Identification of mouse serum miRNA endogenous references by global gene expression profiles

PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e31278. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031278. Epub 2012 Feb 10.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered small non-coding RNAs and can serve as serum biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognoses. Lack of reliable serum miRNA endogenous references for normalization in miRNA gene expression makes single miRNA assays inaccurate. Using TaqMan® real-time PCR miRNA arrays with a global gene expression normalization strategy, we have analyzed serum miRNA expression profiles of 20 female mice of NOD/ShiLtJ (n = 8), NOR/LtJ (n = 6), and C57BL/6J (n = 6) at different ages and disease conditions. We identified five miRNAs, miR-146a, miR-16, miR-195, miR-30e and miR-744, to be stably expressed in all strains, which could serve as mouse serum miRNA endogenous references for single assay experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Disease / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • MicroRNAs / standards
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reference Standards

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MicroRNAs