1
|
Cipriano GL, Schepici G, Mazzon E, Anchesi I. Multiple Sclerosis: Roles of miRNA, lcnRNA, and circRNA and Their Implications in Cellular Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2255. [PMID: 38396932 PMCID: PMC10889752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042255] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative condition characterized by axonal damage and demyelination induced by autoreactive immune cells that occur in the Central Nervous System (CNS). The interaction between epigenetic changes and genetic factors can be widely involved in the onset, development, and progression of the disease. Although numerous efforts were made to discover new therapies able to prevent and improve the course of MS, definitive curative treatments have not been found yet. However, in recent years, it has been reported that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), acting as gene expression regulators, could be used as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers to diagnose and fight MS. In this review, we discussed the role of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, as well as their expression level changes and signaling pathways that are related to preclinical and human MS studies. Hence, the investigation of ncRNAs could be important to provide additional information regarding MS pathogenesis as well as promote the discovery of new therapeutic strategies or biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emanuela Mazzon
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Strada Statale 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.L.C.); (G.S.); (I.A.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mohammed EM. Circular RNA in Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenicity and Potential Biomarker Development: A Systematic Review. Epigenet Insights 2023; 16:25168657231213195. [PMID: 38033465 PMCID: PMC10687999 DOI: 10.1177/25168657231213195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune disorder of the CNS that affects millions of people worldwide. The causes of the disease remain unknown despite extensive efforts to understand it. CircRNAs are a unique class of endogenous non-coding RNA that are abundant, stable, conserved, and specifically expressed molecules, making them a promising biomarker of diseases. This review investigates the role of circRNA in MS pathogenicity and their potential as a biomarker through a comprehensive literature search conducted in 8 scientific databases. The studies found that there are differentially expressed circRNAs in MS patients compared to healthy controls (HC), and this difference is even more pronounced in different MS subtypes. Enrichment of circRNAs in linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks that harbor MS-associated SNPs suggests that these SNPs manipulate the levels of circRNAs in the surrounding area, contributing to disease pathogenicity. While circRNA shows promise as an indicator or biomarker for MS disease pathology, further research is needed to fully explore its potential and impact on human biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eiman M Mohammed
- Kuwait Cancer Control Centre, Medical Laboratory Department, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sciaccotta R, Murdaca G, Caserta S, Rizzo V, Gangemi S, Allegra A. Circular RNAs: A New Approach to Multiple Sclerosis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2883. [PMID: 38001884 PMCID: PMC10669154 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis, a condition characterised by demyelination and axonal damage in the central nervous system, is due to autoreactive immune cells that recognise myelin antigens. Alteration of the immune balance can promote the onset of immune deficiencies, loss of immunosurveillance, and/or development of autoimmune disorders such as MS. Numerous enzymes, transcription factors, signal transducers, and membrane proteins contribute to the control of immune system activity. The "transcriptional machine" of eukaryotic cells is a complex system composed not only of mRNA but also of non-coding elements grouped together in the set of non-coding RNAs. Recent studies demonstrate that ncRNAs play a crucial role in numerous cellular functions, gene expression, and the pathogenesis of many immune disorders. The main purpose of this review is to investigate the role of circular RNAs, a previously unknown class of non-coding RNAs, in MS's pathogenesis. CircRNAs influence post-transcriptional control, expression, and functionality of a microRNA and epigenetic factors, promoting the development of typical MS abnormalities such as neuroinflammation, damage to neuronal cells, and microglial dysfunction. The increase in our knowledge of the role of circRNAs in multiple sclerosis could, in the future, modify the common diagnostic-therapeutic criteria, paving the way to a new vision of this neuroimmune pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Sciaccotta
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (S.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Santino Caserta
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (S.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Vincenzo Rizzo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (S.C.); (A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kunze R, Fischer S, Marti HH, Preissner KT. Brain alarm by self-extracellular nucleic acids: from neuroinflammation to neurodegeneration. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:64. [PMID: 37550658 PMCID: PMC10405513 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00954-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, as well as the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease are accompanied or even powered by danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), defined as endogenous molecules released from stressed or damaged tissue. Besides protein-related DAMPs or "alarmins", numerous nucleic acid DAMPs exist in body fluids, such as cell-free nuclear and mitochondrial DNA as well as different species of extracellular RNA, collectively termed as self-extracellular nucleic acids (SENAs). Among these, microRNA, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs and extracellular ribosomal RNA constitute the majority of RNA-based DAMPs. Upon tissue injury, necrosis or apoptosis, such SENAs are released from neuronal, immune and other cells predominantly in association with extracellular vesicles and may be translocated to target cells where they can induce intracellular regulatory pathways in gene transcription and translation. The majority of SENA-induced signaling reactions in the brain appear to be related to neuroinflammatory processes, often causally associated with the onset or progression of the respective disease. In this review, the impact of the diverse types of SENAs on neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed. Based on the accumulating knowledge in this field, several specific antagonistic approaches are presented that could serve as therapeutic interventions to lower the pathological outcome of the indicated brain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reiner Kunze
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silvia Fischer
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hugo H. Marti
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus T. Preissner
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
- Kerckhoff-Heart-Research-Institute, Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kumar D, Sahoo SS, Chauss D, Kazemian M, Afzali B. Non-coding RNAs in immunoregulation and autoimmunity: Technological advances and critical limitations. J Autoimmun 2023; 134:102982. [PMID: 36592512 PMCID: PMC9908861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Immune cell function is critically dependent on precise control over transcriptional output from the genome. In this respect, integration of environmental signals that regulate gene expression, specifically by transcription factors, enhancer DNA elements, genome topography and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are key components. The first three have been extensively investigated. Even though non-coding RNAs represent the vast majority of cellular RNA species, this class of RNA remains historically understudied. This is partly because of a lag in technological and bioinformatic innovations specifically capable of identifying and accurately measuring their expression. Nevertheless, recent progress in this domain has enabled a profusion of publications identifying novel sub-types of ncRNAs and studies directly addressing the function of ncRNAs in human health and disease. Many ncRNAs, including circular and enhancer RNAs, have now been demonstrated to play key functions in the regulation of immune cells and to show associations with immune-mediated diseases. Some ncRNAs may function as biomarkers of disease, aiding in diagnostics and in estimating response to treatment, while others may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of disease. Importantly, some are relatively stable and are amenable to therapeutic targeting, for example through gene therapy. Here, we provide an overview of ncRNAs and review technological advances that enable their study and hold substantial promise for the future. We provide context-specific examples by examining the associations of ncRNAs with four prototypical human autoimmune diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. We anticipate that the utility and mechanistic roles of these ncRNAs in autoimmunity will be further elucidated in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhaneshwar Kumar
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Subhransu Sekhar Sahoo
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Daniel Chauss
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Majid Kazemian
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Behdad Afzali
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cardamone G, Paraboschi EM, Soldà G, Liberatore G, Rimoldi V, Cibella J, Airi F, Tisato V, Cantoni C, Gallia F, Gemmati D, Piccio L, Duga S, Nobile-Orazio E, Asselta R. The circular RNA landscape in multiple sclerosis: Disease-specific associated variants and exon methylation shape circular RNA expression profile. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 69:104426. [PMID: 36446168 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs increasingly emerging as crucial actors in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including autoimmune and neurological disorders as multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite several efforts, the mechanisms regulating circRNAs expression are still largely unknown and the circRNA profile and regulation in MS-relevant cell models has not been completely investigated. In this work, we aimed at exploring the global landscape of circRNA expression in MS patients, also evaluating a possible correlation with their genetic and epigenetic background. METHODS We performed RNA-seq experiments on circRNA-enriched samples, derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 10 MS patients and 10 matched controls and performed differential circRNA expression. The genetic background was evaluated using array genotyping, and an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis was carried out. RESULTS Expression analysis revealed 166 differentially expressed circRNAs in MS patients, 125 of which are downregulated. One of the top dysregulated circRNAs, hsa_circ_0007990, derives from the PGAP3 gene, encoding a protein relevant for the control of autoimmune responses. The downregulation of this circRNA was confirmed in two independent replication cohorts, suggesting its implementation as a possible RNA-based biomarker. The eQTL analysis evidenced a significant association between 89 MS-associated loci and the expression of at least one circRNA, suggesting that MS-associated variants could impact on disease pathogenesis by altering circRNA profiles. Finally, we found a significant correlation between exon methylation and circRNA expression levels, supporting the hypothesis that epigenetic features may play an important role in the definition of the cell circRNA pool. CONCLUSION We described the circRNA expression profile of PBMCs in MS patients, suggesting that MS-associated variants may tune the expression levels of circRNAs acting as "circ-QTLs", and proposing a role for exon-based DNA methylation in regulating circRNA expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cardamone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elvezia Maria Paraboschi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giulia Soldà
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Liberatore
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Rimoldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Javier Cibella
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Airi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Tisato
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Francesca Gallia
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Donato Gemmati
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy; Center Haemostasis & Thrombosis, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Laura Piccio
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Stefano Duga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eduardo Nobile-Orazio
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Milan University, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosanna Asselta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|