METHODS, COMPOSITIONS, AND DEVICES UTILIZING MicroRNA TO DETERMINE PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Abstract

Methods, compositions, and devices are disclosed which use microRNA to detect, predict, treat, and monitor physiological conditions such as disease or injury. microRNA are isolated and their differential expression is measured to provide diagnostic information. This information may then be utilized for evaluation and/or treatment purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting or predicting a liver condition, comprising:
 generating a microRNA profile from a biological sample, wherein the microRNA profile comprises the amount of at least one specific microRNA sequence, by:
 receiving the biological sample, the sample being a tissue, serum, or plasma; and 
 isolating microRNA from the biological sample; 
 using hybridization to identify the microRNA sequences; and 
 measuring the amount of at least one specific microRNA sequence; and 
   comparing the amount of the at least one specific microRNA sequence to a reference to provide information for detecting or predicting the lung condition;   wherein the at least one specific microRNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of miR-122, miR-486, miR-125b-5p, let-7d*, miR-101a, miR-101b, miR-1224, miR-124, miR-125a-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-127, miR-130a, miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-135a*, miR-141, miR-193, miR-193b, miR-199a-5p, miR-199b*, miR-200c, miR-202-3p, miR-205, miR-22, miR-23b, miR-26a, miR-27b, miR-291a-5p, miR-294*, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30c-1*, miR-30e, miR-320, miR-327, miR-339-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-370, miR-375, miR-451, miR-466f-3p, miR-483, miR-486-3p, miR-486-5p, miR-494, miR-574-5p, miR-652, miR-671-5p, miR-685, miR-710, miR-711, miR-712, miR-714, miR-720, miR-721, miR-877, miR-877*, miR-882, miR-93, miR-99a, and human orthologs thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one specific microRNA sequence comprises hsa-miR-122. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one specific microRNA sequence comprises hsa-miR-122 and either hsa-miR-486-3p or hsa-miR-486-5p. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the amount of miR-122 to the amount of miR-486 is greater than 4.0. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the amount of miR-122 to the amount of miR-486 is greater than 6.0. 
     
     
         6 . A method of detecting or predicting a liver condition, comprising:
 generating a microRNA profile from a biological sample;   identifying at least one differentially expressed microRNA sequence by comparing the microRNA profile to a reference; and   detecting or predicting the liver condition based on the identity or the amounts of the at least one differentially expressed microRNA sequence.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the microRNA profile comprises at least one microRNA sequence selected from the group consisting of miR-122, miR-486, miR-125b-5p, let-7d*, miR-101a, miR-101b, miR-1224, miR-124, miR-125a-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-127, miR-130a, miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-135a*, miR-141, miR-193, miR-193b, miR-199a-5p, miR-199b*, miR-200c, miR-202-3p, miR-205, miR-22, miR-23b, miR-26a, miR-27b, miR-291a-5p, miR-294*, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30c-1*, miR-30e, miR-320, miR-327, miR-339-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-370, miR-375, miR-451, miR-466f-3p, miR-483, miR-494, miR-574-5p, miR-652, miR-671-5p, miR-685, miR-710, miR-711, miR-712, miR-714, miR-720, miR-721, miR-877, miR-877*, miR-882, miR-93, miR-99a, and human orthologs thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one differentially expressed microRNA sequence comprises miR-122 and human orthologs thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one differentially expressed microRNA sequence comprises miR-122, miR-486, and human orthologs thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the amount of miR-122 to the amount of miR-486 is greater than 4.0. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the amount of miR-122 to the amount of miR-486 is greater than 6.0. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using microRNA to monitor a liver condition, comprising:
 generating a first microRNA profile from a first biological sample of a patient;   administering a treatment to the patient;   generating a second microRNA profile from a second biological sample of the patient;   comparing the second microRNA profile with the first microRNA profile to identify differentially expressed microRNA sequences; and   identifying a change in the liver condition based on the identity or the amounts of the differentially expressed microRNA sequences.