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A study of microRNAs from dried blood spots in newborns after perinatal asphyxia: a simple and feasible biosampling
Vennila Ponnusamy1,2,3, Olga Kapellou4, Ellen Yip1
1Center of Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Background:
The potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as bedside biomarkers in selecting newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) for neuroprotection has yet to be explored. Commonly, blood-based biomarker tests use plasma or serum which don't allow evaluation of both intracellular and extracellular changes.
Methods:
We describe a technique to extract and compare expression of miRNAs from a single small 6-mm-diameter dried blood spot (DBS) stored at room temperature with those from EDTA-blood, plasma, and urine. Three miRNAs (RNU6B, let7b, and miR-21) were quantified via extraction and quantitative RT-PCR performed from a DBS and compared with levels from EDTA-blood, plasma, and urine. Secondarily, candidate miRNAs let7b, miR-21, miR-29b, miR-124, and miR-155 in DBS were evaluated as potential biomarkers for HIE.
Results:
Candidate miRNAs were extractable in all biosamples from newborns, with the highest expression in DBS. There was a good correlation between miRNAs' levels in DBS and EDTA-blood at -80 °C. No significant difference was observed in the miRNA levels between the favorable and unfavorable outcome groups for babies with HIE.
Conclusion:
DBS may be useful for studying the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for brain injury.
