Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Blood. 2013 Jun 20;121(25):4977-84. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-01-480079. Epub 2013 Apr 2.
The complex microRNA (miRNA) network plays an important role in the regulation of cellular processes such as development, differentiation, and apoptosis. Recently, the presence of cell-free miRNAs that circulate in body fluids was discovered. The ability of these circulating miRNAs to mirror physiological and pathophysiological conditions as well as their high stability in stored patient samples underlines the potential of these molecules to serve as biomarkers for various diseases. In this review, we describe recent findings in miRNA-mediated cell-to-cell communication and the functions of circulating miRNAs in the field of hematology. Furthermore, we discuss current approaches to design biomarker studies with circulating miRNAs. This article critically reviews the novel field of circulating miRNAs and highlights their suitability for clinical and basic research in addition to their potential as a novel class of biomarkers.
复杂的 microRNA（miRNA）网络在调节细胞过程中发挥着重要作用，如发育、分化和凋亡。最近，人们发现了存在于体液中游离的 miRNA。这些循环 miRNA 能够反映生理和病理生理状况，并且在储存的患者样本中具有很高的稳定性，这突出了这些分子作为各种疾病生物标志物的潜力。在这篇综述中，我们描述了 miRNA 介导的细胞间通讯的最新发现，以及循环 miRNA 在血液学领域的功能。此外，我们还讨论了当前设计具有循环 miRNA 的生物标志物研究的方法。本文批判性地回顾了循环 miRNA 的这一新领域，并强调了它们在临床和基础研究中的适用性，以及作为一类新型生物标志物的潜力。
