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Parkins EV, Gross C. Small Differences and Big Changes: The Many Variables of MicroRNA Expression and Function in the Brain. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0365242024. [PMID: 39111834 PMCID: PMC11308354 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0365-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are emerging as crucial regulators within the complex, dynamic environment of the synapse, and they offer a promising new avenue for the treatment of neurological disease. These small noncoding RNAs modify gene expression in several ways, including posttranscriptional modulation via binding to complementary and semicomplementary sites on target mRNAs. This rapid, finely tuned regulation of gene expression is essential to meet the dynamic demands of the synapse. Here, we provide a detailed review of the multifaceted world of synaptic microRNA regulation. We discuss the many mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression at the synapse, particularly in the context of neuronal plasticity. We also describe the various factors, such as age, sex, and neurological disease, that can influence microRNA expression and activity in neurons. In summary, microRNAs play a crucial role in the intricate and quickly changing functional requirements of the synapse, and context is essential in the study of microRNAs and their potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma V Parkins
- University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - Christina Gross
- University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
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2
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Kaurani L. Clinical Insights into MicroRNAs in Depression: Bridging Molecular Discoveries and Therapeutic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2866. [PMID: 38474112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. The discovery of biomarkers for diagnosis or prediction of treatment responses and as therapeutic agents is a current priority. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of short RNA molecules in the etiology of depression. The most extensively researched of these are microRNAs, a major component of cellular gene regulation and function. MicroRNAs function in a temporal and tissue-specific manner to regulate and modify the post-transcriptional expression of target mRNAs. They can also be shuttled as cargo of extracellular vesicles between the brain and the blood, thus informing about relevant mechanisms in the CNS through the periphery. In fact, studies have already shown that microRNAs identified peripherally are dysregulated in the pathological phenotypes seen in depression. Our article aims to review the existing evidence on microRNA dysregulation in depression and to summarize and evaluate the growing body of evidence for the use of microRNAs as a target for diagnostics and RNA-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalit Kaurani
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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3
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Parkins EV, Brager DH, Rymer JK, Burwinkel JM, Rojas D, Tiwari D, Hu YC, Gross C. Mir324 knockout regulates the structure of dendritic spines and impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21919. [PMID: 38082035 PMCID: PMC10713680 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49134-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are an emerging class of synaptic regulators. These small noncoding RNAs post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression, thereby altering neuronal pathways and shaping cell-to-cell communication. Their ability to rapidly alter gene expression and target multiple pathways makes them interesting candidates in the study of synaptic plasticity. Here, we demonstrate that the proconvulsive microRNA miR-324-5p regulates excitatory synapse structure and function in the hippocampus of mice. Both Mir324 knockout (KO) and miR-324-5p antagomir treatment significantly reduce dendritic spine density in the hippocampal CA1 subregion, and Mir324 KO, but not miR-324-5p antagomir treatment, shift dendritic spine morphology, reducing the proportion of thin, "unstable" spines. Western blot and quantitative Real-Time PCR revealed changes in protein and mRNA levels for potassium channels, cytoskeletal components, and synaptic markers, including MAP2 and Kv4.2, which are important for long-term potentiation (LTP). In line with these findings, slice electrophysiology revealed that LTP is severely impaired in Mir324 KO mice, while neurotransmitter release probability remains unchanged. Overall, this study demonstrates that miR-324-5p regulates dendritic spine density, morphology, and plasticity in the hippocampus, potentially via multiple cytoskeletal and synaptic modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma V Parkins
- University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Darrin H Brager
- Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Rymer
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - John M Burwinkel
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Diego Rojas
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Durgesh Tiwari
- University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Yueh-Chiang Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Transgenic Animal and Genome Editing Core Facility, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Christina Gross
- University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Graduate Program, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
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4
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Zuniga G, Frost B. Selective neuronal vulnerability to deficits in RNA processing. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 229:102500. [PMID: 37454791 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that errors in RNA processing can causally drive neurodegeneration. Given that RNA produced from expressed genes of all cell types undergoes processing (splicing, polyadenylation, 5' capping, etc.), the particular vulnerability of neurons to deficits in RNA processing calls for careful consideration. The activity-dependent transcriptome remodeling associated with synaptic plasticity in neurons requires rapid, multilevel post-transcriptional RNA processing events that provide additional opportunities for dysregulation and consequent introduction or persistence of errors in RNA transcripts. Here we review the accumulating evidence that neurons have an enhanced propensity for errors in RNA processing alongside grossly insufficient defenses to clear misprocessed RNA compared to other cell types. Additionally, we explore how tau, a microtubule-associated protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, contributes to deficits in RNA processing and clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Zuniga
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Bess Frost
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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5
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Simmons SC, Robison AJ. An miRNA with a major impact on stress. Trends Genet 2023; 39:642-643. [PMID: 37414676 PMCID: PMC10526973 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
miRNAs regulate mRNAs, including those important for synapse function in the brain. Mucha and colleagues recently identified a novel miRNA-mRNA interaction in the basolateral amygdala that acts as a homeostatic counter to stress-induced anxiety and synaptic changes, suggesting miRNAs as potential avenues for therapeutic intervention in anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Cooper Simmons
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - A J Robison
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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Olufunmilayo EO, Holsinger RMD. Roles of Non-Coding RNA in Alzheimer's Disease Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12498. [PMID: 37569871 PMCID: PMC10420049 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is accompanied by deficits in memory and cognitive functions. The disease is pathologically characterised by the accumulation and aggregation of an extracellular peptide referred to as amyloid-β (Aβ) in the form of amyloid plaques and the intracellular aggregation of a hyperphosphorelated protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that cause neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The search for pathomechanisms leading to disease onset and progression has identified many key players that include genetic, epigenetic, behavioural, and environmental factors, which lend support to the fact that this is a multi-faceted disease where failure in various systems contributes to disease onset and progression. Although the vast majority of individuals present with the sporadic (non-genetic) form of the disease, dysfunctions in numerous protein-coding and non-coding genes have been implicated in mechanisms contributing to the disease. Recent studies have provided strong evidence for the association of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with AD. In this review, we highlight the current findings on changes observed in circular RNA (circRNA), microRNA (miRNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in AD. Variations in these ncRNAs could potentially serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We also discuss the results of studies that have targeted these ncRNAs in cellular and animal models of AD with a view for translating these findings into therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward O. Olufunmilayo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Dementia, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
- Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Road, Oritamefa, Ibadan 200212, Nigeria
| | - R. M. Damian Holsinger
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Dementia, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
- Neuroscience, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Walgrave H, Penning A, Tosoni G, Snoeck S, Davie K, Davis E, Wolfs L, Sierksma A, Mars M, Bu T, Thrupp N, Zhou L, Moechars D, Mancuso R, Fiers M, Howden AJ, De Strooper B, Salta E. microRNA-132 regulates gene expression programs involved in microglial homeostasis. iScience 2023; 26:106829. [PMID: 37250784 PMCID: PMC10213004 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNA-132 (miR-132), a known neuronal regulator, is one of the most robustly downregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Increasing miR-132 in AD mouse brain ameliorates amyloid and Tau pathologies, and also restores adult hippocampal neurogenesis and memory deficits. However, the functional pleiotropy of miRNAs requires in-depth analysis of the effects of miR-132 supplementation before it can be moved forward for AD therapy. We employ here miR-132 loss- and gain-of-function approaches using single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and in silico AGO-CLIP datasets to identify molecular pathways targeted by miR-132 in mouse hippocampus. We find that miR-132 modulation significantly affects the transition of microglia from a disease-associated to a homeostatic cell state. We confirm the regulatory role of miR-132 in shifting microglial cell states using human microglial cultures derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Walgrave
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amber Penning
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giorgia Tosoni
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Snoeck
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kristofer Davie
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Bioinformatics Core Facility, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emma Davis
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Leen Wolfs
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annerieke Sierksma
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mayte Mars
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Taofeng Bu
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicola Thrupp
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lujia Zhou
- Discovery Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Diederik Moechars
- Discovery Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Renzo Mancuso
- Microglia and Inflammation in Neurological Disorders (MIND) Lab, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mark Fiers
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andrew J.M. Howden
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Evgenia Salta
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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8
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Chi X, Wang L, Liu H, Zhang Y, Shen W. Post-stroke cognitive impairment and synaptic plasticity: A review about the mechanisms and Chinese herbal drugs strategies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1123817. [PMID: 36937659 PMCID: PMC10014821 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1123817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-stroke cognitive impairment, is a major complication of stroke, characterized by cognitive dysfunction, which directly affects the quality of life. Post-stroke cognitive impairment highlights the causal relationship between stroke and cognitive impairment. The pathological damage of stroke, including the increased release of excitatory amino acids, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, changed neurotrophic factor levels and gene expression, influence synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity refers to the activity-dependent changes in the strength of synaptic connections and efficiency of synaptic transmission at pre-existing synapses and can be divided into structural synaptic plasticity and functional synaptic plasticity. Changes in synaptic plasticity have been proven to play important roles in the occurrence and treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment. Evidence has indicated that Chinese herbal drugs have effect of treating post-stroke cognitive impairment. In this review, we overview the influence of pathological damage of stroke on synaptic plasticity, analyze the changes of synaptic plasticity in post-stroke cognitive impairment, and summarize the commonly used Chinese herbal drugs whose active ingredient or extracts can regulate synaptic plasticity. This review will summarize the relationship between post-stroke cognitive impairment and synaptic plasticity, provide new ideas for future exploration of the mechanism of post-stroke cognitive impairment, compile evidence of applying Chinese herbal drugs to treat post-stroke cognitive impairment and lay a foundation for the development of novel formulas for treating post-stroke cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiansu Chi
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liuding Wang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxi Liu
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yunling Zhang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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9
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Li X, Jin DS, Eadara S, Caterina MJ, Meffert MK. Regulation by noncoding RNAs of local translation, injury responses, and pain in the peripheral nervous system. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 13:100119. [PMID: 36798094 PMCID: PMC9926024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition arising from damage to somatosensory pathways that results in pathological hypersensitivity. Persistent pain can be viewed as a consequence of maladaptive plasticity which, like most enduring forms of cellular plasticity, requires altered expression of specific gene programs. Control of gene expression at the level of protein synthesis is broadly utilized to directly modulate changes in activity and responsiveness in nociceptive pathways and provides an effective mechanism for compartmentalized regulation of the proteome in peripheral nerves through local translation. Levels of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are commonly impacted by peripheral nerve injury leading to persistent pain. NcRNAs exert spatiotemporal regulation of local proteomes and affect signaling cascades supporting altered sensory responses that contribute to hyperalgesia. This review discusses ncRNAs found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that are dysregulated following nerve injury and the current understanding of their roles in pathophysiological pain-related responses including neuroimmune interactions, neuronal survival and axon regeneration, Schwann cell dedifferentiation and proliferation, intercellular communication, and the generation of ectopic action potentials in primary afferents. We review progress in the field beyond cataloging, with a focus on the relevant target transcripts and mechanisms underlying pain modulation by ncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbei Li
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Daniel S. Jin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Sreenivas Eadara
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Michael J. Caterina
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery Pain Research Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Mollie K. Meffert
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
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10
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Xylaki M, Paiva I, Al-Azzani M, Gerhardt E, Jain G, Islam MR, Vasili E, Wassouf Z, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Fischer A, Outeiro TF. miR-101a-3p Impairs Synaptic Plasticity and Contributes to Synucleinopathy. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2023; 13:179-196. [PMID: 36744345 PMCID: PMC10041420 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-225055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synucleinopathies are disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein (aSyn). Synaptic compromise is observed in synucleinopathies parallel to aSyn aggregation and is accompanied by transcript deregulation. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify microRNAs associated with synaptic processes that may contribute to synaptic dysfunction and degeneration in synucleinopathies. METHODS We performed small RNA-sequencing of midbrain from 6-month-old transgenic mice expressing A30P mutant aSyn, followed by comparative expression analysis. We then used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for validation. Functional analysis was performed in primary neurons by biochemical assays and imaging. RESULTS We found several deregulated biological processes linked to the synapse. miR-101a-3p was validated as a synaptic miRNA upregulated in aSyn Tg mice and in the cortex of dementia with Lewy bodies patients. Mice and primary cultured neurons overexpressing miR-101a-3p showed downregulation of postsynaptic proteins GABA Ab2 and SAPAP3 and altered dendritic morphology resembling synaptic plasticity impairments and/or synaptic damage. Interestingly, primary cultured neuron exposure to recombinant wild-type aSyn species efficiently increased miR-101a-3p levels. Finally, a dynamic role of miR-101a-3p in synapse plasticity was shown by identifying downregulation of miR-101a-3p in a condition of enhanced synaptic plasticity modelled in Wt animals housed in enriched environment. CONCLUSION To conclude, we correlated pathologic aSyn with high levels of miR-101a-3p and a novel dynamic role of the miRNA in synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Xylaki
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Isabel Paiva
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Present address: Laboratory of Cognitive and Adaptive Neuroscience, UMR 7364 (CNRS/ Strasbourg University), Strasbourg, France
| | - Mohammed Al-Azzani
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Gerhardt
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gaurav Jain
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Md Rezaul Islam
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eftychia Vasili
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zinah Wassouf
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - André Fischer
- Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Centre for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Scientific employee with an honorary contract at German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
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11
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Kołosowska KA, Schratt G, Winterer J. microRNA-dependent regulation of gene expression in GABAergic interneurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1188574. [PMID: 37213213 PMCID: PMC10196030 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1188574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Information processing within neuronal circuits relies on their proper development and a balanced interplay between principal and local inhibitory interneurons within those circuits. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibitory interneurons are a remarkably heterogeneous population, comprising subclasses based on their morphological, electrophysiological, and molecular features, with differential connectivity and activity patterns. microRNA (miRNA)-dependent post-transcriptional control of gene expression represents an important regulatory mechanism for neuronal development and plasticity. miRNAs are a large group of small non-coding RNAs (21-24 nucleotides) acting as negative regulators of mRNA translation and stability. However, while miRNA-dependent gene regulation in principal neurons has been described heretofore in several studies, an understanding of the role of miRNAs in inhibitory interneurons is only beginning to emerge. Recent research demonstrated that miRNAs are differentially expressed in interneuron subclasses, are vitally important for migration, maturation, and survival of interneurons during embryonic development and are crucial for cognitive function and memory formation. In this review, we discuss recent progress in understanding miRNA-dependent regulation of gene expression in interneuron development and function. We aim to shed light onto mechanisms by which miRNAs in GABAergic interneurons contribute to sculpting neuronal circuits, and how their dysregulation may underlie the emergence of numerous neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerhard Schratt
- Lab of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Institute for Neuroscience, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jochen Winterer
- Lab of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Institute for Neuroscience, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Jochen Winterer,
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12
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Haque SS. Biomarkers in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. RUDN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.22363/2313-0245-2022-26-4-431-440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers are molecules that behave as of biological states. Ideally, they should have high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in reflecting the total disease burden. The review discusses the current status of biomarkers used in neurological disorders. Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group disorders characterized by progressive loss of structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. The review discusses the main biomarkers that have predictive value for describing clinical etiology, pathophysiology, and intervention strategies. Preciseness and reliability are one of important requirement for good biomarker. As a result of the analysis of literature data, it was revealed that beta-amyloid, total tau protein and its phosphorylated forms are the first biochemical biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases measured in cerebrospinal fluid, but these markers are dependent upon invasive lumbar puncture and therefore it’s a cumbersome process for patients. Among the various biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, special attention is paid to miRNAs. MicroRNAs, important biomarkers in many disease states, including neurodegenerative disorders, make them promising candidates that may lead to identify new therapeutic targets. Conclusions. Biomarkers of neurological disease are present optimal amount in the cerebrospinal fluid but they are also present in blood at low levels. The data obtained reveal the predictive value of molecular diagnostics of neurodegenerative disorders and the need for its wider use.
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13
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Rafiee M, Nosrati R, Babaei P. Protective effect of miR-34c antagomir against STZ-induced memory impairment by targeting mTOR and PSD-95 in the hippocampus of rats. Neurosci Lett 2022; 789:136881. [PMID: 36152745 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
After long times of ongoing research, still there is no appropriate cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, epigenetic alterations, particularly miRNA, have gotten attention in AD research. Among various miRNA, miR-34c has been addressed to be elevated in the brain of AD patients, however, its exact role and downstream mechanisms have not been elucidated yet. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of miR-34c antagomir on cognitive dysfunction induced by streptozocin (STZ), considering postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and mammalian target of rapamycin expression (mTOR). Forty rats were cannulated intraventricularly under deep anesthesia using stereotaxic apparatus and divided into five groups: saline + saline, STZ + saline, STZ + miR-34c antagomir, STZ + lipofectamine, and STZ + scrambled, and received the related treatments for two weeks. At the end of the treatments, spatial memory and locomotor activity were assessed by Morris water maze (MWM), and open fields, respectively. Finally, PSD-95 and mTOR levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting on hippocampal samples. Results showed that miR-34c antagomir markedly ameliorated spatial learning and memory deficits induced by STZ, and significantly enhanced PSD-95 and mTOR levels in the hippocampus. In conclusion, miR-34c antagomir may be considered as a promising novel therapeutic target for AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Rafiee
- Cellular &Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine,Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Rahim Nosrati
- Cellular &Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Parvin Babaei
- Cellular &Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine,Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
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14
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Kumar S, Orlov E, Gowda P, Bose C, Swerdlow RH, Lahiri DK, Reddy PH. Synaptosome microRNAs regulate synapse functions in Alzheimer's disease. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:47. [PMID: 35941185 PMCID: PMC9359989 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00319-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are found in nerve terminals, synaptic vesicles, and synaptosomes, but it is unclear whether synaptic and cytosolic miRNA populations differ in Alzheimer's disease (AD) or if synaptosomal miRNAs affect AD synapse activity. To address these questions, we generated synaptosomes and cytosolic fractions from postmortem brains of AD and unaffected control (UC) samples and analyzed them using a global Affymetrix miRNAs microarray platform. A group of miRNAs significantly differed (P < 0.0001) with high fold changes variance (+/- >200-fold) in their expressions in different comparisons: (1) UC synaptosome vs UC cytosol, (2) AD synaptosomes vs AD cytosol, (3) AD cytosol vs UC cytosol, and (4) AD synaptosomes vs UC synaptosomes. MiRNAs data analysis revealed that some potential miRNAs were consistently different across sample groups. These differentially expressed miRNAs were further validated using AD postmortem brains, brains of APP transgenic (Tg2576), Tau transgenic (P301L), and wild-type mice. The miR-501-3p, miR-502-3p, and miR-877-5p were identified as potential synaptosomal miRNAs upregulated with disease progression based on AD Braak stages. Gene Ontology Enrichment and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of synaptosomal miRNAs showed the involvement of miRNAs in nervous system development, cell junction organization, synapse assembly formation, and function of GABAergic synapse. This is the first description of synaptic versus cytosolic miRNAs in AD and their significance in synapse function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subodh Kumar
- grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Center of Emphasis in Neuroscience, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX 79905 USA ,grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA ,grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Erika Orlov
- grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA
| | - Prashanth Gowda
- grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA
| | - Chhanda Bose
- grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA
| | - Russell H. Swerdlow
- grid.266515.30000 0001 2106 0692Department of Neurology, the University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Fairway, KS 66205 USA
| | - Debomoy K. Lahiri
- grid.257413.60000 0001 2287 3919Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics’ Departments of Psychiatry and Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine’ Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
| | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA ,grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA ,grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA ,grid.416992.10000 0001 2179 3554Department of Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9410, Lubbock, TX 79430 USA
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15
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Dubes S, Soula A, Benquet S, Tessier B, Poujol C, Favereaux A, Thoumine O, Letellier M. miR
‐124‐dependent tagging of synapses by synaptopodin enables input‐specific homeostatic plasticity. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109012. [PMID: 35875872 PMCID: PMC9574720 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeostatic synaptic plasticity is a process by which neurons adjust their synaptic strength to compensate for perturbations in neuronal activity. Whether the highly diverse synapses on a neuron respond uniformly to the same perturbation remains unclear. Moreover, the molecular determinants that underlie synapse‐specific homeostatic synaptic plasticity are unknown. Here, we report a synaptic tagging mechanism in which the ability of individual synapses to increase their strength in response to activity deprivation depends on the local expression of the spine‐apparatus protein synaptopodin under the regulation of miR‐124. Using genetic manipulations to alter synaptopodin expression or regulation by miR‐124, we show that synaptopodin behaves as a “postsynaptic tag” whose translation is derepressed in a subpopulation of synapses and allows for nonuniform homeostatic strengthening and synaptic AMPA receptor stabilization. By genetically silencing individual connections in pairs of neurons, we demonstrate that this process operates in an input‐specific manner. Overall, our study shifts the current view that homeostatic synaptic plasticity affects all synapses uniformly to a more complex paradigm where the ability of individual synapses to undergo homeostatic changes depends on their own functional and biochemical state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Dubes
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
| | - Anaïs Soula
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
| | - Sébastien Benquet
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
| | - Béatrice Tessier
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
| | - Christel Poujol
- University of Bordeaux CNRS INSERM Bordeaux Imaging Center BIC UMS 3420, US 4 Bordeaux France
| | - Alexandre Favereaux
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
| | - Olivier Thoumine
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
| | - Mathieu Letellier
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience UMR 5297 Bordeaux France
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16
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Banach E, Szczepankiewicz A, Kaczmarek L, Jaworski T, Urban-Ciećko J. Dysregulation of miRNAs levels in GSK3β overexpressing mice and the role of miR-221-5p in synaptic function. Neuroscience 2022; 490:287-295. [PMID: 35331845 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a highly expressed kinase in the brain, where it has an important role in synaptic plasticity. Aberrant activity of GSK-3β leads to synaptic dysfunction which results in the development of several neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases. Notably, overexpression of constitutively active form of GSK-3β (GSK-3β[S9A]) in mice recapitulates the cognitive and structural defects characteristic for neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the mechanisms by which GSK-3β regulates synaptic functions are not clearly known. Here, we investigate the effects of GSK-3β overactivity on neuronal miRNA expression in the mouse hippocampus. We found that GSK-3β overactivity downregulates miRNA network with a potent effect on miR-221-5p (miR-221*). Next, characterization of miR-221* function in primary hippocampal cell culture transfected by miR-221* inhibitor, showed no structural changes in dendritic spine shape and density. Using electrophysiological methods, we found that downregulation of miR-221* increases excitatory synaptic transmission in hippocampal neurons, probably via postsynaptic mechanisms. Thus, our data reveal potential mechanism by which GSK-3β and miRNAs might regulate synaptic function and therefore also synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Banach
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Animal Models, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | | | - Leszek Kaczmarek
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Jaworski
- Laboratory of Animal Models, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; Research and Development Centre, Celon Pharma SA, Kazun Nowy, Poland
| | - Joanna Urban-Ciećko
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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17
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Tsamou M, Carpi D, Pistollato F, Roggen EL. Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease- and Neurotoxicity-Related microRNAs Affecting Key Events of Tau-Driven Adverse Outcome Pathway Toward Memory Loss. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 86:1427-1457. [PMID: 35213375 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A complex network of aging-related homeostatic pathways that are sensitive to further deterioration in the presence of genetic, systemic, and environmental risk factors, and lifestyle, is implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive neurodegenerative diseases, such as sporadic (late-onset) Alzheimer's disease (sAD). OBJECTIVE Since sAD pathology and neurotoxicity share microRNAs (miRs) regulating common as well as overlapping pathological processes, environmental neurotoxic compounds are hypothesized to exert a risk for sAD initiation and progression. METHODS Literature search for miRs associated with human sAD and environmental neurotoxic compounds was conducted. Functional miR analysis using PathDip was performed to create miR-target interaction networks. RESULTS The identified miRs were successfully linked to the hypothetical starting point and key events of the earlier proposed tau-driven adverse outcome pathway toward memory loss. Functional miR analysis confirmed most of the findings retrieved from literature and revealed some interesting findings. The analysis identified 40 miRs involved in both sAD and neurotoxicity that dysregulated processes governing the plausible adverse outcome pathway for memory loss. CONCLUSION Creating miR-target interaction networks related to pathological processes involved in sAD initiation and progression, and environmental chemical-induced neurotoxicity, respectively, provided overlapping miR-target interaction networks. This overlap offered an opportunity to create an alternative picture of the mechanisms underlying sAD initiation and early progression. Looking at initiation and progression of sAD from this new angle may open for new biomarkers and novel drug targets for sAD before the appearance of the first clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsamou
- ToxGenSolutions (TGS), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Donatella Carpi
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra VA, Italy
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18
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Ogonowski N, Salcidua S, Leon T, Chamorro-Veloso N, Valls C, Avalos C, Bisquertt A, Rentería ME, Orellana P, Duran-Aniotz C. Systematic Review: microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Mild Cognitive Impairment Diagnosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:807764. [PMID: 35095478 PMCID: PMC8790149 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.807764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The rate of progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is estimated at >10% per year, reaching up to 80-90% after 6 years. MCI is considered an indicator of early-stage AD. In this context, the diagnostic screening of MCI is crucial for detecting individuals at high risk of AD before they progress and manifest further severe symptoms. Typically, MCI has been determined using neuropsychological assessment tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Unfortunately, other diagnostic methods are not available or are unable to identify MCI in its early stages. Therefore, identifying new biomarkers for MCI diagnosis and prognosis is a significant challenge. In this framework, miRNAs in serum, plasma, and other body fluids have emerged as a promising source of biomarkers for MCI and AD-related cognitive impairments. Interestingly, miRNAs can regulate several signaling pathways via multiple and diverse targets in response to pathophysiological stimuli. This systematic review aims to describe the current state of the art regarding AD-related target genes modulated by differentially expressed miRNAs in peripheral fluids samples in MCI subjects to identify potential miRNA biomarkers in the early stages of AD. We found 30 articles that described five miRNA expression profiles from peripheral fluid in MCI subjects, showing possible candidates for miRNA biomarkers that may be followed up as fluid biomarkers or therapeutic targets of early-stage AD. However, additional research is needed to validate these miRNAs and characterize the precise neuropathological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ogonowski
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Stefanny Salcidua
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tomas Leon
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Constanza Avalos
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Miguel E. Rentería
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paulina Orellana
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Duran-Aniotz
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
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19
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The neurobiology of non-coding RNAs and Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis: Pathways, mechanisms and translational opportunities. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 71:101425. [PMID: 34384901 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In the past two decades, advances in sequencing technology and analysis of the human and mouse genome have led to the discovery of many non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including: microRNA, small-interfering RNAs, piwi-associated small RNAs, transfer RNA-derived small RNAs, long-non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs. Compared with healthy controls, levels of some ncRNAs are significantly altered in the central nervous system and blood of patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the mechanisms are still not fully elucidated, studies have revealed that these highly conserved ncRNAs are important modulators of gene expression, amyloid-β production, tau phosphorylation, inflammation, synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival, all features considered central to AD pathogenesis. Despite considerable difficulties due to their large heterogeneity, and the complexity of their regulatory pathways, research in this rapidly growing field suggests that ncRNAs hold great potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets against AD. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the neurobiology of ncRNA in the context of AD pathophysiology.
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20
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Alcohol induced impairment/abnormalities in brain: Role of MicroRNAs. Neurotoxicology 2021; 87:11-23. [PMID: 34478768 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol is a highly toxic substance and has teratogenic properties that can lead to a wide range of developmental disorders. Excessive use of alcohol can change the structural and functional aspects of developed brain and other organs. Which can further lead to significant health, social and economic implications in many countries of the world. Convincing evidence support the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in neurodevelopment and maintenance. They also show differential expression following an injury. MiRNAs are the special class of small non coding RNAs that can modify the gene by targeting the mRNA and fine tune the development of cells to organs. Numerous pieces of evidences have shown the relationship between miRNA, alcohol and brain damage. These studies also show how miRNA controls different cellular mechanisms involved in the development of alcohol use disorder. With the increasing number of research studies, the roles of miRNAs following alcohol-induced injury could help researchers to recognize alternative therapeutic methods to treat/cure alcohol-induced brain damage. The present review summarizes the available data and brings together the important miRNAs, that play a crucial role in alcohol-induced brain damage, which will help in better understanding complex mechanisms. Identifying these miRNAs will not only expand the current knowledge but can lead to the identification of better targets for the development of novel therapeutic interventions.
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21
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Motawi TK, Shaker OG, Hassanin SO, Ibrahim SG, Senousy MA. Genetic and epigenetic control on clock genes in multiple sclerosis. J Genet Genomics 2021; 49:74-76. [PMID: 34411713 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tarek K Motawi
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Olfat G Shaker
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Soha O Hassanin
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Shaymaa G Ibrahim
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Senousy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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22
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Abstract
The function of the nervous system in conveying and processing information necessary to interact with the environment confers unique aspects on how the expression of genes in neurons is regulated. Three salient factors are that (1) neurons are the largest and among the most morphologically complex of all cells, with strict polarity, subcellular compartmentation, and long-distant transport of gene products, signaling molecules, and other materials; (2) information is coded in the temporal firing pattern of membrane depolarization; and (3) neurons must maintain a stable homeostatic level of activation to function so stimuli do not normally drive intracellular signaling to steady state. Each of these factors can require special methods of analysis differing from approaches used in non-neuronal cells. This review considers these three aspects of neuronal gene expression and the current approaches being used to analyze these special features of how the neuronal transcriptome is modulated by action potential firing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R. Lee
- Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - R. Douglas Fields
- Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
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23
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Rajgor D, Welle TM, Smith KR. The Coordination of Local Translation, Membranous Organelle Trafficking, and Synaptic Plasticity in Neurons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:711446. [PMID: 34336865 PMCID: PMC8317219 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.711446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons are highly complex polarized cells, displaying an extraordinary degree of spatial compartmentalization. At presynaptic and postsynaptic sites, far from the cell body, local protein synthesis is utilized to continually modify the synaptic proteome, enabling rapid changes in protein production to support synaptic function. Synapses undergo diverse forms of plasticity, resulting in long-term, persistent changes in synapse strength, which are paramount for learning, memory, and cognition. It is now well-established that local translation of numerous synaptic proteins is essential for many forms of synaptic plasticity, and much work has gone into deciphering the strategies that neurons use to regulate activity-dependent protein synthesis. Recent studies have pointed to a coordination of the local mRNA translation required for synaptic plasticity and the trafficking of membranous organelles in neurons. This includes the co-trafficking of RNAs to their site of action using endosome/lysosome “transports,” the regulation of activity-dependent translation at synapses, and the role of mitochondria in fueling synaptic translation. Here, we review our current understanding of these mechanisms that impact local translation during synaptic plasticity, providing an overview of these novel and nuanced regulatory processes involving membranous organelles in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipen Rajgor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Theresa M Welle
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Katharine R Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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24
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Kawatake-Kuno A, Murai T, Uchida S. The Molecular Basis of Depression: Implications of Sex-Related Differences in Epigenetic Regulation. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:708004. [PMID: 34276306 PMCID: PMC8282210 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.708004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Although the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD remain poorly understood, aberrant neuroplasticity mediated by the epigenetic dysregulation of gene expression within the brain, which may occur due to genetic and environmental factors, may increase the risk of this disorder. Evidence has also been reported for sex-related differences in the pathophysiology of MDD, with female patients showing a greater severity of symptoms, higher degree of functional impairment, and more atypical depressive symptoms. Males and females also differ in their responsiveness to antidepressants. These clinical findings suggest that sex-dependent molecular and neural mechanisms may underlie the development of depression and the actions of antidepressant medications. This review discusses recent advances regarding the role of epigenetics in stress and depression. The first section presents a brief introduction of the basic mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs. The second section reviews their contributions to neural plasticity, the risk of depression, and resilience against depression, with a particular focus on epigenetic modulators that have causal relationships with stress and depression in both clinical and animal studies. The third section highlights studies exploring sex-dependent epigenetic alterations associated with susceptibility to stress and depression. Finally, we discuss future directions to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD, which would contribute to optimized and personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Kawatake-Kuno
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shusaku Uchida
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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25
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Epple R, Krüger D, Berulava T, Brehm G, Ninov M, Islam R, Köster S, Fischer A. The Coding and Small Non-coding Hippocampal Synaptic RNAome. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:2940-2953. [PMID: 33569760 PMCID: PMC8128755 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02296-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurons are highly compartmentalized cells that depend on local protein synthesis. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) have thus been detected in neuronal dendrites, and more recently in the pre- and postsynaptic compartments as well. Other RNA species such as microRNAs have also been described at synapses where they are believed to control mRNA availability for local translation. A combined dataset analyzing the synaptic coding and non-coding RNAome via next-generation sequencing approaches is, however, still lacking. Here, we isolate synaptosomes from the hippocampus of young wild-type mice and provide the coding and non-coding synaptic RNAome. These data are complemented by a novel approach for analyzing the synaptic RNAome from primary hippocampal neurons grown in microfluidic chambers. Our data show that synaptic microRNAs control almost the entire synaptic mRNAome, and we identified several hub microRNAs. By combining the in vivo synaptosomal data with our novel microfluidic chamber system, our findings also support the hypothesis that part of the synaptic microRNAome may be supplied to neurons via astrocytes. Moreover, the microfluidic system is suitable for studying the dynamics of the synaptic RNAome in response to stimulation. In conclusion, our data provide a valuable resource and point to several important targets for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Epple
- Department of Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von Siebold Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Dennis Krüger
- Department of Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von Siebold Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Bioinformatics Unit, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von Siebold Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Tea Berulava
- Department of Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von Siebold Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Gerrit Brehm
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Momchil Ninov
- Department of Neurobiology, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rezaul Islam
- Department of Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von Siebold Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Köster
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Andre Fischer
- Department of Systems Medicine and Epigenetics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von Siebold Str. 3a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
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Yoshino Y, Roy B, Dwivedi Y. Differential and unique patterns of synaptic miRNA expression in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of depressed subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:900-910. [PMID: 32919404 PMCID: PMC8115313 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00861-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Altered synaptic plasticity is often associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Disease-associated changes in synaptic functions are tightly correlated with altered microRNA (miRNA) expression. Here, we examined the role of miRNAs and their functioning at the synapse in MDD by examining miRNA processing machinery at synapse and sequencing miRNAs and analyzing their functions in synaptic and total tissue fractions obtained from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of 15 MDD and 15 matched non-psychiatric control subjects. A total of 333 miRNAs were reliably detected in the total tissue fraction. Multiple testing following the Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate [FDR] showed that 18 miRNAs were significantly altered (1 downregulated 4 up and 13 downregulated; p < 0.05) in MDD subjects. Out of 351 miRNAs reliably expressed in the synaptic fraction, 24 were uniquely expressed at synapse. In addition, 8 miRNAs (miR-215-5p, miR-192-5p, miR-202-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-423-5p, miR-219a-2-3p; miR-511-5p, miR-483-5p showed significant (FDR corrected; p < 0.05) differential regulation in the synaptic fraction from dlPFC of MDD subjects. In vitro transfection studies and gene ontology revealed involvement of these altered miRNAs in synaptic plasticity, nervous system development, and neurogenesis. A shift in expression ratios (synaptic vs. total fraction) of miR-19b-3p, miR-376c-3p, miR-455-3p, and miR-337-3p were also noted in the MDD group. Moreover, an inverse relationship between the expression of precursor (pre-miR-19b-1, pre-miR-199a-1 and pre-miR-199a-2) and mature (miR-19b-3p, miR-199a-3p) miRNAs was found. Although not significantly, several miRNA processing enzymes (DROSHA [95%], DICER [17%], TARBP2 [38%]) showed increased expression patterns in MDD subjects. Our findings provide new insights into the understanding of the regulation of miRNAs at the synapse and their possible roles in MDD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Yoshino
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Bhaskar Roy
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Yogesh Dwivedi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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Mustafin RN, Khusnutdinova EK. Involvement of transposable elements in neurogenesis. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2021; 24:209-218. [PMID: 33659801 PMCID: PMC7893149 DOI: 10.18699/vj20.613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The article is about the role of transposons in the regulation of functioning of neuronal stem cells and mature neurons of the human brain. Starting from the first division of the zygote, embryonic development is governed by regular activations of transposable elements, which are necessary for the sequential regulation of the expression of genes specific for each cell type. These processes include differentiation of neuronal stem cells, which requires the finest tuning of expression of neuron genes in various regions of the brain. Therefore, in the hippocampus, the center of human neurogenesis, the highest transposon activity has been identified, which causes somatic mosaicism of cells during the formation of specific brain structures. Similar data were obtained in studies on experimental animals. Mobile genetic elements are the most important sources of long non-coding RNAs that are coexpressed with important brain protein-coding genes. Significant activity of long non-coding RNA was detected in the hippocampus, which confirms the role of transposons in the regulation of brain function. MicroRNAs, many of which arise from transposon transcripts, also play an important role in regulating the differentiation of neuronal stem cells. Therefore, transposons, through their own processed transcripts, take an active part in the epigenetic regulation of differentiation of neurons. The global regulatory role of transposons in the human brain is due to the emergence of protein-coding genes in evolution by their exonization, duplication and domestication. These genes are involved in an epigenetic regulatory network with the participation of transposons, since they contain nucleotide sequences complementary to miRNA and long non-coding RNA formed from transposons. In the memory formation, the role of the exchange of virus-like mRNA with the help of the Arc protein of endogenous retroviruses HERV between neurons has been revealed. A possible mechanism for the implementation of this mechanism may be reverse transcription of mRNA and site-specific insertion into the genome with a regulatory effect on the genes involved in the memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - E K Khusnutdinova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics - Subdivision of the Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russia
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28
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Vergallo A, Lista S, Zhao Y, Lemercier P, Teipel SJ, Potier MC, Habert MO, Dubois B, Lukiw WJ, Hampel H. MiRNA-15b and miRNA-125b are associated with regional Aβ-PET and FDG-PET uptake in cognitively normal individuals with subjective memory complaints. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:78. [PMID: 33504764 PMCID: PMC7840941 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01184-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There is substantial experimental evidence for dysregulation of several microRNA (miRNA) expression levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD). MiRNAs modulate critical brain intracellular signaling pathways and are associated with AD core pathophysiological mechanisms. First, we conducted a real-time quantitative PCR-based pilot study to identify a set of brain-enriched miRNAs in a monocentric cohort of cognitively normal individuals with subjective memory complaints, a condition associated with increased risk of AD. Second, we investigated the impact of age, sex, and the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) allele, on the identified miRNA plasma concentrations. In addition, we explored the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of the miRNAs plasma concentrations with regional brain metabolic uptake using amyloid-β (Aβ)-positron emission tomography (Aβ-PET) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET (18F-FDG-PET). We identified a set of six brain-enriched miRNAs-miRNA-125b, miRNA-146a, miRNA-15b, miRNA-148a, miRNA-26b, and miRNA-100. Age, sex, and APOE ε4 allele were not associated with individual miRNA abundance. MiRNA-15b concentrations were significantly lower in the Aβ-PET-positive compared to Aβ-PET-negative individuals. Furthermore, we found a positive effect of the miRNA-15b*time interaction on regional metabolic 18F-FDG-PET uptake in the left hippocampus. Plasma miRNA-125b concentrations, as well as the miRNA-125b*time interaction (over a 2-year follow-up), were negatively associated with regional Aβ-PET standard uptake value ratio in the right anterior cingulate cortex. At baseline, we found a significantly negative association between plasma miRNA-125b concentrations and 18F-FDG-PET uptake in specific brain regions. In an asymptomatic at-risk population for AD, we show significant associations between plasma concentrations of miRNA-125b and miRNA-15b with core neuroimaging biomarkers of AD pathophysiology. Our results, coupled with existing experimental evidence, suggest a potential protective anti-Aβ effect of miRNA-15b and a biological link between miRNA-125b and Aβ-independent neurotoxic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, GRC n° 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, F-75013, Paris, France.
| | - Simone Lista
- Sorbonne University, GRC n° 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Brain & Spine Institute (ICM), INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A), Department of Neurology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Yuhai Zhao
- grid.279863.10000 0000 8954 1233LSU Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA ,grid.279863.10000 0000 8954 1233Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Pablo Lemercier
- Sorbonne University, GRC n° 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Brain & Spine Institute (ICM), INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A), Department of Neurology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Stefan J. Teipel
- grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany ,grid.10493.3f0000000121858338Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Marie-Claude Potier
- grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058ICM Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, CNRS UMR7225, INSERM U1127, UPMC, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 Bd de l’Hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Marie-Odile Habert
- grid.503298.50000 0004 0370 0969Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d’Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75013 Paris, France ,Centre pour l’Acquisition et le Traitement des Images (www.cati-neuroimaging.com), Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Département de Médecine Nucléaire, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Dubois
- Sorbonne University, GRC n° 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Brain & Spine Institute (ICM), INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France ,grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A), Department of Neurology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Walter J. Lukiw
- Alchem Biotech Research, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada ,grid.279863.10000 0000 8954 1233Department of Ophthalmology, LSU Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA ,grid.279863.10000 0000 8954 1233Department Neurology, LSU Neuroscience Center Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, GRC n° 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l’hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France
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Siedlecki-Wullich D, Miñano-Molina AJ, Rodríguez-Álvarez J. microRNAs as Early Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease: A Synaptic Perspective. Cells 2021; 10:113. [PMID: 33435363 PMCID: PMC7827653 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic processes underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) affect synaptic function from initial asymptomatic stages, long time before the onset of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Therefore, reliable biomarkers enabling early AD diagnosis and prognosis are needed to maximize the time window for therapeutic interventions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as promising cost-effective and non-invasive biomarkers for AD, since they can be readily detected in different biofluids, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates that miRNAs regulate synaptic homeostasis and plasticity processes, suggesting that they may be involved in early synaptic dysfunction during AD. Here, we review the current literature supporting a role of miRNAs during early synaptic deficits in AD, including recent studies evaluating their potential as AD biomarkers. Besides targeting genes related to Aβ and tau metabolism, several miRNAs also regulate synaptic-related proteins and transcription factors implicated in early synaptic deficits during AD. Furthermore, individual miRNAs and molecular signatures have been found to distinguish between prodromal AD and healthy controls. Overall, these studies highlight the relevance of considering synaptic-related miRNAs as potential biomarkers of early AD stages. However, further validation studies in large cohorts, including longitudinal studies, as well as implementation of standardized protocols, are needed to establish miRNA-based biomarkers as reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Siedlecki-Wullich
- Department Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.J.M.-M.); (J.R.-Á.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 528031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina
- Department Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.J.M.-M.); (J.R.-Á.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 528031 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Rodríguez-Álvarez
- Department Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.J.M.-M.); (J.R.-Á.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 528031 Madrid, Spain
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
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30
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Kumar S, Reddy PH. The role of synaptic microRNAs in Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165937. [PMID: 32827646 PMCID: PMC7680400 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Structurally and functionally active synapses are essential for neurotransmission and for maintaining normal synaptic and cognitive functions. Researchers have found that synaptic dysfunction is associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and synaptic dysfunction is even one of the main physiological hallmarks of AD. MiRNAs are present in small, subcellular compartments of the neuron such as neural dendrites, synaptic vesicles, and synaptosomes are known as synaptic miRNAs. Synaptic miRNAs involved in governing multiple synaptic functions that lead to healthy brain functioning and synaptic activity. However, the precise role of synaptic miRNAs has not been determined in AD progression. This review emphasizes the presence of miRNAs at the synapse, synaptic compartments and roles of miRNAs in multiple synaptic functions. We focused on synaptic miRNAs alteration in AD, and how the modulation of miRNAs effect the synaptic functions in AD. We also discussed the impact of synaptic miRNAs in AD progression concerning the synaptic ATP production, mitochondrial function, and synaptic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subodh Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
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31
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The Functional Role of microRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Tauopathy. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102262. [PMID: 33050194 PMCID: PMC7600742 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders which include Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, corticobasal degeneration, and progressive supranuclear palsy among others. Pathologically, they are characterized by the accumulation of highly phosphorylated and aggregated tau protein in different brain regions. Currently, the mechanisms responsible for their pathogenesis are not known, and for this reason, there is no cure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundantly present in the central nervous system where they act as master regulators of pathways considered important for tau post-translational modifications, metabolism, and clearance. Although in recent years, several miRNAs have been reported to be altered in tauopathy, we still do not know whether these changes contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, or are secondary events following the development of tau neuropathology. Additionally, since miRNAs are relatively stable in biological fluids and their measurement is easy and non-invasive, these small molecules hold the potential to function as biomarkers for tauopathy. Herein, we showcase recent findings on the biological link between miRNAs and the pathogenesis of tauopathy, and present emerging evidence supporting their role as biomarkers and targets for novel therapies against them.
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32
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Mustafin RN, Kazantseva AV, Malykh SB, Khusnutdinova EK. Genetic Mechanisms of Cognitive Development. RUSS J GENET+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s102279542007011x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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33
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Corradi E, Dalla Costa I, Gavoci A, Iyer A, Roccuzzo M, Otto TA, Oliani E, Bridi S, Strohbuecker S, Santos-Rodriguez G, Valdembri D, Serini G, Abreu-Goodger C, Baudet ML. Axonal precursor miRNAs hitchhike on endosomes and locally regulate the development of neural circuits. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102513. [PMID: 32073171 PMCID: PMC7073465 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Various species of non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are enriched in specific subcellular compartments, but the mechanisms orchestrating their localization and their local functions remain largely unknown. We investigated both aspects using the elongating retinal ganglion cell axon and its tip, the growth cone, as models. We reveal that specific endogenous precursor microRNAs (pre‐miRNAs) are actively trafficked to distal axons by hitchhiking primarily on late endosomes/lysosomes. Upon exposure to the axon guidance cue semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), pre‐miRNAs are processed specifically within axons into newly generated miRNAs, one of which, in turn, silences the basal translation of tubulin beta 3 class III (TUBB3), but not amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). At the organismal level, these mature miRNAs are required for growth cone steering and a fully functional visual system. Overall, our results uncover a novel mode of ncRNA transport from one cytosolic compartment to another within polarized cells. They also reveal that newly generated miRNAs are critical components of a ncRNA‐based signaling pathway that transduces environmental signals into the structural remodeling of subcellular compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloina Corradi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Irene Dalla Costa
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Antoneta Gavoci
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Archana Iyer
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Michela Roccuzzo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Tegan A Otto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Eleonora Oliani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Simone Bridi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Stephanie Strohbuecker
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Donatella Valdembri
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Torino School of Medicine, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Guido Serini
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Torino School of Medicine, Candiolo, Italy
| | | | - Marie-Laure Baudet
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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Abstract
MicroRNAs as critical regulators of gene expression important for functions including neuronal development, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity have been linked with the regulation of neurobiological systems that underlie anxiety processing in the brain. In this chapter, we give an update on associative evidence linking regulation of microRNAs with anxiety- and trauma-related disorders. Moving beyond correlative research, functional studies have emerged recently that explore causal relationships between microRNA expression and anxiety-like behavior. It has been demonstrated that experimental up- or downregulation of the candidate microRNAs in important nodes of the anxiety neurocircuitry can indeed modulate anxiety-related behavior in animal models. Improved methodologies for assessing microRNA-mediated modulation have aided such functional studies, revealing a number of anxiety-regulating microRNAs including miR-15a, miR-17-92, miR-34, miR-101, miR-124, miR-135, and miR-155. Important functional target genes of these identified microRNAs are associated with specific neurotransmitter/neuromodulator signaling, neurotrophin (e.g., BDNF) expression and other aspects of synaptic plasticity, as well as with stress-regulatory/hypothalamic-pituitary-axis function. Furthermore, microRNAs have been revealed that are regulated in distinct brain regions following various anxiety-attenuating strategies. These include pharmacological treatments such as antidepressants and other drugs, as well as non-pharmacological interventions such as fear extinction/exposure therapy or positive stimuli such as exposure to environmental enrichment. These are first indications for a role for microRNAs in the mechanism of action of anxiolytic treatments. As research continues, there is much hope that a deeper understanding of the microRNA-mediated mechanisms underlying anxiety-related disorders could open up possibilities for future novel biomarker and treatment strategies.
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35
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Umansky S. Aging and aging-associated diseases: a microRNA-based endocrine regulation hypothesis. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:2557-2569. [PMID: 30375982 PMCID: PMC6224249 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Although there are numerous hypotheses explaining the nature of aging and associated processes, two concepts are dominant: (i) aging is a result of cell-autonomous processes, such as the accumulation of DNA mutations, aberrant methylations, protein defects, and shortening of telomeres, leading to either inhibition of cellular proliferation and death of non-dividing terminally differentiated cells or tumor development; (ii) aging is a result of a central program that is switched on at a specific stage of organismic development. The microRNA-based endocrine regulation hypothesis combines the two above concepts by proposing central regulation of cell death occurrences via hypothalamus-pituitary gland (PG)-secreted miRNA hormones, the expression and/or secretion of which are regulated by sex hormones. This hypothesis explains such well-known phenomena as inverse comorbidity of either cancer or Alzheimer’s (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases; higher AD morbidity and lower frequency of many common types of cancer in women vs. men; higher risk of early AD and lower risk of cancer in subjects with Down syndrome; longer life expectancy in women vs. men and much lower sex-dependent differences, if any, in other mammals; increased lifespans due to hypophysectomy or PG hypofunction; and parabiotic effects of blood or plasma transfusions between young and old animals.
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Dubes S, Favereaux A, Thoumine O, Letellier M. miRNA-Dependent Control of Homeostatic Plasticity in Neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:536. [PMID: 31866828 PMCID: PMC6906196 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeostatic plasticity is a form of plasticity in which neurons compensate for changes in neuronal activity through the control of key physiological parameters such as the number and the strength of their synaptic inputs and intrinsic excitability. Recent studies revealed that miRNAs, which are small non-coding RNAs repressing mRNA translation, participate in this process by controlling the translation of multiple effectors such as glutamate transporters, receptors, signaling molecules and voltage-gated ion channels. In this review, we present and discuss the role of miRNAs in both cell-wide and compartmentalized forms of homeostatic plasticity as well as their implication in pathological processes associated with homeostatic failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Dubes
- University of Bordeaux, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alexandre Favereaux
- University of Bordeaux, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Olivier Thoumine
- University of Bordeaux, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathieu Letellier
- University of Bordeaux, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
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Sheinerman K, Tsivinsky V, Mathur A, Kessler D, Shaz B, Umansky S. Age- and sex-dependent changes in levels of circulating brain-enriched microRNAs during normal aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:3017-3041. [PMID: 30383539 PMCID: PMC6224262 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for many common and life-threatening pathologies. The development of reliable biomarkers of aging should lead to a better understanding of aging-associated processes and facilitate the development of therapeutic regimens that delay aging. Levels of 38 brain-enriched microRNAs (miRNA) circulating in plasma were measured by quantitative RT-PCR in two age groups: 26-35 and 56-65 years old. An miRNA-pair approach was used for data normalization and determination of effective miRNA biomarker ratios. Nineteen miRNAs, comprising miRNA pairs and pair combinations (classifiers) that effectively differentiated the age and sex (individual pairs: 74-95% and 68-95%, respectively; classifiers: up to 100% accuracy) groups, were selected for further analysis of plasma samples from 5 donor age groups: 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65 and 66-75 years old. Dynamic changes in the plasma concentrations of certain miRNAs occurred at different ages in females and males, with peaks in the 46-55-year-old and 56-65-year-old groups, respectively. This finding suggests that the changes in miRNA levels can reflect centrally regulated processes, including changes in hormone levels during menopause. Certain miRNAs and miRNA pairs correlated with age in the sex-stratified groups at different ages and should be investigated further as potentially promising biomarkers of brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Beth Shaz
- , New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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38
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Fritsche L, Teuber-Hanselmann S, Soub D, Harnisch K, Mairinger F, Junker A. MicroRNA profiles of MS gray matter lesions identify modulators of the synaptic protein synaptotagmin-7. Brain Pathol 2019; 30:524-540. [PMID: 31663645 PMCID: PMC8018161 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We established microRNA (miRNA) profiles in gray and white matter multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and identified seven miRNAs which were significantly more upregulated in the gray matter lesions. Five of those seven miRNAs, miR‐330‐3p, miR‐4286, miR‐4488, let‐7e‐5p, miR‐432‐5p shared the common target synaptotagmin7 (Syt7). Immunohistochemistry and transcript analyses using nanostring technology revealed a maldistribution of Syt7, with Syt7 accumulation in neuronal soma and decreased expression in axonal structures. This maldistribution could be at least partially explained by an axonal Syt7 transport disturbance. Since Syt7 is a synapse‐associated molecule, this maldistribution could result in impairment of neuronal functions in MS patients. Thus, our results lead to the hypothesis that the overexpression of these five miRNAs in gray matter lesions is a cellular mechanism to reduce further endogenous neuronal Syt7 production. Therefore, miRNAs seem to play an important role as modulators of neuronal structures in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Fritsche
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Soub
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Kim Harnisch
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Fabian Mairinger
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, D-45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Junker
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, D-45147, Essen, Germany
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In the quest for understanding the pathophysiological processes underlying degeneration of nervous systems, synapses are emerging as sites of great interest as synaptic dysfunction is thought to play a role in the initiation and progression of neuronal loss. In particular, the synapse is an interesting target for the effects of epigenetic mechanisms in neurodegeneration. Here, we review the recent advances on epigenetic mechanisms driving synaptic compromise in major neurodegenerative disorders. RECENT FINDINGS Major developments in sequencing technologies enabled the mapping of transcriptomic patterns in human postmortem brain tissues in various neurodegenerative diseases, and also in cell and animal models. These studies helped identify changes in classical neurodegeneration pathways and discover novel targets related to synaptic degeneration. Identifying epigenetic patterns indicative of synaptic defects prior to neuronal degeneration may provide the basis for future breakthroughs in the field of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Xylaki
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benedict Atzler
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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Kiltschewskij D, Cairns MJ. Temporospatial guidance of activity-dependent gene expression by microRNA: mechanisms and functional implications for neural plasticity. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:533-545. [PMID: 30535081 PMCID: PMC6344879 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA are major regulators of neuronal gene expression at the post-transcriptional and translational levels. This layer of control is critical for spatially and temporally restricted gene expression, facilitating highly dynamic changes to cellular structure and function associated with neural plasticity. Investigation of microRNA function in the neural system, however, is at an early stage, and many aspects of the mechanisms employing these small non-coding RNAs remain unclear. In this article, we critically review current knowledge pertaining to microRNA function in neural activity, with emphasis on mechanisms of microRNA repression, their subcellular remodelling and functional impacts on neural plasticity and behavioural phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Kiltschewskij
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2323, Australia.,Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, 2323, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2323, Australia.,Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, 2323, Australia
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41
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Ma Q, Zhang L, Pearce WJ. MicroRNAs in brain development and cerebrovascular pathophysiology. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2019; 317:C3-C19. [PMID: 30840494 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00022.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of highly conserved non-coding RNAs with 21-25 nucleotides in length and play an important role in regulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level via base-paring with complementary sequences of the 3'-untranslated region of the target gene mRNA, leading to either transcript degradation or translation inhibition. Brain-enriched miRNAs act as versatile regulators of brain development and function, including neural lineage and subtype determination, neurogenesis, synapse formation and plasticity, neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and responses to insults. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of miRNAs in brain development and cerebrovascular pathophysiology. We review recent progress of the miRNA-based mechanisms in neuronal and cerebrovascular development as well as their role in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. These findings hold great promise, not just for deeper understanding of basic brain biology but also for building new therapeutic strategies for prevention and treatment of pathologies such as cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyi Ma
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda, California
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda, California
| | - William J Pearce
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda, California
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42
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Rocchi A, Moretti D, Lignani G, Colombo E, Scholz-Starke J, Baldelli P, Tkatch T, Benfenati F. Neurite-Enriched MicroRNA-218 Stimulates Translation of the GluA2 Subunit and Increases Excitatory Synaptic Strength. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:5701-5714. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1492-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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43
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Donato A, Kagias K, Zhang Y, Hilliard MA. Neuronal sub-compartmentalization: a strategy to optimize neuronal function. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1023-1037. [PMID: 30609235 PMCID: PMC6617802 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurons are highly polarized cells that consist of three main structural and functional domains: a cell body or soma, an axon, and dendrites. These domains contain smaller compartments with essential roles for proper neuronal function, such as the axonal presynaptic boutons and the dendritic postsynaptic spines. The structure and function of these compartments have now been characterized in great detail. Intriguingly, however, in the last decade additional levels of compartmentalization within the axon and the dendrites have been identified, revealing that these structures are much more complex than previously thought. Herein we examine several types of structural and functional sub-compartmentalization found in neurons of both vertebrates and invertebrates. For example, in mammalian neurons the axonal initial segment functions as a sub-compartment to initiate the action potential, to select molecules passing into the axon, and to maintain neuronal polarization. Moreover, work in Drosophila melanogaster has shown that two distinct axonal guidance receptors are precisely clustered in adjacent segments of the commissural axons both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting a cell-intrinsic mechanism underlying the compartmentalized receptor localization. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a subset of interneurons exhibits calcium dynamics that are localized to specific sections of the axon and control the gait of navigation, demonstrating a regulatory role of compartmentalized neuronal activity in behaviour. These findings have led to a number of new questions, which are important for our understanding of neuronal development and function. How are these sub-compartments established and maintained? What molecular machinery and cellular events are involved? What is their functional significance for the neuron? Here, we reflect on these and other key questions that remain to be addressed in this expanding field of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Donato
- Clem Jones Centre for Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Konstantinos Kagias
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
| | - Massimo A Hilliard
- Clem Jones Centre for Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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44
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Beayno A, El Hayek S, Noufi P, Tarabay Y, Shamseddeen W. The Role of Epigenetics in Addiction: Clinical Overview and Recent Updates. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2011:609-631. [PMID: 31273724 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Addiction is an international public health problem. It is a polygenic disorder best understood by accounting for the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. A recent way of perceiving this interaction is through epigenetics, which help grasp the neurobiological changes that occur in addiction and explain its relapsing-remitting nature. It is now known that every cell has a different way of expressing its phenotype, despite a universal DNA sequence. This is particularly true in the central nervous system where environmental factors influence this expression. Three major epigenetic processes have been found to participate in the perpetuation of addiction by changing the state of the chromatin and the degree of gene transcription: histone acetylation and methylation, DNA methylation, and noncoding RNAs. In the animal model literature, substantial evidence exists about the role of these epigenetic changes in the different phases of substance use disorders. This book chapter is a non-systematic literature review of the recent publications tackling the topic of epigenetics in addiction. Even though this evidence remains scarce and relatively poorly systematized, it is a promising foundation for future research of molecules that target specific brain regions and their functions to address core behavioral changes seen in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Beayno
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Samer El Hayek
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Paul Noufi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Yara Tarabay
- Faculty of Pedagogy, Lebanese University, New Rawda, Lebanon.,Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Notre Dame University, Louaize, Lebanon
| | - Wael Shamseddeen
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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45
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Becker JB, Chartoff E. Sex differences in neural mechanisms mediating reward and addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:166-183. [PMID: 29946108 PMCID: PMC6235836 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0125-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence in humans and laboratory animals for biologically based sex differences in every phase of drug addiction: acute reinforcing effects, transition from occasional to compulsive use, withdrawal-associated negative affective states, craving, and relapse. There is also evidence that many qualitative aspects of the addiction phases do not differ significantly between males and females, but one sex may be more likely to exhibit a trait than the other, resulting in population differences. The conceptual framework of this review is to focus on hormonal, chromosomal, and epigenetic organizational and contingent, sex-dependent mechanisms of four neural systems that are known-primarily in males-to be key players in addiction: dopamine, mu-opioid receptors (MOR), kappa opioid receptors (KOR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We highlight data demonstrating sex differences in development, expression, and function of these neural systems as they relate-directly or indirectly-to processes of reward and addictive behavior, with a focus on psychostimulants and opioids. We identify gaps in knowledge about how these neural systems interact with sex to influence addictive behavior, emphasizing throughout that the impact of sex can be highly nuanced and male/female data should be reported regardless of the outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill B Becker
- Department of Psychology and the Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elena Chartoff
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
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46
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Thomas KT, Gross C, Bassell GJ. microRNAs Sculpt Neuronal Communication in a Tight Balance That Is Lost in Neurological Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:455. [PMID: 30618607 PMCID: PMC6299112 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of the first microRNA 25 years ago, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression within the mammalian brain. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that direct the RNA induced silencing complex to complementary sites on mRNA targets, leading to translational repression and/or mRNA degradation. Within the brain, intra- and extracellular signaling events tune the levels and activities of miRNAs to suit the needs of individual neurons under changing cellular contexts. Conversely, miRNAs shape neuronal communication by regulating the synthesis of proteins that mediate synaptic transmission and other forms of neuronal signaling. Several miRNAs have been shown to be critical for brain function regulating, for example, enduring forms of synaptic plasticity and dendritic morphology. Deficits in miRNA biogenesis have been linked to neurological deficits in humans, and widespread changes in miRNA levels occur in epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and in response to less dramatic brain insults in rodent models. Manipulation of certain miRNAs can also alter the representation and progression of some of these disorders in rodent models. Recently, microdeletions encompassing MIR137HG, the host gene which encodes the miRNA miR-137, have been linked to autism and intellectual disability, and genome wide association studies have linked this locus to schizophrenia. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-137 regulates several forms of synaptic plasticity as well as signaling cascades thought to be aberrant in schizophrenia. Together, these studies suggest a mechanism by which miRNA dysregulation might contribute to psychiatric disease and highlight the power of miRNAs to influence the human brain by sculpting communication between neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen T. Thomas
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Christina Gross
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Gary J. Bassell
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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47
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Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Platelets are anucleate blood cells that are involved in hemostasis and thrombosis. Although no longer able to generate ribonucleic acid (RNA) de novo, platelets contain messenger RNA (mRNA), YRNA fragments, and premature microRNAs (miRNAs) that they inherit from megakaryocytes. Recent Advances: Novel sequencing techniques have helped identify the unexpectedly large number of RNA species present in platelets. Throughout their life time, platelets can process the pre-existing pool of premature miRNA to give the fully functional miRNA that can regulate platelet protein expression and function. CRITICAL ISSUES Platelets make a major contribution to the circulating miRNA pool but platelet activation can have major consequences on Dicer levels and thus miRNA maturation, which has implications for studies that are focused on screening-stored platelets. FUTURE DIRECTIONS It will be important to determine the importance of platelets as donors for miRNA-containing microvesicles that can be taken up and processed by other (particularly vascular) cells, thus contributing to homeostasis as well as disease progression. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 29, 902-921.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amro Elgheznawy
- 1 Institute for Vascular Signalling, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University , Frankfurt am Main, Germany .,2 German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) , Partner site Rhein-Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ingrid Fleming
- 1 Institute for Vascular Signalling, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University , Frankfurt am Main, Germany .,2 German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) , Partner site Rhein-Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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48
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Zampa F, Bicker S, Schratt G. Activity-Dependent Pre-miR-134 Dendritic Localization Is Required for Hippocampal Neuron Dendritogenesis. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:171. [PMID: 29942249 PMCID: PMC6004952 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of neuronal dendrite development. Specific precursor (pre-)miRNAs are actively transported to dendrites, but whether this process is regulated by neuronal activity and involved in activity-dependent dendritogenesis is unknown. Here we show that BDNF, a neurotrophin that is released in response to increased neuronal activity, promotes dendritic accumulation of pre-miR-134. Dendritic accumulation, but not transcription of pre-miR-134, is abrogated by treatment of neurons with the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist APV. Furthermore, APV interferes with BDNF-mediated repression of the known miR-134 target Pumilio 2 (Pum2) in a miR-134 binding site-specific manner. At the functional level, both APV treatment and knockdown of the pre-miR-134 transport protein DHX36 antagonize BDNF-induced dendritogenesis. These effects are likely mediated by reduced dendritic miR-134 activity, since both transfection of a synthetic miR-134 duplex or of a dendritically targeted pre-miR-134-181a chimera rescues BDNF-dependent dendritogenesis in the presence of APV. In conclusion, we have identified a novel NMDAR-dependent mechanism involved in the activity-dependent control of miRNA function during neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Zampa
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Silvia Bicker
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schratt
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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49
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Zhang J, Liu Y, Lu L. Emerging role of MicroRNAs in peripheral nerve system. Life Sci 2018; 207:227-233. [PMID: 29894714 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury is one of the most common clinical diseases. Although the regeneration of the peripheral nerve is better than that of the nerves of the central nervous system, because of its growth rate restrictions after damage. Hence, the outcome of repair after injury is not favorable. Small RNA, a type of non-coding RNA, has recently been gaining attention in neural injury. It is widely distributed in the nervous system in vivo and a significant change in the expression of small RNAs has been observed in a neural injury model. This suggests that MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as a potential target for resolving the challenges of peripheral nerve repair. This review summarizes the current challenges in peripheral nerve injury repair, systematically expounds the mechanism of miRNAs in the process of nerve injury and repair and attempts to determine the possible treatment of peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Zhang
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Laijin Lu
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
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50
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Leighton LJ, Bredy TW. Functional Interplay between Small Non-Coding RNAs and RNA Modification in the Brain. Noncoding RNA 2018; 4:E15. [PMID: 29880782 PMCID: PMC6027130 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna4020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs are essential for transcription, translation and gene regulation in all cell types, but are particularly important in neurons, with known roles in neurodevelopment, neuroplasticity and neurological disease. Many small non-coding RNAs are directly involved in the post-transcriptional modification of other RNA species, while others are themselves substrates for modification, or are functionally modulated by modification of their target RNAs. In this review, we explore the known and potential functions of several distinct classes of small non-coding RNAs in the mammalian brain, focusing on the newly recognised interplay between the epitranscriptome and the activity of small RNAs. We discuss the potential for this relationship to influence the spatial and temporal dynamics of gene activation in the brain, and predict that further research in the field of epitranscriptomics will identify interactions between small RNAs and RNA modifications which are essential for higher order brain functions such as learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Leighton
- Cognitive Neuroepigenetics Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Timothy W Bredy
- Cognitive Neuroepigenetics Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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