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Samad AFA, Kamaroddin MF. Innovative approaches in transforming microRNAs into therapeutic tools. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1768. [PMID: 36437633 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) is regarded as a prominent genetic regulator, as it can fine-tune an entire biological pathway by targeting multiple target genes. This characteristic makes miRNAs promising therapeutic tools to reinstate cell functions that are disrupted as a consequence of diseases. Currently, miRNA replacement by miRNA mimics and miRNA inhibition by anti-miRNA oligonucleotides are the main approaches to utilizing miRNA molecules for therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, miRNA-based therapeutics are hampered by major issues such as off-target effects, immunogenicity, and uncertain delivery platforms. Over the past few decades, several innovative approaches have been established to minimize off-target effects, reduce immunostimulation, and provide efficient transfer to the target cells in which these molecules exert their function. Recent achievements have led to the testing of miRNA-based drugs in clinical trials, and these molecules may become next-generation therapeutics for medical intervention. Despite the achievement of exciting milestones, the dosage of miRNA administration remains unclear, and ways to address this issue are proposed. Elucidating the current status of the main factors of therapeutic miRNA would allow further developments and innovations to achieve safe therapeutic tools. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Fatah A Samad
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Farizal Kamaroddin
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
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Ma L, Gilani A, Yi Q, Tang L. MicroRNAs as Mediators of Adipose Thermogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Targets for Obesity. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1657. [PMID: 36421371 PMCID: PMC9687157 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a growing health problem worldwide, associated with an increased risk of multiple chronic diseases. The thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) correlates with leanness in adults. Understanding the mechanisms behind BAT activation and the process of white fat "browning" has important implications for developing new treatments to combat obesity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small transcriptional regulators that control gene expression in various tissues, including adipose tissue. Recent studies show that miRNAs are involved in adipogenesis and adipose tissue thermogenesis. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the role of miRNAs in adipocyte thermogenesis and obesity. The potential for miRNA-based therapies for obesity and recommendations for future research are highlighted, which may help provide new targets for treating obesity and obesity-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunkun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Ankit Gilani
- Weill Center for Metabolic Health, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Qian Yi
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646099, China
| | - Liling Tang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
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MicroRNAs as Innovative Biomarkers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Prediction of Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147991. [PMID: 35887337 PMCID: PMC9318064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). These are autoimmune diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with a chronic relapsing and remitting course. Due to complex interactions between multiple factors in the etiology of IBD, the discovery of new predictors of disease course and response to therapy, and the development of effective therapies is a significant challenge. The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of conserved endogenous, small non-coding RNA molecules with a length of 18–25 nucleotides, that regulate gene expression by an RNA interference process, is implicated in the complex pathogenetic context of IBD. Both tissue-derived, circulating, and fecal microRNAs have been explored as promising biomarkers in the diagnosis and the prognosis of disease severity of IBD. In this review, we summarize the expressed miRNA profile in blood, mucosal tissue, and stool and highlight the role of miRNAs as biomarkers with potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Moreover, we discuss the new perspectives in developing a new screening model for the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) based on fecal miRNAs.
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Lo TW, Figueroa-Romero C, Hur J, Pacut C, Stoll E, Spring C, Lewis R, Nair A, Goutman SA, Sakowski SA, Nagrath S, Feldman EL. Extracellular Vesicles in Serum and Central Nervous System Tissues Contain microRNA Signatures in Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:739016. [PMID: 34776863 PMCID: PMC8586523 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.739016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminalneurodegenerative disease. Clinical and molecular observations suggest that ALS pathology originates at a single site and spreads in an organized and prion-like manner, possibly driven by extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) transfer cargo molecules associated with ALS pathogenesis, such as misfolded and aggregated proteins and dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs). However, it is poorly understood whether altered levels of circulating extracellular vesicles or their cargo components reflect pathological signatures of the disease. In this study, we used immuno-affinity-based microfluidic technology, electron microscopy, and NanoString miRNA profiling to isolate and characterize extracellular vesicles and their miRNA cargo from frontal cortex, spinal cord, and serum of sporadic ALS (n = 15) and healthy control (n = 16) participants. We found larger extracellular vesicles in ALS spinal cord versus controls and smaller sized vesicles in ALS serum. However, there were no changes in the number of extracellular vesicles between cases and controls across any tissues. Characterization of extracellular vesicle-derived miRNA cargo in ALS compared to controls identified significantly altered miRNA levels in all tissues; miRNAs were reduced in ALS frontal cortex and spinal cord and increased in serum. Two miRNAs were dysregulated in all three tissues: miR-342-3p was increased in ALS, and miR-1254 was reduced in ALS. Additional miRNAs overlapping across two tissues included miR-587, miR-298, miR-4443, and miR-450a-2-3p. Predicted targets and pathways associated with the dysregulated miRNAs across the ALS tissues were associated with common biological pathways altered in neurodegeneration, including axon guidance and long-term potentiation. A predicted target of one identified miRNA (N-deacetylase and N-sulfotransferase 4; NDST4) was likewise dysregulated in an in vitro model of ALS, verifying potential biological relevance. Together, these findings demonstrate that circulating extracellular vesicle miRNA cargo mirror those of the central nervous system disease state in ALS, and thereby offer insight into possible pathogenic factors and diagnostic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-wen Lo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Crystal Pacut
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Evan Stoll
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Calvin Spring
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rose Lewis
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Athul Nair
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stephen A. Goutman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stacey A. Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sunitha Nagrath
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Binterface Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Eva L. Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Qu W, Zhao J, Wu Y, Xu R, Liu S. Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus 9-mediated Expression of Kallistatin Suppresses Lung Tumor Growth in Mice. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 21:72-80. [PMID: 33183200 DOI: 10.2174/1566523220999201111194257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in China and worldwide. Traditional surgery and chemotherapy do not offer an effective cure, although gene therapy may be a promising future alternative. Kallistatin (Kal) is an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is considered the most promising vector for gene therapy of many diseases due to persistent and long-term transgenic expression. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate whether rAAV9-Kal inhibited NCI-H446 subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth in mice. METHODS The subcutaneous xenograft mode was induced by subcutaneous injection of 2×107 H446 cells into the dorsal skin of BALB/c nude mice. The mice were administered with ssrAAV9-Kal (single- stranded rAAV9) or dsrAAV9-Kal (double-stranded rAAV9) by intraperitoneal injection (I.P.). Tumor microvessel density (MVD) was examined by anti-CD34 staining to evaluate tumor angiogenesis. RESULTS Compared with the PBS (blank control) group, tumor growth in the high-dose ssrAAV9-Kal group was inhibited by 40% by day 49, and the MVD of tumor tissues was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION The results indicate that this therapeutic strategy is a promising approach for clinical cancer therapy and implicate rAAV9-Kal as a candidate for gene therapy of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Qu
- Department of School of Pharmacy & Life Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, China
| | - Jianguo Zhao
- Department of School of Pharmacy & Life Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, China
| | - Yaqing Wu
- Department of School of Pharmacy & Life Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, China
| | - Ruian Xu
- School of Medicine and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Shaowu Liu
- Department of School of Pharmacy & Life Science, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, China
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Dasgupta I, Chatterjee A. Recent Advances in miRNA Delivery Systems. Methods Protoc 2021; 4:mps4010010. [PMID: 33498244 PMCID: PMC7839010 DOI: 10.3390/mps4010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a family of short non-coding regulatory RNA molecules that are produced in a tissue and time-specific manner to orchestrate gene expression post-transcription. MiRNAs hybridize to target mRNA(s) to induce translation repression or mRNA degradation. Functional studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are engaged in virtually every physiological process and, consequently, miRNA dysregulations have been linked to multiple human pathologies. Thus, miRNA mimics and anti-miRNAs that restore miRNA expression or downregulate aberrantly expressed miRNAs, respectively, are highly sought-after therapeutic strategies for effective manipulation of miRNA levels. In this regard, carrier vehicles that facilitate proficient and safe delivery of miRNA-based therapeutics are fundamental to the clinical success of these pharmaceuticals. Here, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current state-of-the-art viral and non-viral miRNA delivery systems and provide perspective on how these tools can be exploited to improve the outcomes of miRNA-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishani Dasgupta
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA;
| | - Anushila Chatterjee
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Correspondence:
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Dong X, Cong S. The Emerging Role of microRNAs in Polyglutamine Diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:156. [PMID: 31275113 PMCID: PMC6593396 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding molecules that regulate a large amount of post-transcriptional repressor genes by recognizing semi-complementary target sequences that are normally located in the 3' UTR of the mRNA. Altered expression of miRNA has been related to several pathological processes, including polyglutamine (Poly Q) diseases. Specific expression patterns in the circulating fluids and brain parenchyma have been speculated as potential biomarkers for Poly Q disease diagnosis and prognosis. Several miRNAs have been consistently identified in diseases including Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). In our review, we describe the emerging role of miRNAs in Poly Q diseases and provide an overview on general miRNA biology, implications in pathophysiology, and their potential roles as future biomarkers and applications for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shuyan Cong
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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