Exosome microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Metabolic Bone Disease of Prematurity

Metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) is caused by insufficient content of calcium, phosphorus, and organic protein matrix in preterm infants or bone metabolism disorder, which is one of the complications affecting the quality of life of preterm infants. The early symptoms of MBDP are insidious, and there is no unified and clear diagnostic method. The diagnosis is mostly based on typical clinical manifestations and X-ray findings, but at this time, bone mineral density has decreased significantly, so early detection and diagnosis are difficult. Studies have shown that exosomal micrornas have biological characteristics and targeting specificity, and can be used as new molecular diagnostic markers for diseases. Several studies have reported the use of plasma or serum microRNAs as molecular markers for early prediction of bone diseases. In our previous study, we extracted plasma exosomes from preterm infants for high-throughput sequencing of microRNAs, and identified differentially expressed micrornas related to bone metabolism. In this study, exosomes were used as carriers, and digital PCR was used to verify the specificity and sensitivity of plasma exosomal microRNA as biomarkers of MBDP in a large sample size. The above biomarkers were compared and verified before and after treatment in children with MBDP. Further revealing plasma exosomal microRNA as a biological indicator for evaluating the efficacy of MBDP may improve the diagnostic level of MBDP, improve the outcome and prognosis of very low birth weight preterm infants, thereby improving global health and reducing socioeconomic costs.