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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Isolation and Profiling of MicroRNA-containing Exosomes from Human Bile
Published on: June 13, 2016
Identification and validation of bile exosomal microRNA signatures for diagnosing acute rejection in liver transplant
Wenjing Wang1, Hui Wang2, Wen Li2
1Surgical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Introduction:
Acute rejection (AR) remains a major complication affecting graft function and recipient prognosis after liver transplantation (LT). Bile exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) possess organ specificity, local enrichment, and high stability, making them promising non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers for the early detection of AR.
Methods:
In this study, bile samples were collected from 30 LT recipients with AR and 30 recipients with stable graft function (non-AR). Exosomes were isolated via ultracentrifugation and characterized. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to small RNA sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Candidate differentially expressed miRNAs were then validated using Real-Time Quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in an expanded cohort.
Results:
Sequencing revealed 63 significantly upregulated and 4 downregulated miRNAs in the AR group compared with the non-AR group. Target genes of candidate differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in key immune-regulatory pathways, including PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling. qRT-PCR validation further confirmed that the expression levels of miR-181a-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-192-5p in bile exosomes were significantly higher in the AR group (P < 0.0001).
Discussion:
Our findings identify and validate bile exosomal miRNA signatures for AR in LT recipients, supporting these miRNAs as a low-risk, organ-specific liquid biopsy strategy for AR diagnosis, with potential for clinical translation in post-transplant monitoring.
