Changes in miRNA in the lung and blood after whole thorax irradiation in rats: biomarkers for radiation-induced injuries

We used a rat model of whole thorax x-ray irradiation to profile the microRNA (miRNA) in lung and blood up to 4 weeks after radiation. Small RNA from normal and irradiated Wistar rat lungs and blood were analyzed by next-generation sequencing and the changes by radiation were identified by deRNA-seq at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after irradiation. The average total reads/library was 2,703,137 with a mean of 88% mapping to the rat genome. Detailed profiles of 100 of the most abundant miRNA in rat blood and lung are described.