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Zhao K, Liu J, Sun T, Zeng L, Cai Z, Li Z, Liu R. The miR-25802/KLF4/NF-κB signaling axis regulates microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 118:31-48. [PMID: 38360375 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the occurrence and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In recent years, studies have increasingly explored microRNAs as biomarkers and treatment interventions for AD. This study identified a novel microRNA termed miR-25802 from our high-throughput sequencing dataset of an AD model and explored its role and the underlying mechanism. The results confirmed the miRNA properties of miR-25802 based on bioinformatics and experimental verification. Expression of miR-25802 was increased in the plasma of AD patients and in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 and 5 × FAD mice carrying two and five familial AD gene mutations. Functional studies suggested that overexpression or inhibition of miR-25802 respectively aggravated or ameliorated AD-related pathology, including cognitive disability, Aβ deposition, microglial pro-inflammatory phenotype activation, and neuroinflammation, in 5 × FAD mice and homeostatic or LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated EOC20 microglia. Mechanistically, miR-25802 negatively regulates KLF4 by directly binding to KLF4 mRNA, thus stimulating microglia polarization toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype by promoting the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response. The results also showed that inhibition of miR-25802 increased microglial anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype activity and suppressed NF-κB-mediated inflammatory reactions in the brains of 5 × FAD mice, while overexpression of miR-25802 exacerbated microglial pro-inflammatory M1 activity by enhancing NF-κB pathways. Of note, AD-associated manifestations induced by inhibition or overexpression of miR-25802 via the NF-κB signaling pathway were reversed by KLF4 silencing or upregulation. Collectively, these results provide the first evidence that miR-25802 is a regulator of microglial activity and establish the role of miR-25802/KLF4/NF-κB signaling in microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyue Zhao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Jianghong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Ting Sun
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Li Zeng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Zhongdi Cai
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Zhuorong Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Rui Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China.
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Filippenkov IB, Khrunin AV, Mozgovoy IV, Dergunova LV, Limborska SA. Are Ischemic Stroke and Alzheimer's Disease Genetically Consecutive Pathologies? Biomedicines 2023; 11:2727. [PMID: 37893101 PMCID: PMC10604604 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102727] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Complex diseases that affect the functioning of the central nervous system pose a major problem for modern society. Among these, ischemic stroke (IS) holds a special place as one of the most common causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Furthermore, Alzheimer's disease (AD) ranks first among neurodegenerative diseases, drastically reducing brain activity and overall life quality and duration. Recent studies have shown that AD and IS share several common risk and pathogenic factors, such as an overlapping genomic architecture and molecular signature. In this review, we will summarize the genomics and RNA biology studies of IS and AD, discussing the interconnected nature of these pathologies. Additionally, we highlight specific genomic points and RNA molecules that can serve as potential tools in predicting the risks of diseases and developing effective therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Svetlana A. Limborska
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq. 2, 123182 Moscow, Russia (A.V.K.); (I.V.M.); (L.V.D.)
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Besli N, Sarikamis B, Kalkan Cakmak R, Kilic U. Exosomal Circular Ribonucleic Acid-Microribonucleic Acid Expression Profile from Plasma in Alzheimer's Disease Patients by Bioinformatics and Integrative Analysis. Eurasian J Med 2023; 55:218-227. [PMID: 37909192 PMCID: PMC10724788 DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2023.23029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative sickness and increasing with age throughout the world. A substantial body of evidence suggests the role of exosomal noncoding ribonucleic acids in the development of Alzheimer's disease, but the regulatory mechanisms mediated by these noncoding ribonucleic acids remain extensively unknown. Using plasma samples from Alzheimer's disease patients, this study explored the exosomal circular ribonucleic acid-microribonucleic acid profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ArrayExpress platform was used to convey data from 3 samples from each group (healthy, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease). Using plasma exosomes, differentially expressed microribonucleic acids and differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids were compared between the Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment groups. Afterward, to define pathways, gene ontologies, and networks, differentially expressed microribonucleic acids and differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids common to both mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease groups were analyzed. Eventually, the selection of hub genes and protein-protein interaction network was analyzed. RESULTS A total of common 19 (7 upregulated and 12 downregulated) differentially expressed microribonucleic acids and 24 differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids were recognized. A total of 4559 target genes were predicted for upregulated differentially expressed microribonucleic acids, while 6504 target genes were identified for downregulated differentially expressed microribonucleic acids, and most of the target genes involved in the phosphoinositide 3-kinases-Akt pathway and that were mostly regulated by hsa-mir-374a-3p, mir-196a-5p, let-205-5p, mir-185-3p, mir-374a-5p, mir-615-3p, let-7c-5p, mir-185-5p. Additionally, 9 hub genes (HSP90AA, ACTB, MAPK1, GSK3B, CCNE2, CDK6, AKT1, IGF1R, CCND1) were revealed as the genes considerably related to Alzheimer's disease by a protein-protein interaction network using the cytohubba in Cytoscape software. CONCLUSION Our findings provide a new perspective on how microribonucleic acids could connect with circular ribonucleic acids in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nail Besli
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Health and Sciences Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Bahar Sarikamis
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Health and Sciences Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Rabia Kalkan Cakmak
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Health and Sciences Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey; Department of Medical Biology, University of Health Sciences Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Ulkan Kilic
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Health and Sciences Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey; Department of Medical Biology, University of Health Sciences Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
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4
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Cai Z, Gao F, Cheng J, Barreto GE, Liu R. Editorial: Noncoding RNA-based spatiotemporal modulation and therapeutics in neuroinflammation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1276943. [PMID: 37727788 PMCID: PMC10505735 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1276943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongdi Cai
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jinbo Cheng
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life & Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - George E. Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Rui Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Ma Y, Fan C, Wang Y, Li W, Jiang H, Yang W. Comprehensive analysis of mRNAs in the cerebral cortex in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease based on high-throughput sequencing of N4-acetylcytidine. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:267. [PMID: 37548859 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01192-z] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), a significant modified nucleoside, participates in the development of many diseases. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) contain most of the information of the genome and are the molecules that transmit information from genes to proteins. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which fibrillar amyloid plaques are present. However, it remains unknown how mRNA ac4C modification affects the development of AD. In the current study, ac4C-modified mRNAs were comprehensively analyzed in AD mice by ac4C-RIP-seq and RNA-seq. Next, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to examine the relationships between the genes with differential ac4C modification levels and their RNA expression levels. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) acquired above were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis to further analyze the molecular mechanisms in AD. In total, 3312 significant ac4C peaks were found on 2512 mRNAs, 1241 of which were hyperacetylated and 1271 of which were hypoacetylated. In addition, 956 mRNAs with differential expression were found, including 520 upregulated mRNAs and 436 downregulated mRNAs. Overall, 134 mRNAs with simultaneous changes at the ac4C levels as well as RNA expression levels were identified via joint analysis. Then, through PPI network construction and functional enrichment analysis, 37 key mRNAs were screened, which were predominantly enriched in GABAergic synapses and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The significant difference in the abundance of mRNA ac4C modification indicates that this modification is associated with AD progression, which may provide insight for more investigations of the potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhen Ma
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Fan
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China
| | - Yongzhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China
| | - Weizu Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medicine College, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China.
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Wenming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Encephalopathy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China.
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Liu JJ, Long YF, Xu P, Guo HD, Cui GH. Pathogenesis of miR-155 on nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:122. [PMID: 37452431 PMCID: PMC10347850 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01264-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system and is the primary cause of dementia. It is clinically characterized by the memory impairment, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, visuospatial and executive dysfunction, behavioral changes, and so on. Incidence of this disease was bound up with age, genetic factors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular dysfunction, and other basic diseases, but the exact etiology has not been clarified. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that were involved in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression. miRNAs have been extensively studied as noninvasive potential biomarkers for disease due to their relative stability in bodily fluids. In addition, they play a significant role in the physiological and pathological processes of various neurological disorders, including stroke, AD, and Parkinson's disease. MiR-155, as an important pro-inflammatory mediator of neuroinflammation, was reported to participate in the progression of β-amyloid peptide and tau via regulating immunity and inflammation. In this review, we put emphasis on the effects of miR-155 on AD and explore the underlying biological mechanisms which could provide a novel approach for diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jia Liu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yun-Fan Long
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272000, Shandong, China.
| | - Hai-Dong Guo
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Guo-Hong Cui
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Ma Y, Li W, Fan C, Wang Y, Jiang H, Yang W. Comprehensive Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNAs N4-Acetylcytidine in Alzheimer's Disease Mice Model Using High-Throughput Sequencing. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1659-1675. [PMID: 36314201 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), an important posttranscriptional modification, is involved in various disease processes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression mainly through epigenetic modification, transcription, and posttranscriptional modification. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloidosis of the brain. However, the role of lncRNA ac4C modification in AD remains unclear. OBJECTIVE In this study, we investigated the association between ac4C modification and AD, and the underlying mechanisms of ac4C modification in AD. METHODS The male 9-month-old APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, age- and sex-matched wild type (WT) mice were used in this study. Then, ac4C-RIP-seq and RNA-seq were used to comprehensively analyze lncRNA ac4C modification in AD mice. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses showed the regulatory relationships among these three lncRNAs and AD. RESULTS The results showed that there were 120 significantly different ac4C peaks located on 102 lncRNAs in AD, of which 55 were hyperacetylated and 47 were hypoacetylated. Simultaneously, 231 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified, including 138 upregulated lncRNAs and 93 downregulated lncRNAs. Moreover, 3 lncRNAs, lncRNA Gm26508, lncRNA A430046D13Rik, and lncRNA 9530059O14Rik, showed significant changes in both the ac4C and RNA levels using conjoint analysis. CONCLUSION The abundance of lncRNA ac4C modification is significantly different in AD and indicates that lncRNA ac4C is associated with the occurrence and development of AD, which could provide a basis for further exploration of the related regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhen Ma
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Weizu Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medicine College, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Fan
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yongzhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Encephalopathy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
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8
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Epigenetic Changes in Prion and Prion-like Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Advances, Potential as Biomarkers, and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012609. [PMID: 36293477 PMCID: PMC9604074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) caused by a conformational conversion of the native cellular prion protein (PrPC) to an abnormal, infectious isoform called PrPSc. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases are also known as prion-like diseases because they share common features with prion diseases, including protein misfolding and aggregation, as well as the spread of these misfolded proteins into different brain regions. Increasing evidence proposes the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms, namely DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histones, and microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in the pathogenesis of prion-like diseases. Little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in prion diseases, but recent findings also point to a potential regulatory role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathology of these diseases. This review highlights recent findings on epigenetic modifications in TSEs and prion-like diseases and discusses the potential role of such mechanisms in disease pathology and their use as potential biomarkers.
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Sun ZD, Hu JX, Wu JR, Zhou B, Huang YP. Toxicities of amyloid-beta and tau protein are reciprocally enhanced in the Drosophila model. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2286-2292. [PMID: 35259851 PMCID: PMC9083152 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.336872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and intracellular tau tangles are two major pathogenic hallmarks and critical factors of Alzheimer’s disease. A linear interaction between Aβ and tau protein has been characterized in several models. Aβ induces tau hyperphosphorylation through a complex mechanism; however, the master regulators involved in this linear process are still unclear. In our study with Drosophila melanogaster, we found that Aβ regulated tau hyperphosphorylation and toxicity by activating c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Importantly, Aβ toxicity was dependent on tau hyperphosphorylation, and flies with hypophosphorylated tau were insulated against Aβ-induced toxicity. Strikingly, tau accumulation reciprocally interfered with Aβ degradation and correlated with the reduction in mRNA expression of genes encoding Aβ-degrading enzymes, including dNep1, dNep3, dMmp2, dNep4, and dIDE. Our results indicate that Aβ and tau protein work synergistically to further accelerate Alzheimer’s disease progression and may be considered as a combined target for future development of Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Dong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jia-Xin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jia-Rui Wu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yun-Peng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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10
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Zhao K, Zeng L, Cai Z, Liu M, Sun T, Li Z, Liu R. RNA sequencing-based identification of the regulatory mechanism of microRNAs, transcription factors, and corresponding target genes involved in vascular dementia. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:917489. [PMID: 36203804 PMCID: PMC9531238 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.917489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia with uncertain mechanisms and no effective treatments. microRNAs (miRNAs) and transcription factors (TFs) are considered regulatory factors of genes involved in many diseases. Therefore, this work investigated the aberrantly expressed miRNAs, TFs, corresponding target genes, and their co-regulatory networks in the cortex of rats with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) to uncover the potential mechanism and biomarkers of VaD. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), miRNAs (DEMs), and TFs (DETFs) were identified using RNA sequencing, and their interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape. The results showed that rats with 2VO had declined cognitive abilities and neuronal loss in the cortex than sham rats. DEGs, DEMs, and DETFs were discriminated between rats with 2VO and sham rats in the cortex, as shown by the 13 aberrantly expressed miRNAs, 805 mRNAs, and 63 TFs. The miRNA-TF-target gene network was constructed, showing 523 nodes and 7237 edges. Five miRNAs (miR-5132-5p, miR-764-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-145-5p, and miR-122-5p), ten TFs (Mxi1, Nfatc4, Rxrg, Zfp523, Foxj2, Nkx6-1, Klf4, Klf5, Csrnp1, and Prdm6), and seven target genes (Serpine1, Nedd4l, Pxn, Col1a1, Plec, Trip12, and Tpm1) were chosen as the significant nodes to construct feed-forward loops (FFLs). Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these miRNA and TF-associated genes are mostly involved in the PI3K/Akt, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, calcium signaling, and Wnt signaling pathways, along with central locations around the cell membrane. They exert functions such as growth factor binding, integrin binding, and extracellular matrix structural constituent, with representative biological processes like vasculature development, cell–substrate adhesion, cellular response to growth factor stimulus, and synaptic transmission. Furthermore, the expression of three miRNAs (miR-145-5p, miR-122-5p, and miR-5132-5p), six TFs (Csrnp1, Klf4, Nfatc4, Rxrg, Foxj2, and Klf5), and five mRNAs (Serpine1, Plec, Nedd4l, Trip12, and Tpm1) were significantly changed in rats with VaD, in line with the outcome of RNA sequencing. In the potential FFL, miR-145-5p directly bound Csrnp1 and decreased its mRNA expression. These results might help the understanding of the underlying regulatory mechanisms of miRNA-TF-genes, providing potential therapeutic targets in VaD.
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Jiang H, Liu J, Guo S, Zeng L, Cai Z, Zhang J, Wang L, Li Z, Liu R. miR-23b-3p rescues cognition in Alzheimer's disease by reducing tau phosphorylation and apoptosis via GSK-3β signaling pathways. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:539-557. [PMID: 35592504 PMCID: PMC9092887 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression in the brain can contribute to cognitive dysfunction and aberrant tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Several studies have reported a role for microRNA-23b-3p (miR-23b-3p) in various neurologic disorders; however, its involvement in cognition-related functions remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of miR-23b-3p in AD. miRNA profiles in the cortex of amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) double transgenic mice (APP/PS1 mice) demonstrated that miR-23b-3p was reduced. This decrease was verified in APPswe cells, SAMP8 mouse brains, and plasma from AD patients. Furthermore, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a major tau kinase implicated in tau pathology, was identified as a target of miR-23b-3p. Functional in vivo studies demonstrated that intracerebroventricular delivery of miR-23b-3p in APP/PS1 mice ameliorated cognitive deficits, histopathological changes, and tau phosphorylation immunoreactivity at several sites by inhibiting GSK-3β expression and activation. Similarly, the upregulation of miR-23b-3p in APPswe cells inhibited GSK-3β-mediated tau hyperphosphorylation, Aβ1-42 generation, and neuronal apoptosis, resulting in the suppression of the GSK-3β/p-tau and Bax/caspase-3 pathways. Collectively, our findings strongly support the hypothesis that miR-23b-3p plays a neuroprotective role in AD, thereby identifying miR-23b-3p as a promising therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailun Jiang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Jianghong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, P.R. China
| | - Shuilong Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory for Precancerous Lesion of Digestive Disease, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Li Zeng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Zhongdi Cai
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Junxia Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Zhuorong Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Rui Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
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12
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Li DD, Zheng CQ, Zhang F, Shi JS. Potential neuroprotection by Dendrobium nobile Lindl alkaloid in Alzheimer's disease models. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:972-977. [PMID: 34558510 PMCID: PMC8552836 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.324824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, treatments for Alzheimer's disease can temporarily relieve symptoms but cannot prevent the decline of cognitive ability and other neurodegenerative changes. Dendrobium nobile Lindl alkaloid is the main active component of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. Dendrobium nobile Lindl alkaloid has been shown to resist aging, prolong life span, and exhibit immunomodulatory effects in animals. This review summarizes the mechanisms behind the neuroprotective effects reported in Alzheimer's disease animal models. The neuroprotective effects of Dendrobium nobile Lindl alkaloid have not been studied in patients. The mechanisms by which Dendrobium nobile Lindl alkaloid has been reported to improve cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease animal models may be associated with extracellular amyloid plaque production, regulation of tau protein hyperphosphorylation, inhibition of neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, activation of autophagy, and enhanced synaptic connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai-Di Li
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Lab of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang-Qing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Lab of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Lab of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Jing-Shan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Lab of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
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13
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Zeng L, Jiang H, Ashraf GM, Liu J, Wang L, Zhao K, Liu M, Li Z, Liu R. Implications of miR-148a-3p/p35/PTEN signaling in tau hyperphosphorylation and autoregulatory feedforward of Akt/CREB in Alzheimer's disease. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:256-275. [PMID: 35024240 PMCID: PMC8714918 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Existing studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) have a role in cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the function and pathophysiological mechanism of deregulated miRNAs underlying AD pathology remain to be investigated. The present study aimed to clarify the role and mechanism of miR-148a-3p in AD. RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis were used to identify the aberrant expression and signaling of miR-148a-3p within cells, mice, and patients with AD. Molecular biology techniques involving luciferase reporter assays, gene overexpression and silencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and adeno-associated virus-based miRNA overexpression were used to explore the biological function and mechanisms of miR-148a-3p. Downregulation of miR-148a-3p was identified in AD. Upregulation of miR-148a-3p was found to protect neuronal cells against Aβ-associated tau hyperphosphorylation by directly targeting p35/CDK5 and PTEN/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. A mutual regulatory link between miR-148a-3p and PTEN using a feedforward arrangement was confirmed via promotion of transcription and expression of miR-148a-3p by way of the PTEN/Akt/CREB pathway. Significantly, in vivo targeting of miR-148a-3p signaling ameliorated cognitive deficits by decreasing p35/PTEN-elicited tau hyperphosphorylation, accompanied by feedforward transduction of the PTEN/Akt/CREB pathway. In conclusion, the present study implicated the miR-148a-3p/p35/PTEN pathway as an essential contributor to tau hyperphosphorylation and feedforward regulation in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zeng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Hailun Jiang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Pre-Clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jianghong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Kaiyue Zhao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Mimin Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Zhuorong Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
| | - Rui Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China
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14
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Sundaramoorthy TH, Castanho I. The Neuroepigenetic Landscape of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Epigenet Insights 2022; 15:25168657221135848. [PMID: 36353727 PMCID: PMC9638687 DOI: 10.1177/25168657221135848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate and invertebrate models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have been paramount to our understanding of the pathophysiology of these conditions; however, the brain epigenetic landscape is less well established in these disease models. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs are among commonly studied mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. Genome-wide studies and candidate studies of specific methylation marks, histone marks, and microRNAs have demonstrated the dysregulation of these mechanisms in models of neurodegenerative diseases; however, the studies to date are scarce and inconclusive and the implications of many of these changes are still not fully understood. In this review, we summarize epigenetic changes reported to date in the brain of vertebrate and invertebrate models used to study neurodegenerative diseases, specifically diseases affecting the aging population. We also discuss caveats of epigenetic research so far and the use of disease models to understand neurodegenerative diseases, with the aim of improving the use of model organisms in this context in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Castanho
- University of Exeter Medical School,
University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA,
USA
- Isabel Castanho, University of Exeter
Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK. Emails:
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15
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Gu XY, Jin B, Qi ZD, Yin XF. MicroRNA is a potential target for therapies to improve the physiological function of skeletal muscle after trauma. Neural Regen Res 2021; 17:1617-1622. [PMID: 34916449 PMCID: PMC8771090 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.330620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs can regulate the function of ion channels in many organs. Based on our previous study we propose that miR-142a-39, which is highly expressed in denervated skeletal muscle, might affect cell excitability through similar mechanisms. In this study, we overexpressed or knocked down miR-142a-3p in C2C12 cells using a lentivirus method. After 7 days of differentiation culture, whole-cell currents were recorded. The results showed that overexpression of miR-142a-3p reduced the cell membrane capacitance, increased potassium current density and decreased calcium current density. Knockdown of miR-142a-3p reduced sodium ion channel current density. The results showed that change in miR-142a-3p expression affected the ion channel currents in C2C12 cells, suggesting its possible roles in muscle cell electrophysiology. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Peking University in July 2020 (approval No. LA2017128).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yi Gu
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Peking University People's Hospital; Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Bo Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhi-Dan Qi
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Peking University People's Hospital; Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Yin
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Peking University People's Hospital; Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration (Peking University), Beijing, China
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