ALSmiR: a curated evidence resource for ALS-associated microRNAs for biomarker discovery

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a multifactorial, late-onset neurodegenerative disease with incompletely understood pathogenesis. Limited survival after symptom onset creates an urgent need for biomarkers to support diagnosis, prognosis, and patient stratification. MicroRNAs are among the candidate biomarkers investigated in this disease. Although reviews have synthesized microRNA expression findings, differences in patient populations, biospecimens, and methods complicate comparisons. In the age of data-driven research, we need an updated, searchable resource that links each finding to its context and incorporates growing evidence. Here, we present ALSmiR, a public, manually curated database of polymerase chain reaction-based microRNA expression findings from human biological fluids and their components. ALSmiR currently contains 1,620 expression records from 49 publications comparing patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with healthy controls, covering 816 microRNA names across 13 biospecimen categories. We link publication, cohort, and microRNA-result tables to preserve each finding's clinical and experimental context. We retain significant and non-significant results and provide searchable records and comma-separated values exports for independent analysis. We update ALSmiR annually and verify author submissions against source publications before inclusion. Researchers can use ALSmiR to assess candidate biomarkers, formulate hypotheses, and design independent validation studies. ALSmiR is freely accessible worldwide without registration at https://alsmir.dokhlab.org/.