The origin, function and diagnostic potential of extracellular microRNA in human body fluids

158K

views

51

authors

13

articles

Editorial

12 February 2014

The origin, function and diagnostic potential of extracellular microRNA in human body fluids

Andrey Turchinovich

and

William C. Cho

6,095 views

44 citations

Editors

2

Andrey Turchinovich

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)

Impact

About

A short non-coding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs), are post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in living cells. In recent years, miRNAs have been found in a wide spectrum of mammalian body fluids including blood plasma, saliva, urine, milk, seminal plasma, tears and amniotic fluid as extracellular circulating nuclease-resistant entities. The changes in miRNA spectra observed in certain fluids correlated with various pathological conditions suggesting that extracellular miRNAs can serve as informative biomarkers for certain diseased including cancer. However, the mechanism of generation and the biological role of extracellular miRNAs remain questionable. The current theories regarding extracellular miRNA origin and function suggest that these miRNAs can be either non-specific ‘by-products’ of cellular activity and cell death or specifically released cell-cell signaling messengers.

The goal of this research topic is to bring together the accumulating knowledge about the extracellular miRNA and its role in disease diagnostics and possibly inter-cellular communication.

A short non-coding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs), are post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in living cells. In recent years, miRNAs have been found in a wide spectrum of mammalian body fluids including blood plasma, saliva, urine, milk, seminal plasma, tears and amniotic fluid as extracellular circulating nuclease-resistant entities. The changes in miRNA spectra observed in certain fluids correlated with various pathological conditions suggesting that extracellular miRNAs can serve as informative biomarkers for certain diseased including cancer. However, the mechanism of generation and the biological role of extracellular miRNAs remain questionable. The current theories regarding extracellular miRNA origin and function suggest that these miRNAs can be either non-specific ‘by-products’ of cellular activity and cell death or specifically released cell-cell signaling messengers.

The goal of this research topic is to bring together the accumulating knowledge about the extracellular miRNA and its role in disease diagnostics and possibly inter-cellular communication.

Download ebook

Share

Editors

Andrey Turchinovich

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)

Impact

157,961 Total views

116,412 Article views

35,658 Article downloads

5,891 Topic views

Published In

Journal Thumbnail

Frontiers in Genetics

Journal Thumbnail

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

About Frontiers Research Topics

With their unique mixes of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author.

Suggest a topic