Kinetics of microRNA Expression in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Samples

Lung. 2015 Jun;193(3):381-5. doi: 10.1007/s00408-015-9719-5. Epub 2015 Mar 21.

Abstract

Levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly assessed in biological fluids, for example, in samples obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). "Post-collection kinetics" of miRNA expression levels, however, have not been investigated to date. In these experiments, we analyzed the dynamic expression profile of 5 different miRNAs (miR-17, miR-19b, miR-20b, miR-125a, and miR-223-3p) in BAL within the first 24 h following collection by routine bronchoscopy. miRNAs were quantified 0, 1, 4, 8, and 24 h after collection in samples that were kept at 4 °C or at room temperature. The expression of all five miRNAs was found to remain stable between the first 8 h after collection. 24 h after collection miRNAs faced substantial alterations in their expression profile. These data emphasize that BAL samples intended for further miRNA analysis can be handled at room temperature within the first 8 h after bronchoscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • RNA Stability
  • Specimen Handling / methods

Substances

  • MicroRNAs