Objectives: The small RNAs of bovine plasma and whole blood were analysed using next-generation sequencing to quantify, profile and compare the microRNAs (miRNA) and piRNA signatures in both bio fluids.
Results: Evaluating read-count data resulted in a proportion of 5.0 ± 2.9 % of miRNAs in plasma while 38.2 ± 3.4 % were identified in whole blood. Regarding piRNAs, the percentages in both matrices were nearly the same: 1.4 ± 0.8 % of piRNAs in plasma and 1.9 ± 0.8 % in whole blood. Investigation of the ten most abundant miRNAs and piRNAs in both bio fluids revealed that two miRNAs and seven piRNAs were identical. Comparing the read-count values of these matching pairs highlighted that miRNA and piRNA levels in blood exceeded the abundance of their corresponding miRNAs and piRNAs in plasma, except liver-specific miR-122 and three piRNAs.
Conclusions: The data strengthened evidence that the circulating small RNA signature in plasma is not only influenced by hematocytes and certain small RNAs could originate from other sources than cellular blood components.