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TAmiRNA to update on osteomiR™: Exciting new data on mechanisms and utility of microRNA bone biomarkers are out now

Ladang et al. have obtained promising results for the application of osteomiRs for fracture risk prediction. Zarecki et al. find strong associations between osteomiRs and vertebral fractures and Kocijan et al. have elucidated the effect of anti-osteoporotic treatments on microRNA levels in bone and serum. Biological mechanisms will be further investigated within the Marie-Curie ITN project FIDELIO.

Pilot study on the prediction of fracture risk

In this pilot study, we investigated the ability of an miRNA panel (osteomiR panel) to predict fragility fracture risk in older people. The osteomiR score seems to be a promising miRNA panel for fragility fracture risk prediction and might have added value compared to FRAX.

Publication: "Evaluation of a Panel of MicroRNAs that Predicts Fragility Fracture Risk: A Pilot Study.", Ladang A, Beaudart C, Locquet M, et al. Calcif Tissue Int. 2019 Nov 15. doi:10.1007/s00223-019-00628-

miRNAs and vertebral factures

Specific circulating miRNAs reflect the presence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. They are unlikely to reflect low BMD, and more likely changes in bone quality or fracture healing. 

Publication: "Serum microRNA as novel biomarkers for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.", Zarecki P, Hackl M, Grillari J, et al. Bone 2019 Oct 24:115105. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2019.115105.  

Monitoring anti-osteoporotic treatments

MicroRNAs control the activity of a variety of genes that are pivotal to bone metabolism. Therefore, the clinical utility of miRNAs as biomarkers and drug targets for bone diseases certainly merits further investigation.

This study describes the use of an animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis to generate a comprehensive dataset on miRNA regulation in bone tissue and peripheral blood during bone loss and specifically anti-resorptive and osteo-anabolic treatment.

Publication: "MicroRNA levels in bone and blood change during bisphosphonate and teriparatide therapy in an animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis.", Kocijan R, Weigl M, Skalicky S et al. Bone 2019 Nov 1:115104. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2019.115104

About FIDELIO

Diabetes mellitus is a widespread metabolic disease, which disrupts the entire organism of patients. This also significantly affects bone health. The consequences are an increased risk of fractures and a worse healing of bone fractures. In order to investigate the connections between this metabolic disease and the bone system, the EU project „FIDELIO“ has stared in October 2019. The European consortium, which is coordinated by scientists from the Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus of the TU Dresden, is funded by the EU with a total of 3.8 million euros. In this framework, 14 ambitious, young and creative young scientists are trained to tackle the future challenges of an aging society. TAmiRNA is proud to be part of this innovative training network.

About TAmiRNA

TAmiRNA specializes in technologies for profiling levels of blood-circulating microRNAs and developing multi-parametric classification algorithms (“signatures”). TAmiRNA uses these technologies to develop minimal-invasive diagnostic tests for drug development, early diagnosis and prognosis of disease, and as companion diagnostic tests to support treatment decisions. http://www.tamirna.com

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