Diagnostic and mechanistic roles of MicroRNAs in neurodevelopmental & neurodegenerative disorders

Inhibitor of Growth Proteins: Epigenetic Regulators Shaping Neurobiology

The inhibitor of growth (ING) family of proteins is emerging as a pivotal regulator of epigenetic modifications within the nervous system. These proteins are involved in various cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell cycle control, and DNA repair, through interactions with chromatin-modifying complexes. Recent studies underscore the dual role of ING proteins in both tumor suppression and neuronal differentiation, development, and neuroprotection. This review summarizes the epigenetic functions of ING proteins in neurobiology, with a focus on their involvement in neural development and their relevance to neuro-oncological diseases. We explore the mechanisms by which ING proteins influence chromatin state and gene expression, highlighting their interactions with histone acetyltransferases, deacetylases, histone methyltransferases, DNA modification enzymes, and non-coding RNAs. A deeper understanding of the role of ING proteins in epigenetic regulation in the nervous system may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies targeting neurological disorders.

Potential Regulation of ARID1A by miR-129-5p and miR-3613-3p and Their Prognostic Value in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) remains the most common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of GC and, therefore, may be potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Our work was aimed at investigating the predicted regulation of ARID1A by miR-129-5p and miR-3613-3p and the clinical value of their aberrant expression in GC. The study included tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from 110 GC patients, 38 sectional normal gastric tissue samples, as well as 65 plasma samples of GC patients and 49 plasma samples of healthy donors. Expression levels of ARID1A and both miRNAs were quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We have identified significant associations of their expression with the clinical and pathological characteristics of GC patients both in tissues and plasma. To validate predicted target pairs miR-129-5p/ARID1A and miR-3613-3p/ARID1A, in vitro experiments on cancer cell lines were conducted. The obtained results suggest a complex role of ARID1A, miR-129-5p and miR-3613-3p in GC and potential regulation of ARID1A expression by both miRNAs.

Calcium Signaling and Molecular Adhesion Processes May Hold the Key to Genetic Risk for Autism: A Molecular Pathway Analysis on Two Independent Samples

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limited interests, difficulties in social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and impairments in social communication. ASD tends to run in families, and twin studies suggest a strong genetic basis for the disorder. However, the definition of a genetic profile that indicates a risk for ASD remains unclear.

METHODS

This analysis includes an investigation (Autism Dataset 4 from the NIMH repository, n = 2890) and a replication (Autism Dataset 3 from the NIMH repository, n = 1233) of trio samples with GWAS data. In Phase 1, a molecular pathway analysis is conducted on the investigation sample to test for the enrichment of specific Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with autism. In Phase 2, the identified pathways are tested for enrichment in the replication sample. Permutation tests are performed to reduce the risk of false-positive findings. Quality assessment is conducted using QQ-plots and λ values, with Plink and R utilized for the Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT) and permutation tests.

RESULTS

The GO term GO:0007417 was found to be enriched in both the investigation and replication samples. SNPs associated with this pathway were observed at a frequency higher than expected in the replication sample.

CONCLUSIONS

The GO term GO:0007417 (development of the nervous system) was associated with autism in both trio samples. Variations in the genes TMPRSS4, TRPC4, and PCDH9 were consistently linked to autism across the two independent samples, highlighting the role of calcium signaling and cell adhesion molecules in the risk of autism-related disorders. The pathways and variations associated with autism are described in detail, which can contribute to the engineering of new pharmacological treatments for ASD.