miRNA Expression Assays

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs able to modulate at transcriptional level the expression of their target genes. Deregulations in miRNA expression profiles have been associated with pathological phenotypes, a fact that promotes the possible evaluation of these sequences for diagnosis and prognosis and newly as therapeutic tools. In this sense, evaluation of miRNA expression has come to play an important role in the research field with the potential of translational relevance in the clinical area. In this chapter, we provide an overview of several of the most recently developed assays, methods, and technologies used to identify, characterize, and confirm miRNA expression in human pathologies. We also outline principal workflows for different preparations of biological samples, taking into account advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Furthermore, we discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of miRNAs as well as their future roles in personalized medicine, from a technical perspective.