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Levantini E, Rizzo M. miRNAs: From Master Regulators of Gene Expression to Biomarkers Involved in Intercellular Communication. Biomedicines 2024; 12:721. [PMID: 38672077 PMCID: PMC11048632 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that act as master regulators of gene expression, fine-tuning the activity of thousands of genes in our cells, by modulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Levantini
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Milena Rizzo
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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García-Cerro S, Gómez-Garrido A, Garcia G, Crespo-Facorro B, Brites D. Exploratory Analysis of MicroRNA Alterations in a Neurodevelopmental Mouse Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2786. [PMID: 38474035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052786] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression levels and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). In this study, we examined the adult expression profiles of specific miRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of a neurodevelopmental mouse model for ASD and SCZ that mimics perinatal pathology, such as NMDA receptor hypofunction, and exhibits behavioral and neurophysiological phenotypes related to these disorders during adulthood. To model the early neuropathogenesis of the disorders, mouse pups were administered subcutaneously with ketamine (30 mg/Kg) at postnatal days 7, 9, and 11. We focused on a set of miRNAs most frequently altered in ASD (miR-451a and miR-486-3p) and in SCZ (miR-132-3p and miR-137-3p) according to human studies. Additionally, we explored miRNAs whose alterations have been identified in both disorders (miR-21-5p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-146a-5p). We placed particular emphasis on studying the sexual dimorphism in the dynamics of these miRNAs. Our findings revealed significant alterations in the PFC of this ASD- and SCZ-like mouse model. Specifically, we observed upregulated miR-451a and downregulated miR-137-3p. Furthermore, we identified sexual dimorphism in the expression of miR-132-3p, miR-137-3p, and miR-92a-2-5p. From a translational perspective, our results emphasize the potential involvement of miR-92a-2-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-137-3p, and miR-451a in the pathophysiology of ASD and SCZ and strengthen their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of such disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana García-Cerro
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Gómez-Garrido
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Mental Health Unit, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Sánchez Pizjuán AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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Garcia G, Pinto S, Ferreira S, Lopes D, Serrador MJ, Fernandes A, Vaz AR, de Mendonça A, Edenhofer F, Malm T, Koistinaho J, Brites D. Emerging Role of miR-21-5p in Neuron-Glia Dysregulation and Exosome Transfer Using Multiple Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:3377. [PMID: 36359774 PMCID: PMC9655962 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with neuron-glia dysfunction and dysregulated miRNAs. We previously reported upregulated miR-124/miR-21 in AD neurons and their exosomes. However, their glial distribution, phenotypic alterations and exosomal spread are scarcely documented. Here, we show glial cell activation and miR-21 overexpression in mouse organotypic hippocampal slices transplanted with SH-SY5Y cells expressing the human APP695 Swedish mutation. The upregulation of miR-21 only in the CSF from a small series of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) AD patients, but not in non-AD MCI individuals, supports its discriminatory potential. Microglia, neurons, and astrocytes differentiated from the same induced pluripotent stem cells from PSEN1ΔE9 AD patients all showed miR-21 elevation. In AD neurons, miR-124/miR-21 overexpression was recapitulated in their exosomes. In AD microglia, the upregulation of iNOS and miR-21/miR-146a supports their activation. AD astrocytes manifested a restrained inflammatory profile, with high miR-21 but low miR-155 and depleted exosomal miRNAs. Their immunostimulation with C1q + IL-1α + TNF-α induced morphological alterations and increased S100B, inflammatory transcripts, sAPPβ, cytokine release and exosomal miR-21. PPARα, a target of miR-21, was found to be repressed in all models, except in neurons, likely due to concomitant miR-125b elevation. The data from these AD models highlight miR-21 as a promising biomarker and a disease-modifying target to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Pinto
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Ferreira
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Lopes
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Serrador
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Central Nervous System, Blood and Peripheral Inflammation Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Frank Edenhofer
- Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Tarja Malm
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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