MicroRNA-141 binds to the nerve growth factor receptor associated protein 1 gene and restores the erectile function of diabetic rats through down-regulating the nerve growth factor/neurotrophin receptor p75 (NGF/p75NTR) signaling

MicroRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in diabetes male infertility: a systematic review

This study conducts an in-depth review of the correlation between testis tissue changes and circulating microRNAs (miRNA) in diabetes-induced male reproductive complications, drawing upon both animal and clinical studies. The original articles published in English that specifically investigate miRNAs linked to male infertility in humans or animals with either type I or ΙΙ diabetes mellitus were included. The relevant articles were gathered from the PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect databases. The quality of study was assessed utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies. We collected an overall number of 1989 citations relating to our research subject. Following the elimination of articles based on the criteria, a total of 20 papers were included in the study. Aberrant expression profiles of 25 miRNAs were identified in diabetes associated with male reproductive issues, with 15 miRNAs exhibiting increased expression and 10 miRNAs showing decreased expression. Among the chosen publications, eighteen were identified as low-risk and two were classed as moderate quality. The dysregulated miRNAs were linked to testicular injury, disrupted steroid production, decreased sperm development and quality, and erectile dysfunction. The results demonstrate that the miRNA-mRNA network is linked to the pathological progression of diabetic testicular damage or erectile dysfunction. From a therapeutic perspective, the identification of circulating miRNAs could be beneficial in the timely identification and prevention of diabetes problems, such as diabetes-induced male infertility. Among all signaling pathways influenced by modified miRNAs, the Bax-caspase-3, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and eNOS-cGMP-PKC were the main deregulated pathways.

Functional recovery of injured cavernous nerves achieved through endogenous nerve growth factor-containing bioactive fibrous membrane

Radical prostatectomy is a highly successful treatment for prostate cancer, among the most prevalent manifestations of the illness. Damage of the cavernous nerve (CN) during prostatectomy is the main cause of postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED). In this study, the capability of a personalized bioactive fibrous membrane to regenerate injured CN was investigated. The fibrous membrane bioactivity is conferred by the selectively bound nerve growth factor (NGF) present in the rat urine. In a rat model of bilateral CN crush, the implanted bioactive fibrous membrane induces CN regeneration and restoration of erectile function, showing a significantly increased number of smooth muscle cells and content of endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthases (eNOS; nNOS). In addition, the bioactive fibrous membrane promotes nerve regeneration by increasing the number of myelinated axons and nNOS-positive cells, therefore reversing the CN fibrosis found in untreated rats or rats treated with a bare fibrous membrane. Therefore, this personalized regenerative strategy could overcome the recognized drawbacks of currently available treatments for CN injuries. It may constitute an effective treatment for prostate cancer patients suffering from ED after being subject to radical prostatectomy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The present work introduces a unique strategy to address post-surgical ED resulting from CN injury during pelvic surgery (e.g., radical prostatectomy, radical cystoprostatectomy, abdominoperineal resection). It comprises a bioactive and cell-free fibrous implant, customized to enhance CN recovery. Pre-clinical results in a rat model of bilateral CN crush demonstrated that the bioactive fibrous implant can effectively heal injured CN, and restore penile structure and function. This implant selectively binds NGF from patient fluids (i.e. urine) due to its functionalized surface and high surface area. Moreover, its local implantation reduces adverse side effects. This tailored regenerative approach has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of ED in prostate cancer patients following radical prostatectomy, overcoming current treatment limitations.

The role of microRNAs in erectile dysfunction: From pathogenesis to therapeutic potential

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction disease, and it was predicted that the number of ED patients worldwide will reach 322 million by 2025. However, the pathogenesis of ED is complex and the current treatment options are still limited, so it is urgent to explore new treatment strategies. Recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in ED, and these single-stranded non-coding small RNA molecules are involved in key pathophysiological processes in the occurrence and development of ED. Therefore, miRNAs have remarkable potential as therapeutic targets in ED. Here, this review introduces the physiological basis of erectile function and the pathophysiological changes in ED and summarizes the current knowledge on the expression, biological functions, and molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in ED, especially the potential of miRNA-targeted therapies to improve ED. This review will provide a comprehensive view of the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of ED and the potential value of miRNAs in the treatment of ED.

A Review of Molecular Interplay between Neurotrophins and miRNAs in Neuropsychological Disorders

Various neurotrophins (NTs), including nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4, promote cellular differentiation, survival, and maintenance, as well as synaptic plasticity, in the peripheral and central nervous system. The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) and other small non-coding RNAs, as regulators of gene expression, is pivotal for the appropriate control of cell growth and differentiation. There are positive and negative loops between NTs and miRNAs, which exert modulatory effects on different signaling pathways. The interplay between NTs and miRNAs plays a crucial role in the regulation of several physiological and pathological brain procedures. Emerging evidence suggests the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of the interactions between NTs and miRNAs in several neuropsychological disorders, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and drug abuse. Here, we review current data regarding the regulatory interactions between NTs and miRNAs in neuropsychological disorders, for which novel diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategies are emerging. Targeting NTs-miRNAs interactions for diagnostic or therapeutic approaches needs to be validated by future clinical studies.

Modulation of diabetic kidney disease markers by an antagonist of p75NTR in streptozotocin-treated mice

Two therapeutic agents targeting p75NTR pathways have been recently developed to alleviate retinopathy and bladder dysfunction in diabetes mellitus (DM), namely the small molecule p75NTR antagonist THX-B and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that neutralizes the receptor ligand proNGF. We herein explore these two components in the context of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Streptozotocin-injected mice were treated for 4 weeks with THX-B or anti-proNGF mAb. Kidneys were taken for quantification of microRNAs and mRNAs by RT-qPCR and for detection of proteins by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and ELISA. Blood was sampled to measure plasma levels of urea, creatinine, and albumin. DM led to increases in plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine and decreases in plasma albumin. Receptor p75NTR was expressed in kidneys and its expression was decreased by DM. All these changes were reversed by THX-B treatment while the effect of mAb was less pronounced. MicroRNAs tightly linked to DKD (miR-21-5p, miR-214-3p and miR-342-3p) were highly expressed in diabetic kidneys compared to healthy ones. Also, miR-146a, a marker of kidney inflammation, and mRNA levels of Fn-1 and Nphs, two markers of fibrosis and inflammation, were elevated in DM. Treatments with THX-B or mAb partially or completely reduced the expression of the aforementioned microRNAs and mRNAs. P75NTR antagonism and proNGF mAb might constitute new therapeutic tools to treat or slow down the progression of kidney disease in DM, along with other diabetic related complications. The translational potential of these strategies is currently being investigated.

Non-Coding RNAs: New Dawn for Diabetes Mellitus Induced Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction in males, with multifactorial alterations which consist of psychological and organic. Diabetes mellitus (DM) induced erectile dysfunction (DMED) is a disconcerting and critical complication of DM, and remarkably different from non-diabetic ED. The response rate of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), a milestone for ED therapy, is far from satisfactory in DMED. Unfortunately, the contributing mechanisms of DMED remains vague. Hence, It is urgent to seek for novel prospective biomarkers or targets of DMED. Numerous studies have proved that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play essential roles in the pathogenesis process of DM, which comprise of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) like microRNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, the implications of ncRNAs in DMED are still understudied. This review highlights the pathophysiology of DMED, summarizes identified mechanisms of ncRNAs associated with DMED and covers the topic of perspectives for ncRNAs in DMED.

Down-regulated microRNA-141 facilitates osteoblast activity and inhibits osteoclast activity to ameliorate osteonecrosis of the femoral head via up-regulating TGF-β2

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a pathological process that initially occurs in the weight-bearing field of the femoral head. Due to the unknown pathogenesis, this study was for the investigation of the effect of microRNA-141 (miR-141) targeting transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) on regulating osteoblast activity and osteoclast activity in steroid-induced ONFH.Tissues of ONFH and normal femoral head were collected for detecting the expression of miR-141 and TGF-β2. A rat model of ONFH was constructed by injection of hormones, and transfected with miR-141 inhibitors and overexpressed TGF-β2. The apoptosis of bone cells was detected by TUNEL staining. The expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL), Bcl-2, Bax, Runx2, BMP2 and RANK were detected.Highly expressed miR-141 and lowly expressed TGF-β2 existed in femoral head tissues in ONFH. Inhibited miR-141 resulted in elevated TGF-β2 in femoral head tissues in ONFH of rats. Depressed miR-141 or overexpressed TGF-β2 inhibited the apoptosis of bone cells of rats with ONFH and induced elevated OPG, Bcl-2, BMP2, Runx2 and declined OPGL, Bax and RANK expression in the femoral head tissues of rats with ONFH.Altogether, we find that down-regulated miR-141 promotes osteoblast activity and inhibits osteoclast activity to ameliorate ONFH via up-regulated TGF-β2 expression.