Serum microRNAs as novel biomarkers for osteoporotic vertebral fractures

•The presence of vertebral fracture is associated with overexpression of 7 microRNAs.•Low BMD does not influence microRNA levels in the absence of vertebral fracture.•MicroRNAs are correlated with the level of bone turnover markers. Vertebral fractures are the hallmark of osteoporosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a prominent class of gene regulators likely to affect bone homeostasis, including bone remodelling and fracture healing by altering gene expression in bone cells. This study sought to compare the levels of circulating miRNAs in older women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, and/or low BMD and healthy controls, and to correlate miRNAs expression levels with BTMs. A single-site, case-control, observational, cross-sectional study at a university hospital. Altogether, 126 postmenopausal women belonging to four different groups were included: healthy (n=42), low BMD and no vertebral fractures (n=39), vertebral fractures and low BMD without a treatment (n=26), or receiving a treatment for osteoporosis (n=19). Serum samples from all participants were analyzed for 21 microRNA bone biomarkers. We identified 7 significantly (p