miRNA expression profiling using Illumina Universal BeadChips

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:822:103-16. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-427-8_7.

Abstract

We have developed a highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible method for microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling, using BeadArray technology. This method incorporates an enzyme-assisted specificity step, a solid-phase primer extension to distinguish between members of miRNA families. In addition, a universal PCR is used to amplify all targets prior to array hybridization. Using this method, highly reproducible miRNA expression profiles were generated with 100-200 ng total RNA input. The method has a 3.5-4 log (10(5)-10(9) molecules) dynamic range and is able to detect 1.2- to 1.3-fold differences between samples. Expression profiles generated by this method are highly comparable to those obtained with RT-PCR (R (2) = 0.85-0.90) and direct sequencing (R = 0.87-0.89). This method should prove useful for high-throughput expression profiling of miRNAs in large numbers of tissue samples.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Probes
  • Gene Expression Profiling / instrumentation
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / analysis*
  • MicroRNAs / isolation & purification
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / instrumentation
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods*

Substances

  • DNA Probes
  • MicroRNAs