Circulating Muscle-specific miRNAs in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients

Abstract

Noninvasive biomarkers with diagnostic value and prognostic applications have long been desired to replace muscle biopsy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Growing evidence indicates that circulating microRNAs are biomarkers to assess pathophysiological status. Here, we show that the serum levels of six muscle-specific miRNAs (miR-1/206/133/499/208a/208b, also known as myomiRs) were all elevated in DMD patients (P 6 years). Fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, and tumor necrosis factor-α could affect the secretion of myomiRs, suggesting that circulating myomiRs might reflect the effects of cytokines and growth factors on degenerating and regenerating muscles. Collectively, our data indicated that circulating myomiRs could serve as promising biomarkers for DMD diagnosis and disease progression.

Keywords

• biomarkers
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• secretion
• serum miRNAs