Circulating microRNAs: a novel class of potential biomarkers for diagnosing and prognosing central nervous system diseases.

ABSTRACT: As a class of important endogenous small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, microRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in many physiological and pathological processes. It is believed that miRNAs contribute to the development, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity of the neurons, and their dysregulation has been linked to a series of diseases. MiRNAs exist in the tissues and as circulating miRNAs in several body fluids, including plasma or serum, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and saliva. There are significant differences between the circulating miRNA expression profiles of healthy individuals and those of patients. Consequently, circulating miRNAs are likely to become a novel class of noninvasive and sensitive biomarkers. Although little is known a

SUBMITTER: Jin XF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11497935 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature