Detection methods for microRNAs in clinic practice

•Altered expression of miRNAs in diseases can be used a diagnostic tool.•miRNAs, including circulating ones, are feasible biomarkers.•We discuss detection methods and applications of microRNAs as biomarkers.•Advantages and limitations of current methods for miRNA detection are discussed.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. miRNAs profiles are specific for cell lineages and tissues, and their changes reflect pathological processes. This fact introduces the possibility of their use in diagnostics. The application of miRNAs in diagnostics is critically dependent on the establishment of miRNA profiles that can discriminate patients from normal healthy individuals with good sensitivity and specificity and on the development of methods for their accurate and high-throughput quantification. In this review, we present an overview of some of the different techniques and methods currently used to detect miRNAs. We focus on methods that can be employed in routine clinic diagnostics indicating their advantages as well as their shortcomings, with special attention being paid to the most innovative ones. Since disease-specific miRNAs can be found in blood serum, we also present emerging methods for the detection of circulating miRNAs as a way of fast, reliable and non-invasive diagnostic.

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