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Tak H, Anirudh J, Chattopadhyay A, Naick BH. Argonaute protein assisted drug discovery for miRNA-181c-5p and target gene ATM translation repression: a computational approach. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10855-3. [PMID: 39026118 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10855-3] [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: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The miRNA binds to AGO's seed region, prompting the exploration of small molecules that can offset miRNA repression of target mRNA. This miRNA-181c-5p was found to be upregulated in the chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a prevalent neurodegenerative disease in contact sports and military personals. The research aimed to identify compounds that disrupt the AGO-assisted loop formation between miRNA-181c-5p and ATM, consequently repressing the translation of ATM. Target genes from commonly three databases (DIANA-microT-CDS, miRDB, RNA22 and TargetScan) were subjected to functional annotation and clustering analysis using DAVID bioinformatics tool. Haddock server were employed to make miRNA-181c-5p:ATM-AGO complex. A total of 2594 small molecules were screened using Glide XP based on their highest binding affinity towards the complex, through a three-phase docking approach. The top 5 compounds (DB00674-Galantamine, DB00371-Meprobamate, DB00694-Daunorubicin, DB00837-Progabide, and DB00851-Dacarbazine) were further analyzed for stability in the miRNA-181c-5p:ATM-AGO-ligand complex interaction using GROMACS (version 2023.2). Hence, these findings suggest that these molecules hold potential for facilitating AGO-assisted repression of ATM gene translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshita Tak
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Jivanage Anirudh
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Arpan Chattopadhyay
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - B Hemanth Naick
- Department of Sports Biosciences, School of Sports Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India.
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2
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Theron D, Hopkins LN, Sutherland HG, Griffiths LR, Fernandez F. Can Genetic Markers Predict the Sporadic Form of Alzheimer's Disease? An Updated Review on Genetic Peripheral Markers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13480. [PMID: 37686283 PMCID: PMC10488021 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713480] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Although the research over the last decades has provided new insight into AD pathophysiology, there is currently no cure for the disease. AD is often only diagnosed once the symptoms have become prominent, particularly in the late-onset (sporadic) form of AD. Consequently, it is essential to further new avenues for early diagnosis. With recent advances in genomic analysis and a lower cost of use, the exploration of genetic markers alongside RNA molecules can offer a key avenue for early diagnosis. We have here provided a brief overview of potential genetic markers differentially expressed in peripheral tissues in AD cases compared to controls, as well as considering the changes to the dynamics of RNA molecules. By integrating both genotype and RNA changes reported in AD, biomarker profiling can be key for developing reliable AD diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danelda Theron
- School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Heath Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD 4014, Australia;
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.N.H.); (H.G.S.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Lloyd N. Hopkins
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.N.H.); (H.G.S.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Heidi G. Sutherland
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.N.H.); (H.G.S.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Lyn R. Griffiths
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.N.H.); (H.G.S.); (L.R.G.)
| | - Francesca Fernandez
- School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Heath Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD 4014, Australia;
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.N.H.); (H.G.S.); (L.R.G.)
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3
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Li W, Zheng Y. MicroRNAs in Extracellular Vesicles of Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1378. [PMID: 37408212 PMCID: PMC10216432 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with dysfunction of memory, language and thinking. More than 55 million people were diagnosed with AD or other dementia around the world in 2020. The pathology of AD is still unclear and there are no applicable therapies for AD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in AD pathology and have great potential for the diagnosis and treatment of AD. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) widely exist in body fluids such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and contain miRNAs that are involved in cell-to-cell communication. We summarized the dysregulated miRNAs in EVs derived from the different body fluids of AD patients, as well as their potential function and application in AD. We also compared these dysregulated miRNAs in EVs to those in the brain tissues of AD patients aiming to provide a comprehensive view of miRNAs in AD. After careful comparisons, we found that miR-125b-5p and miR-132-3p were upregulated and downregulated in several different brain tissues of AD and EVs of AD, respectively, suggesting their value in AD diagnosis based on EV miRNAs. Furthermore, miR-9-5p was dysregulated in EVs and different brain tissues of AD patients and had also been tested as a potential therapy for AD in mice and human cell models, suggesting that miR-9-5p could be used to design new therapies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yun Zheng
- College of Landscape and Horticulture, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
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4
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Zhang Y, Kiryu H. Identification of oxidative stress-related genes differentially expressed in Alzheimer's disease and construction of a hub gene-based diagnostic model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6817. [PMID: 37100862 PMCID: PMC10133299 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34021-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia disorder globally, and there are still no effective interventions for slowing or stopping the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. There is strong evidence implicating neural oxidative stress (OS) and ensuing neuroinflammation in the progressive neurodegeneration observed in the AD brain both during and prior to symptom emergence. Thus, OS-related biomarkers may be valuable for prognosis and provide clues to therapeutic targets during the early presymptomatic phase. In the current study, we gathered brain RNA-seq data of AD patients and matched controls from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to identify differentially expressed OS-related genes (OSRGs). These OSRGs were analyzed for cellular functions using the Gene Ontology (GO) database and used to construct a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCN) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then constructed to identify network hub genes. A diagnostic model was established based on these hub genes using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and ROC analyses. Immune-related functions were examined by assessing correlations between hub gene expression and immune cell brain infiltration scores. Further, target drugs were predicted using the Drug-Gene Interaction database, while regulatory miRNAs and transcription factors were predicted using miRNet. In total, 156 candidate genes were identified among 11046 differentially expressed genes, 7098 genes in WGCN modules, and 446 OSRGs, and 5 hub genes (MAPK9, FOXO1, BCL2, ETS1, and SP1) were identified by ROC curve analyses. These hub genes were enriched in GO annotations "Alzheimer's disease pathway," "Parkinson's Disease," "Ribosome," and "Chronic myeloid leukemia." In addition, 78 drugs were predicted to target FOXO1, SP1, MAPK9, and BCL2, including fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, and epirubicin. A hub gene-miRNA regulatory network with 43 miRNAs and hub gene-transcription factor (TF) network with 36 TFs were also generated. These hub genes may serve as biomarkers for AD diagnosis and provide clues to novel potential treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Hisanori Kiryu
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
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5
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Tan Z, Li W, Cheng X, Zhu Q, Zhang X. Non-Coding RNAs in the Regulation of Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Potential Treatment Targets for Related Disorders. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010018. [PMID: 36671403 PMCID: PMC9855933 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and piRNAs, do not encode proteins. Nonetheless, they have critical roles in a variety of cellular activities-such as development, neurogenesis, degeneration, and the response to injury to the nervous system-via protein translation, RNA splicing, gene activation, silencing, modifications, and editing; thus, they may serve as potential targets for disease treatment. The activity of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus critically influences hippocampal function, including learning, memory, and emotion. ncRNAs have been shown to be involved in the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis, including proliferation, differentiation, and migration of NSCs and synapse formation. The interaction among ncRNAs is complex and diverse and has become a major topic within the life science. This review outlines advances in research on the roles of ncRNAs in modulating NSC bioactivity in the hippocampus and discusses their potential applications in the treatment of illnesses affecting the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengye Tan
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xiang Cheng
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Key Laboratory of Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xinhua Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neurobiology, Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Central Lab, Yancheng Third People’s Hospital, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Yancheng 224001, China
- Correspondence:
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Alvarez M, Trent E, Goncalves BDS, Pereira DG, Puri R, Frazier NA, Sodhi K, Pillai SS. Cognitive dysfunction associated with COVID-19: Prognostic role of circulating biomarkers and microRNAs. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1020092. [PMID: 36268187 PMCID: PMC9577202 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1020092] [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: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is renowned as a multi-organ disease having subacute and long-term effects with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The evolving scientific and clinical evidence demonstrates that the frequency of cognitive impairment after COVID-19 is high and it is crucial to explore more clinical research and implement proper diagnostic and treatment strategies. Several central nervous system complications have been reported as comorbidities of COVID-19. The changes in cognitive function associated with neurodegenerative diseases develop slowly over time and are only diagnosed at an already advanced stage of molecular pathology. Hence, understanding the common links between COVID-19 and neurodegenerative diseases will broaden our knowledge and help in strategizing prognostic and therapeutic approaches. The present review focuses on the diverse neurodegenerative changes associated with COVID-19 and will highlight the importance of major circulating biomarkers and microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with the disease progression and severity. The literature analysis showed that major proteins associated with central nervous system function, such as Glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light chain, p-tau 181, Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1, S100 calcium-binding protein B, Neuron-specific enolase and various inflammatory cytokines, were significantly altered in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, among various miRNAs that are having pivotal roles in various neurodegenerative diseases, miR-146a, miR-155, Let-7b, miR-31, miR-16 and miR-21 have shown significant dysregulation in COVID-19 patients. Thus the review consolidates the important findings from the numerous studies to unravel the underlying mechanism of neurological sequelae in COVID-19 and the possible association of circulatory biomarkers, which may serve as prognostic predictors and therapeutic targets in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sneha S. Pillai
- Department of Surgery, Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
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Dragović IR, Popović N, Ždralević M, Radulović L, Radunović M. Inflammation-Related microRNAs-146a and -155 Are Upregulated in Mild Cognitive Impairment Subjects Among Older Age Population in Montenegro. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:625-638. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Pathological and clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are in temporal discrepancy and currently accepted clinical tests provide the diagnosis decades after the initial pathophysiological events. In order to enable a more timely detection of AD, research efforts are directed to identification of biomarkers of the early symptomatic stage. Neuroinflammatory signaling pathways and inflammation-related microRNAs (miRNAs) could possibly have a crucial role in AD, making them promising potential biomarkers. Objective: We examined the expression of circulatory miRNAs with a documented role in AD pathophysiology: miR-29a/b, miR-101, miR-125b, miR-146a, and miR-155 in the plasma of AD patients (AD, n = 12), people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 9), and normocognitive group (CTRL, n = 18). We hypothesized that these miRNA expression levels could correlate with the level of participants’ cognitive decline. Methods: The study participants completed the standardized interview, neurological examination, neuropsychological assessment, and biochemical analyses. miRNA expression levels were assessed by RT-PCR. Results: Neurological and laboratory findings could not account for MCI, but miR-146a and -155 were upregulated in the MCI group compared to the control. miR-146a, known to mediate early neuroinflammatory AD events, was also upregulated in the MCI compared to AD group. ROC curve analysis for miRNA-146a showed 77.8% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity and 66.7% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity for miR-155. Conclusion: Determination of circulatory inflamma-miRs-146a and -155 expression, together with neuropsychological screening, could become a non-invasive tool for detecting individuals with an increased risk for AD, but research on a larger cohort is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nataša Popović
- University of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Maša Ždralević
- University of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Ljiljana Radulović
- Clinical Center of Montenegro, Department of Neurology, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Miodrag Radunović
- University of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, Podgorica, Montenegro
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Bonk S, Kirchner K, Ameling S, Garvert L, Völzke H, Nauck M, Völker U, Grabe HJ, Van der Auwera S. APOE ε4 in Depression-Associated Memory Impairment—Evidence from Genetic and MicroRNA Analyses. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071560. [PMID: 35884866 PMCID: PMC9313258 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of this study was to replicate a reported interaction between APOE ε4 status and depression on memory function in two independent, nondemented samples from the general population and to examine the potential role of circulating plasma miRNAs. (2) Methods: The impact of the APOE ε4 allele on verbal memory and the interaction with depression is investigated in two large general-population cohorts from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP, total n = 6286). Additionally, biological insights are gained by examining the potential role of circulating plasma miRNAs as potential epigenetic regulators. Analyses are performed using linear regression models adjusted for relevant biological and environmental covariates. (3) Results: Current depression as well as carrying the APOE ε4 allele were associated with impaired memory performance, with increasing effect for subjects with both risk factors. In a subcohort with available miRNA data subjects with current depressive symptoms and carrying APOE e4 revealed reduced levels of hsa-miR-107, a prominent risk marker for early Alzheimer’s Disease. (4) Conclusions: Our results confirm the effect of depressive symptoms and APOE ε4 status on memory performance. Additionally, miRNA analysis identified hsa-miR-107 as a possible biological link between APOE ε4, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bonk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (S.B.); (K.K.); (L.G.); (H.J.G.)
| | - Kevin Kirchner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (S.B.); (K.K.); (L.G.); (H.J.G.)
| | - Sabine Ameling
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (S.A.); (U.V.)
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (H.V.); (M.N.)
| | - Linda Garvert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (S.B.); (K.K.); (L.G.); (H.J.G.)
| | - Henry Völzke
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (H.V.); (M.N.)
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Nauck
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (H.V.); (M.N.)
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (S.A.); (U.V.)
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (H.V.); (M.N.)
| | - Hans J. Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (S.B.); (K.K.); (L.G.); (H.J.G.)
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (S.B.); (K.K.); (L.G.); (H.J.G.)
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Lukiw WJ. NF-kB (p50/p65)-Mediated Pro-Inflammatory microRNA (miRNA) Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:943492. [PMID: 35836546 PMCID: PMC9274251 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.943492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Walter J. Lukiw
- LSU Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Walter J. Lukiw
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Blood-Based Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis and Progression: An Overview. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081367. [PMID: 35456047 PMCID: PMC9044750 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque deposition and neurofibrillary tangle accumulation in the brain. Although several studies have been conducted to unravel the complex and interconnected pathophysiology of AD, clinical trial failure rates have been high, and no disease-modifying therapies are presently available. Fluid biomarker discovery for AD is a rapidly expanding field of research aimed at anticipating disease diagnosis and following disease progression over time. Currently, Aβ1–42, phosphorylated tau, and total tau levels in the cerebrospinal fluid are the best-studied fluid biomarkers for AD, but the need for novel, cheap, less-invasive, easily detectable, and more-accessible markers has recently led to the search for new blood-based molecules. However, despite considerable research activity, a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the main blood-based biomarker candidates is still lacking. In this narrative review, we discuss the role of proteins, lipids, metabolites, oxidative-stress-related molecules, and cytokines as possible disease biomarkers. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of the emerging miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as diagnostic tools, and we briefly present the role of vitamins and gut-microbiome-related molecules as novel candidates for AD detection and monitoring, thus offering new insights into the diagnosis and progression of this devastating disease.
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Unlocking the Memory Component of Alzheimer’s Disease:Biological Processes and Pathways across Brain Regions. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020263. [PMID: 35204764 PMCID: PMC8961579 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of memory and a general cognitive decline leading to dementia. AD is characterized by changes in the behavior of the genome and can be traced across multiple brain regions and cell types. It is mainly associated with β-amyloid deposits and tau protein misfolding, leading to neurofibrillary tangles. In recent years, however, research has shown that there is a high complexity of mechanisms involved in AD neurophysiology and functional decline enabling its diverse presentation and allowing more questions to arise. In this study, we present a computational approach to facilitate brain region-specific analysis of genes and biological processes involved in the memory process in AD. Utilizing current genetic knowledge we provide a gene set of 265 memory-associated genes in AD, combinations of which can be found co-expressed in 11 different brain regions along with their functional role. The identified genes participate in a spectrum of biological processes ranging from structural and neuronal communication to epigenetic alterations and immune system responses. These findings provide new insights into the molecular background of AD and can be used to bridge the genotype–phenotype gap and allow for new therapeutic hypotheses.
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