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Shahcheraghi SH, Ayatollahi J, Lotfi M, Aljabali AAA, Al-Zoubi MS, Panda PK, Mishra V, Satija S, Charbe NB, Serrano-Aroca Á, Bahar B, Takayama K, Goyal R, Bhatia A, Almutary AG, Alnuqaydan AM, Mishra Y, Negi P, Courtney A, McCarron PA, Bakshi HA, Tambuwala MM. Gene Therapy for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Potential Targets and Tools. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2023; 22:51-65. [PMID: 35249508 DOI: 10.2174/1871527321666220304153719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders that affect the central nervous system cause considerable pressures on the health care system and have a substantial economic burden on modern societies. The present treatments based on available drugs are mostly ineffective and often costly. The molecular process of neuropsychiatric disorders is closely connected to modifying the genetic structures inherited or caused by damage, toxic chemicals, and some current diseases. Gene therapy is presently an experimental concept for neurological disorders. Clinical applications endeavor to alleviate the symptoms, reduce disease progression, and repair defective genes. Implementing gene therapy in inherited and acquired neurological illnesses entails the integration of several scientific disciplines, including virology, neurology, neurosurgery, molecular genetics, and immunology. Genetic manipulation has the power to minimize or cure illness by inducing genetic alterations at endogenous loci. Gene therapy that involves treating the disease by deleting, silencing, or editing defective genes and delivering genetic material to produce therapeutic molecules has excellent potential as a novel approach for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. With the recent advances in gene selection and vector design quality in targeted treatments, gene therapy could be an effective approach. This review article will investigate and report the newest and the most critical molecules and factors in neuropsychiatric disorder gene therapy. Different genome editing techniques available will be evaluated, and the review will highlight preclinical research of genome editing for neuropsychiatric disorders while also evaluating current limitations and potential strategies to overcome genome editing advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed H Shahcheraghi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Jamshid Ayatollahi
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Marzieh Lotfi
- Abortion Research Center, Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mazhar S Al-Zoubi
- Yarmouk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Pritam K Panda
- Condensed Matter Theory Group, Materials Theory Division, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vijay Mishra
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
| | - Saurabh Satija
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
| | - Nitin B Charbe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
| | - Ángel Serrano-Aroca
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Translational Research Centre San Alberto Magno, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Guillem de Castro 94, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Bojlul Bahar
- Nutrition Sciences and Applied Food Safety Studies, Research Centre for Global Development, School of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for IPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8397, Japan
| | - Rohit Goyal
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Post Box No. 9, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173212, India
| | - Amit Bhatia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Punjab 151001, India
| | - Abdulmajeed G Almutary
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Alnuqaydan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yachana Mishra
- Shri Shakti Degree College, Sankhahari, Ghatampur 209206, India
| | - Poonam Negi
- Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173 212, India
| | - Aaron Courtney
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A McCarron
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Hamid A Bakshi
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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AbouElhassan KM, Sarhan HA, Hussein AK, Taye A, Ahmed YM, Safwat MA. Brain Targeting of Citicoline Sodium via Hyaluronic Acid-Decorated Novel Nano-Transbilosomes for Mitigation of Alzheimer's Disease in a Rat Model: Formulation, Optimization, in vitro and in vivo Assessment. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:6347-6376. [PMID: 36540376 PMCID: PMC9759982 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s381353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the furthermost advanced neurodegenerative disorders resulting in cognitive and behavioral impairment. Citicoline sodium (CIT) boosts the brain's secretion of acetylcholine, which aids in membrane regeneration and repair. However, it suffers from poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeation, which results in lower levels of CIT in the brain. PURPOSE This study targeted to encapsulate CIT into novel nano-platform transbilosomes decorated with hyaluronic acid CIT-HA*TBLs to achieve enhanced drug delivery from the nose to the brain. METHODS A method of thin-film hydration was utilized to prepare different formulae of CIT-TBLs using the Box-Behnken design. The optimized formula was then hyuloranated via integration of HA to form the CIT-HA*TBLs formula. Furthermore, AD induction was performed by aluminum chloride (Alcl3), animals were allocated, and brain hippocampus tissue was isolated for ELISA and qRT-PCR analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), and microRNA-137 (miR-137) coupled with immunohistochemical amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42) expression and histopathological finding. RESULTS The hyuloranated CIT-HA*TBLs formula, which contained the following ingredients: PL (300 mg), Sp 60 (43.97 mg), and SDC (20 mg). They produced spherical droplets at the nanoscale (178.94 ±12.4 nm), had a high entrapment efficiency with 74.92± 5.54%, had a sustained release profile of CIT with 81.27 ±3.8% release, and had ex vivo permeation of CIT with 512.43±19.58 μg/cm2. In vivo tests showed that CIT-HA*TBL thermogel dramatically reduces the hippocampus expression of miR-137 and (Aβ1-42) expression, boosting cholinergic neurotransmission and decreasing MDA and NF-kB production. Furthermore, CIT-HA*TBLs thermogel mitigate histopathological damage in compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION Succinctly, the innovative loading of CIT-HA*TBLs thermogel is a prospectively invaluable intranasal drug delivery system that can raise the efficacy of CIT in Alzheimer's management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kariman M AbouElhassan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, 61519, Egypt
- Faculty of Pharmacy, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt
| | - Hatem A Sarhan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, 61519, Egypt
| | - Amal K Hussein
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, 61519, Egypt
| | - Ashraf Taye
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt
| | - Yasmin M Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, 62514, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Safwat
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt
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Wang L, Liu Y, Yu Z, Gong J, Deng Z, Ren N, Zhong Z, Cai H, Tang Z, Cheng H, Chen S, He Z. Mir-139-5p inhibits glioma cell proliferation and progression by targeting GABRA1. J Transl Med 2021; 19:213. [PMID: 34001135 PMCID: PMC8130534 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-02880-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma is an extremely aggressive malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system. MicroRNA (miRNA) are known to bind to specific target mRNA to regulate post-transcriptional gene expression and are, therefore, currently regarded as promising biomarkers for glioma diagnosis and prognosis. The aim of the present study was to examine the pathogenesis and potential molecular markers of glioma by comparing the differential expression of miRNA and mRNA between glioma tissue and peritumor brain tissue. We explored the impact of screened core miRNA and mRNA on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma. An miRNA expression profile dataset (GSE90603) and a transcriptome profile dataset (GSE90598) were downloaded from combined miRNA-mRNA microarray chips in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Overall, 59 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 419 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the R limma software package. FunRich software was used to predict DEM target genes and miRNA-gene pairs, and Perl software was used to find overlapping genes between DEGs and DEM target genes. There were 129 overlapping genes regulated by nine miRNAs between target genes of the DEMs and DEGs. The Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas(CGGA) was analyzed in order to identify miRNAs with diagnostic and prognostic significance. MiR-139-5p, miR-137, and miR-338-3p were validated to be significantly linked to prognosis in glioma patients. Finally, we validated that miR-139-5p affected glioma malignant biological behavior via targeting gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor alpha 1(GABRA1) through rescue experiments. Low miR-139-5p expression was correlated with survival probability and World Health Organization (WHO) grade. MiR-139-5p overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma in vitro. GABRA1 was identified as a functional downstream target of miR-139-5p. Decreased GABRA1 expression was related to similar biological roles as miR-139-5p overexpression while upregulation of GABRA1 effectively reversed the inhibition effects of miR-139-5p. These results demonstrate a novel axis for miR-139-5p/GABRA1 in glioma progression and provide potential prognostic predictors and therapeutic target for glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Changsha Central Hospital, University of South China, No.161 Shaoshan road, Yuhua district, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Zhengtao Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Haikou People's Hospital, The Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya School of Central South University, No.43 Renmin road, Meilan district, Haikou, 570208, Hainan, China
| | - Jianwu Gong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiyong Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Nianjun Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Zhe Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Zhi Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Haofeng Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Zhengwen He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, No.283 Tongzipo road, Yuelu district, Changsha, 410006, Hunan, China.
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Overexpression of miRNA-137 in the brain suppresses seizure activity and neuronal excitability: A new potential therapeutic strategy for epilepsy. Neuropharmacology 2018; 138:170-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Chen F, Zhang L, Wang E, Zhang C, Li X. LncRNA GAS5 regulates ischemic stroke as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-137 to regulate the Notch1 signaling pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 496:184-190. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Kos A, de Mooij-Malsen AJ, van Bokhoven H, Kaplan BB, Martens GJ, Kolk SM, Aschrafi A. MicroRNA-338 modulates cortical neuronal placement and polarity. RNA Biol 2017; 14:905-913. [PMID: 28494198 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1325067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression orchestrates the many intricate processes during brain development. In the present study we examined the role of the brain-enriched microRNA-338 (miR-338) during mouse cortical development. Reduction of miR-338 levels in the developing mouse cortex, using a sequence-specific miR-sponge, resulted in a loss of neuronal polarity in the cortical plate and significantly reduced the number of neurons within this cortical layer. Conversely, miR-338 overexpression in developing mouse cortex increased the number of neurons, which exhibited a multipolar morphology. All together, our results raise the possibility for a direct role for this non-coding RNA, which was recently associated with schizophrenia, in the regulation of cortical neuronal polarity and layer placement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron Kos
- a Department of Cognitive Neuroscience , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,d Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour , Centre for Neuroscience , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Annetrude J de Mooij-Malsen
- b Department of Molecular Animal Physiology , Radboud University , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,d Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour , Centre for Neuroscience , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,f Institute of Physiology, CAU Kiel University , Germany
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- a Department of Cognitive Neuroscience , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,c Department of Human Genetics , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,d Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour , Centre for Neuroscience , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Barry B Kaplan
- e Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Gerard J Martens
- b Department of Molecular Animal Physiology , Radboud University , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,d Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour , Centre for Neuroscience , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Sharon M Kolk
- b Department of Molecular Animal Physiology , Radboud University , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.,d Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour , Centre for Neuroscience , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Armaz Aschrafi
- e Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
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Olde Loohuis NFM, Nadif Kasri N, Glennon JC, van Bokhoven H, Hébert SS, Kaplan BB, Martens GJM, Aschrafi A. The schizophrenia risk gene MIR137 acts as a hippocampal gene network node orchestrating the expression of genes relevant to nervous system development and function. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 73:109-118. [PMID: 26925706 PMCID: PMC5002268 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) are small regulatory molecules, which orchestrate neuronal development and plasticity through modulation of complex gene networks. MicroRNA-137 (miR-137) is a brain-enriched RNA with a critical role in regulating brain development and in mediating synaptic plasticity. Importantly, mutations in this miR are associated with the pathoetiology of schizophrenia (SZ), and there is a widespread assumption that disruptions in miR-137 expression lead to aberrant expression of gene regulatory networks associated with SZ. To systematically identify the mRNA targets for this miR, we performed miR-137 gain- and loss-of-function experiments in primary rat hippocampal neurons and profiled differentially expressed mRNAs through next-generation sequencing. We identified 500 genes that were bidirectionally activated or repressed in their expression by the modulation of miR-137 levels. Gene ontology analysis using two independent software resources suggested functions for these miR-137-regulated genes in neurodevelopmental processes, neuronal maturation processes and cell maintenance, all of which known to be critical for proper brain circuitry formation. Since many of the putative miR-137 targets identified here also have been previously shown to be associated with SZ, we propose that this miR acts as a critical gene network hub contributing to the pathophysiology of this neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikkie F M Olde Loohuis
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sébastien S Hébert
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL, Québec, QC G1V4G2, Canada; Département de psychiatrie et neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Barry B Kaplan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gerard J M Martens
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HP Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Armaz Aschrafi
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Zhuo C, Hou W, Hu L, Lin C, Chen C, Lin X. Genomic Editing of Non-Coding RNA Genes with CRISPR/Cas9 Ushers in a Potential Novel Approach to Study and Treat Schizophrenia. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:28. [PMID: 28217082 PMCID: PMC5289958 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a genetically related mental illness, in which the majority of genetic alterations occur in the non-coding regions of the human genome. In the past decade, a growing number of regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be strongly associated with schizophrenia. However, the studies of these ncRNAs in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the reverting of their genetic defects in restoration of the normal phenotype have been hampered by insufficient technology to manipulate these ncRNA genes effectively as well as a lack of appropriate animal models. Most recently, a revolutionary gene editing technology known as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9; CRISPR/Cas9) has been developed that enable researchers to overcome these challenges. In this review article, we mainly focus on the schizophrenia-related ncRNAs and the use of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing on the non-coding regions of the genomic DNA in proving causal relationship between the genetic defects and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We subsequently discuss the potential of translating this advanced technology into a clinical therapy for schizophrenia, although the CRISPR/Cas9 technology is currently still in its infancy and immature to put into use in the treatment of diseases. Furthermore, we suggest strategies to accelerate the pace from the bench to the bedside. This review describes the application of the powerful and feasible CRISPR/Cas9 technology to manipulate schizophrenia-associated ncRNA genes. This technology could help researchers tackle this complex health problem and perhaps other genetically related mental disorders due to the overlapping genetic alterations of schizophrenia with other mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's HospitalWenzhou, China; Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Mental Health Center, Tianjin Anding HospitalTianjin, China; Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anning HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Weihong Hou
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Lirong Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
| | - Chongguang Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
| | - Ce Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
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