Body Fluid microRNAs as Toxicological Biomarkers

This chapter discusses the history, biogenesis and functions for microRNAs (miRNAs). The miRNA expression profiles of human cancer tissues have been shown to be very informative, reflecting signatures associated with cancer diagnosis, progression, response to treatment and final prognosis. These findings highlight the potential of profiling miRNA expressions as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Due to the exceptional stability and non-invasive nature of body fluid miRNAs, a subsequent large numbers of studies have now shown that body fluid miRNAs could be used as promising novel biomarkers for the detection of cancer and other diseases, and for assessing early responses to toxicant or drug exposures. The potential usefulness of serum miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for drug- and liver transplantation caused liver injuries has been explored in recent human studies. Identifying reliable and non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of heart injuries remains one of the major challenges in cardiovascular research.