The Role of MicroRNAs and Other Molecular Biomarkers in Uveitis: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Uveitis is a complex disease involving inflammation of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature working group has developed classification criteria for 25 of the most common uveitis entities based on a number of descriptor terms. Due to the broad range of causes of uveitis and the different treatment modalities depending on etiology, investigative aids are vital in expediting accurate diagnosis and management. MicroRNAs, small noncoding RNAs, have exciting potential as biomarkers of disease. They function to alter gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Other biomarkers of inflammatory disease include cytokines and chemokines. With a substantial proportion of uveitis being classified as "idiopathic," biomarker research may provide important diagnostic clues and subsequently improve patient outcomes globally. Scoping reviews represent a format for systematically searching the literature. We will use a formal framework for conducting scoping reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.

The aim of this review protocol is to lay the foundation for identifying what biomarkers have been studied in various uveitis subtypes, including cytokines, chemokines, and multiomic data, with particular focus on microRNAs, thus guiding the selection of biomarkers that may be of interest in future research.

Studies will be included if they have human participants with a defined diagnosis of a uveitis subtype who are of any age, gender, or ethnicity and from any country or health care setting; assess molecular biomarkers (including but not limited to microRNAs, cytokines, chemokines, human leucocyte antigen types, gene variants, and multiomics) using any sample type (including but not limited to blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine), are primary research studies, are written in English or with an English translation, and were published in any year. Studies will be excluded if they have animal participants, investigate therapeutics in uveitis only, are review articles or letters to the editor, are research in progress, or are not in English. The MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases will be searched from inception to June 8, 2026. Results will be descriptively analyzed and presented in the form of a data extraction chart.

The proposed scoping review is currently in the screening stage. The start date for this project was January 6, 2026. The projected completion date is in October 2026. A total of 946 articles were subject to title and abstract screening using Covidence software. One reviewer screened all papers, while a second reviewer screened 20% of the papers.

The findings from this scoping review will highlight the broad range of molecular biomarkers currently studied in uveitis and identify gaps in the field, guiding the selection of biomarkers, with a particular focus on microRNAs, for future laboratory analysis in our research group.

OSF Registries N5HJR; https://osf.io/n5hjr/overview.

PRR1-10.2196/89265.