Platelets confound the measurement of extracellular miRNA in archived plasma

摘要: Extracellular miRNAs are detectable in biofluids and represent a novel class of disease biomarker. Although many studies have utilized archived plasma for miRNA biomarker discovery, the effects processing storage not been rigorously studied. Previous reports suggested samples commonly contaminated by platelets, significantly confounding measurement extracellular miRNA, which was thought to be easily addressed additional post-thaw processing. In case-control study plasma, we noted significant correlation between levels platelet counts despite We thus examined single freeze/thaw cycle on microparticles (MPs) levels, show that dramatically increases number platelet-derived MPs, contaminates pool, profoundly affects detected. The is critically dependent removal residual platelets prior freezing samples. Many previous clinical should interpreted with caution future avoid contamination.