miRNA fingerprint in the diagnosis of COPD

摘要

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a recently discovered class of small non-coding RNAs (17-14 nucleotides). Due to their function as regulators of gene expression they play a critical role both in physiological and in pathological processes, such as cancer. The present invention provides novel methods for diagnosing a state of health based on the determination of specific miRNAs that have altered expression levels in different conditions, e.g. disease states compared to healthy controls.

主权项

1. A method of diagnosing COPD in a subject, the method comprising:
providing a blood sample comprised of a blood cell fraction from a subject, determining an expression profile of a predetermined set of at least two miRNAs in the blood sample, wherein the predetermined set of two miRNAs comprises: (i) miR-26a, and (ii) at least one additional miRNA selected from the group consisting of: hsa-miR720, hsa-miR-328, hsa-miR-675, hsa-miR-182, hsa-miR-877, hsa-miR-1275, hsamiR-363, miR-324-3p and hsa-miR-664; wherein the expression profile is determined by measuring levels of the at least two miRNAs in the predetermined set of at least two miRNAs; comparing the expression profile to at least one reference expression profile obtained from at least one control known to have lung cancer; detecting an up-regulation relative to the reference expression profile of:
hsa-miR-26a and and at least one of the following deregulations relative to the reference expression profile:
a down-regulation of hsa-miR-720,a down-regulation of hsa-miR-328,a down-regulation of hsa-miR-675,an up-regulation of hsa-miR-182,a down-regulation of hsa-miR-877,a down-regulation of hsa-miR-1275,an up-regulation of hsa-miR-363,a down-regulation of hsa-miR-324-3p, anda down-regulation of hsa-miR-664; determining the presence of COPD in the subject; and further comprising: subjecting the subject to therapeutic treatment for COPD; and monitoring the therapeutic treatment on the basis of the predetermined set of at least two miRNAs.