Circulating microRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common age-related bone disease worldwide and is usually clinically asymptomatic until the first fracture happens. MicroRNAs are critical molecular regulators in bone remodelling processes and are stabilised in the blood. The aim of this project was to identify circulatory microRNAs associated with osteoporosis using advanced PCR arrays initially and the identified differentially-expressed microRNAs were validated in clinical samples using RT-qPCR. A total of 161 participants were recruited and 139 participants were included in this study with local ethical approvals prior to recruitment. RNAs were extracted, purified, quantified and analysed from all serum and plasma samples. Differentially-expressed miRNAs were identified using miRNA PCR arrays initially and validated in 139 serum and 134 plasma clinical samples using RT-qPCR. Following validation of identified miRNAs in individual clinical samples using RT-qPCR, circulating miRNAs, hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-4516 were statistically significantly differentially-expressed between non-osteoporotic controls, osteopaenia and osteoporosis patients. Further analysis showed that the levels of these microRNAs were associated with fragility fracture and correlated with the low bone mineral density in osteoporosis patients. The results show that circulating hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-4516 could be potential diagnostic biomarkers for osteoporosis in the future.