Implication of long non-coding RNA NEAT1 in the pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis-induced blood-brain barrier damage

RNA sequencing reveals differential long noncoding RNA expression profiles in bacterial and viral meningitis in children

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the involvement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in bacterial and viral meningitis in children.

METHODS

The peripheral blood of five bacterial meningitis patients, five viral meningitis samples, and five healthy individuals were collected for RNA sequencing. Then, the differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA were detected in bacterial meningitis vs. controls, viral meningitis vs. healthy samples, and bacterial vs. viral meningitis patients. Besides, co-expression and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, 2 lncRNAs and 32 mRNAs were identified in bacterial meningitis patients, and 115 lncRNAs and 54 mRNAs were detected in viral meningitis. Compared with bacterial meningitis, 165 lncRNAs and 765 mRNAs were identified in viral meningitis. 2 lncRNAs and 31 mRNAs were specific to bacterial meningitis, and 115 lncRNAs and 53 mRNAs were specific to viral meningitis. The function enrichment results indicated that these mRNAs were involved in innate immune response, inflammatory response, and immune system process. A total of 8 and 1401 co-expression relationships were respectively found in bacterial and viral meningitis groups. The ceRNA networks contained 1 lncRNA-mRNA pair and 4 miRNA-mRNA pairs in viral meningitis group. GPR68 and KIF5C, identified in bacterial meningitis co-expression analysis, had an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.00, while the AUC of OR52K2 and CCR5 is 0.883 and 0.698, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research is the first to profile the lncRNAs in bacterial and viral meningitis in children and may provide new insight into understanding meningitis regulatory mechanisms.

NEAT1 in inflammatory infectious diseases: An integrated perspective on molecular modulation

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), NEAT1, has emerged as a central figure in the intricate network of molecular regulators in inflammatory infectious diseases (IIDs). The review initiates a comprehensive exploration of NEAT1's multifaceted roles and molecular interactions in the context of these complex diseases. The study begins by acknowledging the global health burden of IIDs, underscoring the urgency for innovative insights into their pathogenesis and therapeutic avenues. NEAT1 is introduced as a pivotal lncRNA with growing relevance in immune responses and inflammatory processes. The core of this review unravels the NEAT1 landscape, elucidating its involvement in the modulation of immune signalling pathways, regulation of inflammatory cytokines, and interactions with various immune cells during infection. It explores NEAT1's role in orchestrating immune responses and balancing host defence mechanisms with the risk of immunopathology. Furthermore, the review underscores the clinical significance of NEAT1 in infectious diseases, discussing its associations with disease severity, prognosis, and potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. It provides insights into ongoing research endeavours aimed at harnessing NEAT1 for innovative disease management strategies, including developing RNA-based therapeutics. Concluding on a forward-looking note, the review highlights the broader implications of NEAT1 in the context of emerging infectious diseases and the possibility for precision medicine approaches that leverage NEAT1's regulatory capacities. In summary, this review illuminates the pivotal role of NEAT1 in IIDs by navigating its complex landscape, offering profound insights into its implications for disease pathogenesis and the development of targeted therapies.

The Coordination of mTOR Signaling and Non-Coding RNA in Regulating Epileptic Neuroinflammation

Epilepsy accounts for a significant proportion of the burden of neurological disorders. Neuroinflammation acting as the inflammatory response to epileptic seizures is characterized by aberrant regulation of inflammatory cells and molecules, and has been regarded as a key process in epilepsy where mTOR signaling serves as a pivotal modulator. Meanwhile, accumulating evidence has revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) interfering with mTOR signaling are involved in neuroinflammation and therefore articipate in the development and progression of epilepsy. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the regulation of mTOR on neuroinflammatory cells and mediators, and feature the progresses of the interaction between ncRNAs and mTOR in epileptic neuroinflammation.

Non-coding RNAs in the regulation of blood–brain barrier functions in central nervous system disorders

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is an essential component of the neurovascular unit that controls the exchanges of various biological substances between the blood and the brain. BBB damage is a common feature of different central nervous systems (CNS) disorders and plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of the diseases. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are important regulatory RNA molecules that are involved in almost all cellular processes in normal development and various diseases, including CNS diseases. Cumulative evidences have demonstrated ncRNA regulation of BBB functions in different CNS diseases. In this review, we have summarized the miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs that can be served as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BBB injuries, and demonstrated the involvement and underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs in modulating BBB structure and function in various CNS diseases, including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), brain tumors, brain infections, diabetes, sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), and others. We have also discussed the pharmaceutical drugs that can regulate BBB functions via ncRNAs-related signaling cascades in CNS disorders, along with the challenges, perspective, and therapeutic potential of ncRNA regulation of BBB functions in CNS diseases.