MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable and fatal disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. Sporadic ALS form accounts for the majority of patients, but in 1⁻13.5% of cases the disease is inherited. The...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/7/11/219 |
| _version_ | 1827842300095496192 |
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| author | Claudia Ricci Carlotta Marzocchi Stefania Battistini |
| author_facet | Claudia Ricci Carlotta Marzocchi Stefania Battistini |
| author_sort | Claudia Ricci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable and fatal disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. Sporadic ALS form accounts for the majority of patients, but in 1⁻13.5% of cases the disease is inherited. The diagnosis of ALS is mainly based on clinical assessment and electrophysiological examinations with a history of symptom progression and is then made with a significant delay from symptom onset. Thus, the identification of biomarkers specific for ALS could be of a fundamental importance in the clinical practice. An ideal biomarker should display high specificity and sensitivity for discriminating ALS from control subjects and from ALS-mimics and other neurological diseases, and should then monitor disease progression within individual patients. microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered promising biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, since they are remarkably stable in human body fluids and can reflect physiological and pathological processes relevant for ALS. Here, we review the state of the art of miRNA biomarker identification for ALS in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood and muscle tissue; we discuss advantages and disadvantages of different approaches, and underline the limits but also the great potential of this research for future practical applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:07:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17e54d96f76840a0aee54875e565550f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:07:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-17e54d96f76840a0aee54875e565550f2023-09-02T19:24:07ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092018-11-0171121910.3390/cells7110219cells7110219MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisClaudia Ricci0Carlotta Marzocchi1Stefania Battistini2Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable and fatal disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. Sporadic ALS form accounts for the majority of patients, but in 1⁻13.5% of cases the disease is inherited. The diagnosis of ALS is mainly based on clinical assessment and electrophysiological examinations with a history of symptom progression and is then made with a significant delay from symptom onset. Thus, the identification of biomarkers specific for ALS could be of a fundamental importance in the clinical practice. An ideal biomarker should display high specificity and sensitivity for discriminating ALS from control subjects and from ALS-mimics and other neurological diseases, and should then monitor disease progression within individual patients. microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered promising biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, since they are remarkably stable in human body fluids and can reflect physiological and pathological processes relevant for ALS. Here, we review the state of the art of miRNA biomarker identification for ALS in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood and muscle tissue; we discuss advantages and disadvantages of different approaches, and underline the limits but also the great potential of this research for future practical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/7/11/219amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)biomarkermicroRNAcerebrospinal fluid (CSF)muscle biopsycirculating miRNAs |
| spellingShingle | Claudia Ricci Carlotta Marzocchi Stefania Battistini MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cells amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) biomarker microRNA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) muscle biopsy circulating miRNAs |
| title | MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
| title_full | MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
| title_short | MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
| title_sort | micrornas as biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
| topic | amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) biomarker microRNA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) muscle biopsy circulating miRNAs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/7/11/219 |
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