepatitis. Here, we review these developments and discuss prospects and challenges for translating circulating miRNA into novel diagnostics for infectious disease.

A pan‐inflammatory microRNA‐cluster is associated with orbital non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and idiopathic orbital inflammation

“…With our results we show that local orbital disease leaves a molecular footprint in peripheral blood. This is consistent with other studies that reported changes in miRNA composition in tissues distinct from the primary location of clinical disease [16,[21][22][23]. Previous studies have investigated miRNA profiles in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, most often the diffuse large B cell lymphoma subtype (DLBCL) [11,14,24].…”

MiR‐27a‐3p and miR‐124‐3p, upregulated in endometrium and serum from women affected by Chronic Endometritis, are new potential molecular markers of endometrial receptivity

“…35,36 Particular features, such as high stability, strength to mechanical or biochemical degradation and easy detection, made circulating miRNAs excellent candidates to discriminate the state of health in cancers, degenerative pathologies, gynecological, and infectious diseases. 28,[37][38][39] In spite of their high potentiality, their low specificity could be a problem. In fact, miRNA expression profiles in biological fluids, especially in serum and plasma, are influenced by the state of health, but also by sex, age, body mass, life style, and exercise.…”

“…50 Moreover, the possibility to use circulating miRNAs as novel diagnostic agents for infectious diseases has been described in a recent review. 38…”

Extracellular microRNA 130b‐3p inhibits eCIRP‐induced inflammation

“…The precise role of extracellular miRNA has yet to be adequately understood. During sepsis, eCIRP and certain extracellular miRNA levels both become elevated in the blood [8,17]. During sepsis, eCIRP and certain extracellular miRNA levels both become elevated in the blood [8,17].…”