microRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of messenger RNA (mRNA), and transported through the whole organism by-but not limited to-lipoprotein particles. Here, we address the miRNA profile in serum and lipoprotein particles of healthy individuals in comparison with patients with uremia. Moreover, we quantitatively determined the cellular lipoprotein-particle-uptake dependence on the density of lipoprotein particle receptors and present a method for enhancement of the transfer efficiency. We observed a significant increase of the cellular miRNA level using reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles artificially loaded with miRNA, whereas incubation with native HDL particles yielded no measurable effect. Thus, we conclude that no relevant effect of lipoprotein-particle-mediated miRNA-transfer exists under in vivo conditions though the miRNA profile of lipoprotein particles can be used as a diagnostic marker.
Keywords: lipoprotein; microRNA; transfer; uremia.