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miRNAs are small, noncoding RNAs that not only regulate gene expression within cells, but might also constitute promising extracellular biomarkers for a variety of pathologies, including the progressive muscle-wasting disorder Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). A set of muscle-enriched miRNAs, the myomiRs (miR-1, miR-133, and miR-206) are highly elevated in the serum of patients with DMD and in dystrophin-deficient animal models. Furthermore, circulating myomiRs might be used as pharmacodynamic biomarkers, given that their levels can be restored towards wild-type levels following exon skipping therapy in dystrophic mice. The relationship between muscle pathology and extracellular myomiR release is complex, and incompletely understood. Here, we discuss current progress leading towards the clinical utility of extracellular miRNAs as putative DMD biomarkers, and their possible contribution to muscle physiology.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.molmed.2017.09.002

Type

Journal article

Journal

Trends in Molecular Medicine

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Publication Date

05/10/2017

Volume

23

Pages

989 - 1001

Addresses

Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK; Institute of Neurology, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London, London, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.