Fig 6.

Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering heatmap of blood miRNA expression profiles in (A) multiple sclerosis patients [MS] (GSE17846), and spinal cord homogenate miRNA expression in (B) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients [ALS] (GSE52670) shows that PCA analysis of blood or tissue miRNA profiling has diagnostic potential for degenerative diseases. (C) PCA and hierarchical clustering analysis of blood monocyte miRNA expression in MS and sporadic ALS patients and healthy controls (GSE39643) shows that patients of these diseases, which in the early stages present with similar symptoms, can be clearly distinguished from each other as well as the control group. The discriminating miRNAs are prominently linked to inflammation and immune function.