miREV – an online database and tool to uncover potential reference RNAs and biomarkers in small-RNA sequencing data sets from extracellular vesicles enriched samples

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized, membrane-enclosed vesicles released by cells for intercellular communication. EVs are involved in pathological processes and miRNAs in EVs have gained interest as easily accessible biomolecules in liquid biopsies for diagnostic purposes. To validate potential miRNA biomarker, transcriptome analyses must be carried out to detect suitable reference miRNAs.

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich have developed miREV, a database with over 400 miRNA sequencing data sets that helps the researcher to find suitable reference miRNAs for their individual experimental setup. The researcher can put together a specific sample set in miREV, which is similar to his own experimental concept in order to find the most suitable references. This allows to run validation experiments without having to carry out a complex and costly transcriptome analysis priorly. Additional read count tables of each generated sample set are downloadable for further analysis.

Exemplary result plots of miREV and a downstream analysis

Availability – miREV is freely available at https://www.physio.wzw.tum.de/mirev/.