A Plasma microRNA Signature As a Biomarker for Acquired Aplastic Anemia

Background. Aplastic anemia (AA) is an acquired bone marrow (BM) disease characterized by marrow hypoplasia, a paucity of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and pancytopenia of the peripheral blood, due to immune attack on the BM. Although the immune pathophysiology of AA is well characterized, there are no biomarkers that would allow a better understanding of the immunological status of an individual AA patient. Extracellular miRNAs are cell-free circulating molecules residing in microvesicles, exosomes, and microparticles. Recent studies have reported circulating miRNAs as biomarkers to monitor T cell mediated autoimmune diseases. Our work aimed to analyze the circulating miRNA profile in the plasma of AA patients and to assess whether specific miRNAs could serve as new biomarkers for AA.