REVIEW: Circulating microRNAs

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J. A. Makarova^1,2*, M. U. Shkurnikov^2,3, A. A. Turchinovich⁴, A. G. Tonevitsky³, and A. I. Grigoriev⁵

¹Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (499) 135-1405; E-mail: j-makarova@yandex.ru

²Scientific Research Center Bioclinicum, 115088 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (495) 665-6189; E-mail: mail@bioclinicum.com

³Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute, Branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Center, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 125284 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (495) 945-8020; E-mail: mshkurnikov@gmail.com

⁴Molecular Epidemiology Group, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; fax: +49 (0) 6221-422995; E-mail: a.turchinovich@dkfz-heidelberg.de

⁵Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (499) 195-2253; E-mail: grigoriev@imbp.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received February 19, 2015; Revision received March 31, 2015

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The detection of miRNAs in plasma and other body fluids opened up a fascinating possibility that animal noncoding RNAs can act as extracellular signaling molecules. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the field including the ability of miRNAs to participate in intercellular communication in vitro and in vivo, and the application of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic markers of a wide range of diseases. Special attention is paid to the relevance of the development and unification of current techniques for isolation of circulating miRNAs.

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KEY WORDS: miRNA, exosomes, biomarkers, noncoding RNA, cancer

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915090035

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