Digital droplet PCR - a prospective technological approach to quantitative profiling of microRNA

Abstract

MicroRNA is a special type of regulatory molecules governing gene expression. Circulating microRNAs found in blood and other biological fluids are considered today as potential biomarkers of human pathology. Presently, quantitative alterations of particular microRNAs are revealed for a large number of oncological diseases and other disorders. The recently emerged method of digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) possesses a number of advantages making this method the most suitable for verification and validation of perspective microRNA markers of human pathologies. Among these advantages are the high accuracy and reproducibility of microRNA quantification as well as the capability to directly measure the absolute number of microRNA copies with the large dynamic range and a high throughput. The paper reviews microRNA biogenesis, the origin of circulating microRNAs, and methods used for their quantification. The special technical features of ddPCR, which make it an attractive method both for studying microRNAs as biomarkers of human pathologies and for basic research devoted to aspects of gene regulation by microRNA molecules, are also discussed.