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Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown as promising biomarkers for various diseases. We investigated the predictive potential of circulating endothelium-enriched miR-126 in type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) without chronic complications and T2D patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD). The expression levels of circulating miR-126, determined by quantitative real time PCR, were decrease in peripheral blood of T2D patients and T2D with CAD compared with healthy controls. MiR-126 strongly associated with T2D and CAD, negatively correlated with LDL in CAD patients and differentiated between T2D patients, T2D patients with CAD and healthy subjects. Circulating miR-126 may serve as a biomarker for predicting patients with T2D and diabetic CAD.

Aim: To assess if miRNA expression profiling of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and sputum could be used to detect early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Materials and Methods: Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on the expression levels of 5 miRNAs (miR-21, miR-143, miR-155, miR-210, and miR-372) which were quantified using RNA reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in sputum and BAL samples from NSCLC cases and cancer-free controls., Results: Cluster analysis of the miRNA expression levels in BAL samples from 21 NSCLC cases and sputum samples from 10 cancer-free controls yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 100%. Cluster analysis of sputum samples from the same patients yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 67.8% and specificity of 90%., Conclusion: miRNA expression profiling of sputum and BAL fluids represent a potential means to detect early-stage NSCLC., (Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Specific expression patterns of microRNA (miRNA) molecules have been linked to cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. The accumulating evidence for the role of oncogenic or tumor-suppressing miRNAs identified the need for nano-scaled platform that can help deliver nucleotides to modulate miRNAs. Here we report the synthesis of novel layered gadolinium hydroxychloride (LGdH) nanoparticles, a member of the layered double hydroxide (LDH) family, with physiochemical properties suitable for cell uptake and tracing via magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the inhibition of mature miRNA-10b in metastatic breast cancer cell line using LGdH nanoparticle as a delivery platform. Through characterization analysis, we show that nanoparticles are easily and stably loaded with anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (AMO) and efficiently penetrate cell membranes. We demonstrate that AMOs delivered by LGdH nanoparticles remain functional by inducing changes in the expression of its downstream effector and by curbing the invasive properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate the traceability of LGdH nanoparticles via T1 weighted MR imaging. LGdH nanoparticles, which are biocompatible with cells in vitro, provide a promising multifunctional platform for microRNA therapeutics through their diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic potentials.

Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate hundreds of gene targets involved in tumorigenesis thereby controlling vital biological processes, including cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. MiRNA profiling is an emerging tool for the potential early detection of a variety of malignancies. This study was conducyed to assess the feasibility and methodological robustness of quantifying sputum miRNAs, employing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and cluster analysis on an optimized miRNA profile as a novel approach for the early detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Methods: The relative expressions of 11 miRNAs in sputum (miR-21, miR-145, miR-155, miR-205, miR-210, miR-92, miR-17-5p, miR-143, miR-182, miR-372, and let-7a) in addition to U6 were retrospectively assessed in four NSCLC-positive and four negative controls. Subsequently, a set of five miRNAs (miR-21, miR-143, miR-155, miR-210, miR-372) was selected because of degree of relatedness observed in the cluster analysis and tested in the same sputum sample set. The five optimized miRNAs accurately clustered these eight retrospective patients into NSCLC positive cases and negative controls. The five miRNA panel was then prospectively quantified in the sputum of 30 study patients (24 NSCLC cases and six negative controls) in a double-blind fashion to validate a five miRNA panel using hierarchical cluster analysis., Results: The optimized five miRNA panel detected NSCLC (83.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity) in 30 prospectively accrued study patients., Conclusion: Sputum miRNA profiling using cluster analysis is a promising approach for the early detection of non-small cell lung cancer. Further investigation using this approach is warranted.