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Russ E, Fatanmi OO, Wise SY, Carpenter AD, Maniar M, Iordanskiy S, Singh VK. Serum microRNA profile of rhesus macaques following ionizing radiation exposure and treatment with a medical countermeasure, Ex-Rad. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4518. [PMID: 38402257 PMCID: PMC10894202 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54997-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) presents a formidable clinical challenge. Total-body or significant partial-body exposure at a high dose and dose rate leads to acute radiation syndrome (ARS), the complex pathologic effects that arise following IR exposure over a short period of time. Early and accurate diagnosis of ARS is critical for assessing the exposure dose and determining the proper treatment. Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may effectively predict the impact of irradiation and assess cell viability/senescence changes and inflammation. We used a nonhuman primate (NHP) model-rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)-to identify the serum miRNA landscape 96 h prior to and following 7.2 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI) at four timepoints: 24, 36, 48, and 96 h. To assess whether the miRNA profile reflects the therapeutic effect of a small molecule ON01210, commonly known as Ex-Rad, that has demonstrated radioprotective efficacy in a rodent model, we administered Ex-Rad at two different schedules of NHPs; either 36 and 48 h post-irradiation or 48 and 60 h post-irradiation. Results of this study corroborated our previous findings obtained using a qPCR array for several miRNAs and their modulation in response to irradiation: some miRNAs demonstrated a temporary increased serum concentration within the first 24-36 h (miR-375, miR-185-5p), whereas others displayed either a prolonged decline (miR-423-5p) or a long-term increase (miR-30a-5p, miR-27b-3p). In agreement with these time-dependent changes, hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed miRNAs showed that the profiles of the top six miRNA that most strongly correlated with radiation exposure were inconsistent between the 24 and 96 h timepoints following exposure, suggesting that different biodosimetry miRNA markers might be required depending on the time that has elapsed. Finally, Ex-Rad treatment restored the level of several miRNAs whose expression was significantly changed after radiation exposure, including miR-16-2, an miRNA previously associated with radiation survival. Taken together, our findings support the use of miRNA expression as an indicator of radiation exposure and the use of Ex-Rad as a potential radioprotectant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Russ
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
- Graduate Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Oluseyi O Fatanmi
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Stephen Y Wise
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Alana D Carpenter
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Manoj Maniar
- Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., Newtown, PA, 18940, USA
- Palm Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 46750 Sentinel Drive, Fremont, CA, 94539, USA
| | - Sergey Iordanskiy
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
| | - Vijay K Singh
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
- Division of Radioprotectants, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814-2712, USA.
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Van der Auwera S, Ameling S, Wittfeld K, Frenzel S, Bülow R, Nauck M, Völzke H, Völker U, Grabe HJ. Circulating microRNA miR-425-5p Associated with Brain White Matter Lesions and Inflammatory Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:887. [PMID: 38255959 PMCID: PMC10815886 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
White matter lesions (WML) emerge as a consequence of vascular injuries in the brain. While they are commonly observed in aging, associations have been established with neurodegenerative and neurological disorders such as dementia or stroke. Despite substantial research efforts, biological mechanisms are incomplete and biomarkers indicating WMLs are lacking. Utilizing data from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), our objective was to identify plasma-circulating micro-RNAs (miRNAs) associated with WMLs, thus providing a foundation for a comprehensive biological model and further research. In linear regression models, direct association and moderating factors were analyzed. In 648 individuals, we identified hsa-miR-425-5p as directly associated with WMLs. In subsequent analyses, hsa-miR-425-5p was found to regulate various genes associated with WMLs with particular emphasis on the SH3PXD2A gene. Furthermore, miR-425-5p was found to be involved in immunological processes. In addition, noteworthy miRNAs associated with WMLs were identified, primarily moderated by the factors of sex or smoking status. All identified miRNAs exhibited a strong over-representation in neurodegenerative and neurological diseases. We introduced hsa-miR-425-5p as a promising candidate in WML research probably involved in immunological processes. Mir-425-5p holds the potential as a biomarker of WMLs, shedding light on potential mechanisms and pathways in vascular dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sabine Ameling
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (M.N.)
| | - Katharina Wittfeld
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Frenzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Robin Bülow
- Institute for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Nauck
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (M.N.)
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Völzke
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (M.N.)
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (M.N.)
| | - Hans J. Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
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Han SW, Pyun JM, Bice PJ, Bennett DA, Saykin AJ, Kim SY, Park YH, Nho K. miR-129-5p as a biomarker for pathology and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:5. [PMID: 38195609 PMCID: PMC10775662 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01366-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's dementia (AD) pathogenesis involves complex mechanisms, including microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation. Integrative network and machine learning analysis of miRNA can provide insights into AD pathology and prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers. METHODS We performed co-expression network analysis to identify network modules associated with AD, its neuropathology markers, and cognition using brain tissue miRNA profiles from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP) (N = 702) as a discovery dataset. We performed association analysis of hub miRNAs with AD, its neuropathology markers, and cognition. After selecting target genes of the hub miRNAs, we performed association analysis of the hub miRNAs with their target genes and then performed pathway-based enrichment analysis. For replication, we performed a consensus miRNA co-expression network analysis using the ROS/MAP dataset and an independent dataset (N = 16) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Furthermore, we performed a machine learning approach to assess the performance of hub miRNAs for AD classification. RESULTS Network analysis identified a glucose metabolism pathway-enriched module (M3) as significantly associated with AD and cognition. Five hub miRNAs (miR-129-5p, miR-433, miR-1260, miR-200a, and miR-221) of M3 had significant associations with AD clinical and/or pathologic traits, with miR129-5p by far the strongest across all phenotypes. Gene-set enrichment analysis of target genes associated with their corresponding hub miRNAs identified significantly enriched biological pathways including ErbB, AMPK, MAPK, and mTOR signaling pathways. Consensus network analysis identified two AD-associated consensus network modules and two hub miRNAs (miR-129-5p and miR-221). Machine learning analysis showed that the AD classification performance (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.807) of age, sex, and APOE ε4 carrier status was significantly improved by 6.3% with inclusion of five AD-associated hub miRNAs. CONCLUSIONS Integrative network and machine learning analysis identified miRNA signatures, especially miR-129-5p, as associated with AD, its neuropathology markers, and cognition, enhancing our understanding of AD pathogenesis and leading to better performance of AD classification as potential diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Won Han
- Department of Neurology, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, 77 Sakju-ro, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, 24253, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Min Pyun
- Department of Neurology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Paula J Bice
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison St., Suite 1000, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Andrew J Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Sang Yun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul National University College of Medicine, 82, Gumi-ro 173 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ho Park
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul National University College of Medicine, 82, Gumi-ro 173 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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Gil-Jaramillo N, Aristizábal-Pachón AF, Luque Aleman MA, González Gómez V, Escobar Hurtado HD, Girón Pinto LC, Jaime Camacho JS, Rojas-Cruz AF, González-Giraldo Y, Pinzón A, González J. Competing endogenous RNAs in human astrocytes: crosstalk and interacting networks in response to lipotoxicity. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1195840. [PMID: 38027526 PMCID: PMC10679742 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1195840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by a progressive deterioration of neuronal function, leading to motor and cognitive damage in patients. Astrocytes are essential for maintaining brain homeostasis, and their functional impairment is increasingly recognized as central to the etiology of various NDs. Such impairment can be induced by toxic insults with palmitic acid (PA), a common fatty acid, that disrupts autophagy, increases reactive oxygen species, and triggers inflammation. Although the effects of PA on astrocytes have been addressed, most aspects of the dynamics of this fatty acid remain unknown. Additionally, there is still no model that satisfactorily explains how astroglia goes from being neuroprotective to neurotoxic. Current incomplete knowledge needs to be improved by the growing field of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which is proven to be related to NDs, where the complexity of the interactions among these molecules and how they control other RNA expressions need to be addressed. In the present study, we present an extensive competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network using transcriptomic data from normal human astrocyte (NHA) cells exposed to PA lipotoxic conditions and experimentally validated data on ncRNA interaction. The obtained network contains 7 lncRNA transcripts, 38 miRNAs, and 239 mRNAs that showed enrichment in ND-related processes, such as fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis, FoxO and TGF-β signaling pathways, prion diseases, apoptosis, and immune-related pathways. In addition, the transcriptomic profile was used to propose 22 potential key controllers lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axes in ND mechanisms. The relevance of five of these axes was corroborated by the miRNA expression data obtained in other studies. MEG3 (ENST00000398461)/hsa-let-7d-5p/ATF6B axis showed importance in Parkinson's and late Alzheimer's diseases, while AC092687.3/hsa-let-7e-5p/[SREBF2, FNIP1, PMAIP1] and SDCBP2-AS1 (ENST00000446423)/hsa-miR-101-3p/MAPK6 axes are probably related to Alzheimer's disease development and pathology. The presented network and axes will help to understand the PA-induced mechanisms in astrocytes, leading to protection or injury in the CNS under lipotoxic conditions as part of the intricated cellular regulation influencing the pathology of different NDs. Furthermore, the five corroborated axes could be considered study targets for new pharmacologic treatments or as possible diagnostic molecules, contributing to improving the quality of life of millions worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gil-Jaramillo
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - María Alejandra Luque Aleman
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Valentina González Gómez
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Hans Deyvy Escobar Hurtado
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura Camila Girón Pinto
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan Sebastian Jaime Camacho
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alexis Felipe Rojas-Cruz
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yeimy González-Giraldo
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrés Pinzón
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Biología de Sistemas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Janneth González
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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5
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Hou KC, Tsai MH, Akbarian S, Huang HS. Mir125b-1 is Not Imprinted in Human Brain and Shows Developmental Expression Changes in Mouse Brain. Neuroscience 2023; 529:99-106. [PMID: 37598835 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.08.014] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is a predominantly brain and placenta-specific epigenetic process that contributes to parent-of-origin-specific gene expression. While microRNAs are highly expressed in the brain, their imprinting status in this tissue remains poorly studied. Previous research demonstrated that Mir125b-2 is imprinted in the human brain and regulates hippocampal circuits and functions in mice. However, the imprinting status of another isoform of miR125b, Mir125b-1, in the human brain, as well as its spatiotemporal expression patterns in mice, have not been elucidated. Here, we show MIR125B1 is not imprinted in the human brain. Moreover, miR-125b-1 was highly expressed in the brains of mice. Furthermore, miR-125b-1 was down-regulated during brain development in mice. Specifically, miR-125b-1 displayed preferential expression in the olfactory bulb, thalamus, and hypothalamus of the mouse brain. Notably, miR-125b-1 was enriched in GABAergic neurons, particularly somatostatin-expressing GABAergic neurons, compared with glutamatergic neurons. Taken together, our findings provide the imprinting status and comprehensive spatiotemporal expression profiling of Mir125b-1 in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Chu Hou
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Han Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hsien-Sung Huang
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan.
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Pérez-Rodríguez D, Agís-Balboa RC, López-Fernández H. MyBrain-Seq: A Pipeline for MiRNA-Seq Data Analysis in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041230. [PMID: 37189848 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041230] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing of small RNA molecules such as microRNAs (miRNAs) has become a widely used approach for studying gene expression and regulation. However, analyzing miRNA-Seq data can be challenging because it requires multiple steps, from quality control and preprocessing to differential expression and pathway-enrichment analyses, with many tools and databases available for each step. Furthermore, reproducibility of the analysis pipeline is crucial to ensure that the results are accurate and reliable. Here, we present myBrain-Seq, a comprehensive and reproducible pipeline for analyzing miRNA-Seq data that incorporates miRNA-specific solutions at each step of the analysis. The pipeline was designed to be flexible and user-friendly, allowing researchers with different levels of expertise to perform the analysis in a standardized and reproducible manner, using the most common and widely used tools for each step. In this work, we describe the implementation of myBrain-Seq and demonstrate its capacity to consistently and reproducibly identify differentially expressed miRNAs and enriched pathways by applying it to a real case study in which we compared schizophrenia patients who responded to medication with treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients to obtain a 16-miRNA treatment-resistant schizophrenia profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pérez-Rodríguez
- Neuro Epigenetics Lab, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago University Hospital Complex, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Translational Neuroscience Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), Área Sanitaria de Vigo-Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM-ISCIII, 36213 Vigo, Spain
| | - Roberto Carlos Agís-Balboa
- Neuro Epigenetics Lab, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago University Hospital Complex, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Translational Neuroscience Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), Área Sanitaria de Vigo-Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM-ISCIII, 36213 Vigo, Spain
- Translational Research in Neurological Diseases Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago University Hospital Complex, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Hugo López-Fernández
- CINBIO, Department of Computer Science, ESEI-Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Informática, Universidade de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
- SING Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, 36213 Vigo, Spain
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Okada Y, Hosoi N, Matsuzaki Y, Fukai Y, Hiraga A, Nakai J, Nitta K, Shinohara Y, Konno A, Hirai H. Development of microglia-targeting adeno-associated viral vectors as tools to study microglial behavior in vivo. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1224. [DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04200-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractHere we describe the microglia-targeting adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors containing a 1.7-kb putative promoter region of microglia/macrophage-specific ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), along with repeated miRNA target sites for microRNA (miR)-9 and miR-129-2-3p. The 1.7-kb genomic sequence upstream of the start codon in exon 1 of the Iba1 (Aif1) gene, functions as microglia preferential promoter in the striatum and cerebellum. Furthermore, ectopic transgene expression in non-microglial cells is markedly suppressed upon adding two sets of 4-repeated miRNA target sites for miR-9 and miR-129-2-3p, which are expressed exclusively in non-microglial cells and sponged AAV-derived mRNAs. Our vectors transduced ramified microglia in healthy tissues and reactive microglia in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice and a mouse model of neurodegenerative disease. Moreover, live fluorescent imaging allowed the monitoring of microglial motility and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Thus, microglia-targeting AAV vectors are valuable for studying microglial pathophysiology and therapies, particularly in the striatum and cerebellum.
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8
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Cell-type-specific epigenetic effects of early life stress on the brain. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:326. [PMID: 35948532 PMCID: PMC9365848 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02076-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) induces long-term phenotypic adaptations that contribute to increased vulnerability to a host of neuropsychiatric disorders. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA, are a proposed link between environmental stressors, alterations in gene expression, and phenotypes. Epigenetic modifications play a primary role in shaping functional differences between cell types and can be modified by environmental perturbations, especially in early development. Together with contributions from genetic variation, epigenetic mechanisms orchestrate patterns of gene expression within specific cell types that contribute to phenotypic variation between individuals. To date, many studies have provided insights into epigenetic changes resulting from ELS. However, most of these studies have examined heterogenous brain tissue, despite evidence of cell-type-specific epigenetic modifications in phenotypes associated with ELS. In this review, we focus on rodent and human studies that have examined epigenetic modifications induced by ELS in select cell types isolated from the brain or associated with genes that have cell-type-restricted expression in neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Although significant challenges remain, future studies using these approaches can enable important mechanistic insight into the role of epigenetic variation in the effects of ELS on brain function.
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9
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Galloway DA, Carew SJ, Blandford SN, Benoit RY, Fudge N, Berry T, Moore GRW, Barron J, Moore CS. Investigating the NLRP3 Inflammasome and its Regulator miR-223-3p in Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Demyelination. J Neurochem 2022; 163:94-112. [PMID: 35633501 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Innate immune signalling pathways are essential mediators of inflammation and repair following myelin injury. Inflammasome activation has recently been implicated as a driver of myelin injury in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal models, although the regulation and contributions of inflammasome activation in the demyelinated central nervous system (CNS) are not completely understood. Herein, we investigated the NLRP3 (NBD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome and its endogenous regulator microRNA-223-3p within the demyelinated CNS in both MS and an animal model of focal demyelination. We observed that NLRP3 inflammasome components and microRNA-223-3p were upregulated at sites of myelin injury within activated macrophages and microglia. Both microRNA-223-3p and a small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, supressed inflammasome activation in macrophages and microglia in vitro; compared with microglia, macrophages were more prone to inflammasome activation in vitro. Finally, systemic delivery of MCC950 to mice following lysolecithin-induced demyelination resulted in a significant reduction in axonal injury within demyelinated lesions. In conclusion, we demonstrate that NLRP3 inflammasome activity by macrophages and microglia is a critical component of the inflammatory microenvironment following demyelination and represents a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory-mediated demyelinating diseases, including MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan A Galloway
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Samantha J Carew
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Stephanie N Blandford
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Rochelle Y Benoit
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Neva Fudge
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Tangyne Berry
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - G R Wayne Moore
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jane Barron
- Discipline of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Craig S Moore
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada.,Discipline of Medicine (Neurology), Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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10
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Costas-Ferreira C, Durán R, Faro LRF. Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on the Nervous System: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4605. [PMID: 35562999 PMCID: PMC9101768 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate, a non-selective systemic biocide with broad-spectrum activity, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It can persist in the environment for days or months, and its intensive and large-scale use can constitute a major environmental and health problem. In this systematic review, we investigate the current state of our knowledge related to the effects of this pesticide on the nervous system of various animal species and humans. The information provided indicates that exposure to glyphosate or its commercial formulations induces several neurotoxic effects. It has been shown that exposure to this pesticide during the early stages of life can seriously affect normal cell development by deregulating some of the signaling pathways involved in this process, leading to alterations in differentiation, neuronal growth, and myelination. Glyphosate also seems to exert a significant toxic effect on neurotransmission and to induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, processes that lead to neuronal death due to autophagy, necrosis, or apoptosis, as well as the appearance of behavioral and motor disorders. The doses of glyphosate that produce these neurotoxic effects vary widely but are lower than the limits set by regulatory agencies. Although there are important discrepancies between the analyzed findings, it is unequivocal that exposure to glyphosate produces important alterations in the structure and function of the nervous system of humans, rodents, fish, and invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lilian R. F. Faro
- Department of Functional Biology and Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain; (C.C.-F.); (R.D.)
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11
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A Proposed Role for Interactions between Argonautes, miRISC, and RNA Binding Proteins in the Regulation of Local Translation in Neurons and Glia. J Neurosci 2022; 42:3291-3301. [PMID: 35444007 PMCID: PMC9034781 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2391-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The first evidence of local translation in the CNS appeared nearly 40 years ago, when electron microscopic studies showed polyribosomes localized to the base of dendritic spines. Since then, local translation has been established as an important regulatory mechanism for gene expression in polarized or functionally compartmentalized cells. While much attention has been placed on characterizing the local transcriptome and regulatory "grammar" directing mRNA localization in neurons and glia, less is understood about how these cells subsequently de-repress mRNA translation in their peripheral processes to produce a rapid translational response to stimuli. MicroRNA-mediated translation regulation offers a possible solution to this question. Not only do miRNAs provide the specificity needed for targeted gene regulation, but association and dynamic interactions between Argonaute (AGO) with sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins may provide a molecular switch to allow for de-repression of target mRNAs. Here, we review the expression and activity of different AGO proteins in miRNA-induced silencing complexes in neurons and glia and discuss known pathways of miRNA-mediated regulation, including activity-dependent pre-miRNA maturation in dendrites. We further detail work on AGO and RNA-binding protein interactions that allow for the reversal of miRNA-mediated translational silencing, and we propose a model for how intercellular communication may play a role in the regulation of local translation.
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12
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Yang ZL, Rao J, Lin FB, Liang ZY, Xu XJ, Lin YK, Chen XY, Wang CH, Chen CM. The Role of Exosomes and Exosomal Noncoding RNAs From Different Cell Sources in Spinal Cord Injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:882306. [PMID: 35518647 PMCID: PMC9062236 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.882306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) not only affects the quality of life of patients but also poses a heavy burden on their families. Therefore, it is essential to prevent the occurrence of SCI; for unpreventable SCI, it is critical to develop effective treatments. In recent years, various major breakthroughs have been made in cell therapy to protect and regenerate the damaged spinal cord via various mechanisms such as immune regulation, paracrine signaling, extracellular matrix (ECM) modification, and lost cell replacement. Nevertheless, many recent studies have shown that the cell therapy has many disadvantages, such as tumorigenicity, low survival rate, and immune rejection. Because of these disadvantages, the clinical application of cell therapy is limited. In recent years, the role of exosomes in various diseases and their therapeutic potential have attracted much attention. The same is true for exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which do not encode proteins but affect transcriptional and translational processes by targeting specific mRNAs. This review focuses on the mechanism of action of exosomes obtained from different cell sources in the treatment of SCI and the regulatory role and therapeutic potential of exosomal ncRNAs. This review also discusses the future opportunities and challenges, proposing that exosomes and exosomal ncRNAs might be promising tools for the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chun-Hua Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chun-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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13
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Abstract
Brain asymmetry is a hallmark of the human brain. Recent studies report a certain degree of abnormal asymmetry of brain lateralization between left and right brain hemispheres can be associated with many neuropsychiatric conditions. In this regard, some questions need answers. First, the accelerated brain asymmetry is programmed during the pre-natal period that can be called “accelerated brain decline clock”. Second, can we find the right biomarkers to predict these changes? Moreover, can we establish the dynamics of these changes in order to identify the right time window for proper interventions that can reverse or limit the neurological decline? To find answers to these questions, we performed a systematic online search for the last 10 years in databases using keywords. Conclusion: we need to establish the right in vitro model that meets human conditions as much as possible. New biomarkers are necessary to establish the “good” or the “bad” borders of brain asymmetry at the epigenetic and functional level as early as possible.
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14
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Grad M, Nir A, Levy G, Trangle SS, Shapira G, Shomron N, Assaf Y, Barak B. Altered White Matter and microRNA Expression in a Murine Model Related to Williams Syndrome Suggests That miR-34b/c Affects Brain Development via Ptpru and Dcx Modulation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11010158. [PMID: 35011720 PMCID: PMC8750756 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a multisystem neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a de novo hemizygous deletion of ~26 genes from chromosome 7q11.23, among them the general transcription factor II-I (GTF2I). By studying a novel murine model for the hypersociability phenotype associated with WS, we previously revealed surprising aberrations in myelination and cell differentiation properties in the cortices of mutant mice compared to controls. These mutant mice had selective deletion of Gtf2i in the excitatory neurons of the forebrain. Here, we applied diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and fiber tracking, which showed a reduction in the number of streamlines in limbic outputs such as the fimbria/fornix fibers and the stria terminalis, as well as the corpus callosum of these mutant mice compared to controls. Furthermore, we utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of cortical small RNAs' expression (RNA-Seq) levels to identify altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), including two from the miR-34 cluster, known to be involved in prominent processes in the developing nervous system. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed the direct binding of miR-34c-5p to the 3'UTR of PTPRU-a gene involved in neural development that was elevated in the cortices of mutant mice relative to controls. Moreover, we found an age-dependent variation in the expression levels of doublecortin (Dcx)-a verified miR-34 target. Thus, we demonstrate the substantial effect a single gene deletion can exert on miRNA regulation and brain structure, and advance our understanding and, hopefully, treatment of WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meitar Grad
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
| | - Ariel Nir
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
| | - Gilad Levy
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
| | - Sari Schokoroy Trangle
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
| | - Guy Shapira
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Noam Shomron
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Yaniv Assaf
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Correspondence:
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15
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Das T, Das TK, Khodarkovskaya A, Dash S. Non-coding RNAs and their bioengineering applications for neurological diseases. Bioengineered 2021; 12:11675-11698. [PMID: 34756133 PMCID: PMC8810045 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2003667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering of cellular biomolecules is an emerging landscape presenting creative therapeutic opportunities. Recently, several strategies such as biomimetic materials, drug-releasing scaffolds, stem cells, and dynamic culture systems have been developed to improve specific biological functions, however, have been confounded with fundamental and technical roadblocks. Rapidly emerging investigations on the bioengineering prospects of mammalian ribonucleic acid (RNA) is expected to result in significant biomedical advances. More specifically, the current trend focuses on devising non-coding (nc) RNAs as therapeutic candidates for complex neurological diseases. Given the pleiotropic and regulatory role, ncRNAs such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs are deemed as attractive therapeutic candidates. Currently, the list of non-coding RNAs in mammals is evolving, which presents the plethora of hidden possibilities including their scope in biomedicine. Herein, we critically review on the emerging repertoire of ncRNAs in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, neuroinflammation and drug abuse disorders. Importantly, we present the advances in engineering of ncRNAs to improve their biocompatibility and therapeutic feasibility as well as provide key insights into the applications of bioengineered non-coding RNAs that are investigated for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuhin Das
- Quanta Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,RayBiotech, Inc, 3607 Parkway Lane, Peachtree Corners, GA, 30092, USA
| | - Tushar Kanti Das
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Anne Khodarkovskaya
- Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sabyasachi Dash
- Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024 India
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16
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Chen QY, Wen T, Wu P, Jia R, Zhang R, Dang J. Exosomal Proteins and miRNAs as Mediators of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:718803. [PMID: 34568332 PMCID: PMC8461026 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.718803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the neurobiology and neurogenerative diseases have attracted growing interest in exosomes and their ability to carry and propagate active biomolecules as a means to reprogram recipient cells. Alterations in exosomal protein content and nucleic acid profiles found in human biological fluids have been correlated with various diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In ALS pathogenesis, these lipid-bound nanoscale vesicles have emerged as valuable candidates for diagnostic biomarkers. Moreover, their capacity to spread misfolded proteins and functional non-coding RNAs to interconnected neuronal cells make them putative mediators for the progressive motor degeneration found remarkably apparent in ALS. This review outlines current knowledge concerning the biogenesis, heterogeneity, and function of exosomes in the brain as well as a comprehensive probe of currently available literature on ALS-related exosomal proteins and microRNAs. Lastly, with the rapid development of employing nanoparticles for drug delivery, we explore the therapeutic potentials of exosomes as well as underlying limitations in current isolation and detection methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Yi Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ting Wen
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Jia
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ronghua Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingxia Dang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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17
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Ammal Kaidery N, Ahuja M, Sharma SM, Thomas B. An Emerging Role of miRNAs in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms and Perspectives on miR146a. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 35:580-594. [PMID: 33403895 PMCID: PMC8388248 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Advancements in and access to health care have led to unprecedented improvements in the quality of life and increased lifespan of human beings in the past century. However, aging is a significant risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Hence, improved life expectancy has led to an increased incidence of NDs. Despite intense research, effective treatments for NDs remain elusive. The future of neurotherapeutics development depends on effective disease modification strategies centered on carefully scrutinized targets. Recent Advances: As a promising new direction, recent evidence has demonstrated that epigenetic processes modify diverse biochemical pathways, including those related to NDs. Small non-coding RNAs, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), are components of the epigenetic system that alter the expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional level. Critical Issues: miRNAs are expressed abundantly in the central nervous system and are critical for the normal functioning and survival of neurons. Here, we review recent advances in elucidating miRNAs' roles in NDs and discuss their potential as therapeutic targets. In particular, neuroinflammation is a major pathological hallmark of NDs and miR146a is a crucial regulator of inflammation. Future Directions: Finally, we explore the possibilities of developing miR146a as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target where additional research may help facilitate the detection and amelioration of neuroinflammation in NDs. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 35, 580-594.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet Ammal Kaidery
- Darby Children's Research Institute, Departments of Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Manuj Ahuja
- Darby Children's Research Institute, Departments of Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sudarshana M Sharma
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Hollings Cancer Center, and Departments of Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Bobby Thomas
- Darby Children's Research Institute, Departments of Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Drug Discovery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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18
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Dutta D, Khan N, Wu J, Jay SM. Extracellular Vesicles as an Emerging Frontier in Spinal Cord Injury Pathobiology and Therapy. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:492-506. [PMID: 33581883 PMCID: PMC8159852 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-delimited particles that are secreted by nearly all cell types. EVs mediate crucial physiological functions and pathophysiological processes in the CNS. As carriers of diverse bioactive cargoes (e.g., proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids) that can be modified in response to external stimuli, EVs have emerged as pathological mediators following neurotrauma such as spinal cord injury (SCI). We discuss the roles of endogenous EVs in the CNS as well as crosstalk with peripheral EVs in relation to neurotrauma, with a particular focus on SCI. We then summarize the status of EV-based therapeutic advances in preclinical animal models for these conditions. Finally, we discuss new bioengineering strategies that are poised to enhance CNS-specific therapeutic capabilities of EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipankar Dutta
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Niaz Khan
- Department of Anesthesiology, and Center for Shock, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Junfang Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, and Center for Shock, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; University of Maryland Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Steven M Jay
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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19
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Downregulation of miR-383 reduces depression-like behavior through targeting Wnt family member 2 (Wnt2) in rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9223. [PMID: 33927285 PMCID: PMC8085118 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88560-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the role of miR-383 in the regulation of Wnt-2 signaling in the rat model of chronic stress. The male SD rats with depressive-like behaviors were stimulated with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) including ice-water swimming for 5 min, food deprivation for 24 h, water deprivation for 24 h, stimulating tail for 1 min, turning night into day, shaking for 15 min (once/s), and wrap restraint (5 min/time) every day for 21 days. The expression levels of miRNAs were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expression levels of Wnt2, depression-impacted proteins (GFAP, BDNF, CREB), brain neurotransmitters (5-HT, NE, DA) and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2) were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot. Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay were performed to determine the relationship between miR-383 and Wnt2. Ethological analysis was evaluated by sugar preference test, refuge island test and open field tests. Rescue experiments including knockdown of miR-383, overexpression and silencing of Wnt2 were performed to determine the role of miR-383. High expression levels of miR-383 were observed in the hippocampus of rats submitted to CUMS model. Downregulation of miR-383 significantly inhibited the apoptosis and inflammatory response of hippocampal neurons, and increased the expression levels of GFAP, BDNF and CREB which were impacted in depression, as well as neurotransmitters, then attenuated neural injury in rats induced by CUMS. Furthermore, Wnt family member 2 (Wnt2) was identified as a target of miR-383, and silencing of Wnt2 obviously attenuated the protective effect of miR-383 inhibitor on the apoptosis and inflammatory response in hippocampal neurons, as well as neural injury in CUMS-induced rats. Downregulation of miR-383 ameliorated the behavioral and neurochemical changes induced by chronic stress in rats by directly targeting Wnt2, indicating that the miR-383/Wnt2 axis might be a potential therapeutic target for MDD.
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20
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Najafipour R, Momeni A, Yousefipour F, Mousavi S, Moghbelinejad S. Underexpression of hsa-miR-449 family and their promoter hypermethylation in infertile men: A case-control study. Int J Reprod Biomed 2021; 19:23-34. [PMID: 33554000 PMCID: PMC7851476 DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v19i1.8177] [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] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Post-transcriptional microRNAs (miRNAs) have a impotrant pattern in the spermatogenesis process. Objective Study of the expression and methylation of hsa-miR-449 family in sperm samples of infertile men. Materials and Methods In this case-control study, we recruited 74 infertile men (with asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) and 30 control samles. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method was used for methylation evaluation of hsa-miR-449a, b, c promoter. By Real time PCR (qRT-PCR) method,we showed downregulation of hsa-miR-449a, b, c in the sperm samples of infertile men and compared it to their fertile counterparts. Results There was significant underexperssion, in hsa-miR-449-b in oligoasthenoteratospermic samples (p = 0.0001, F = 2.9). About the methylation pattern, infertile men showed high frequency of methylation in the promoter of hsa-miR-449a, b, c in comparison to controls (60.8% vs 23.3%), the highest amount of methylation was observed in oligoasthenoteratospermia samples (81.2%). Conclusion In this study, low expression and high methylation of hsa-miR-449-b were observed in infertile men in compared to control samples, which can be one of the causes of defective spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Najafipour
- Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Cellular and Molecular Research Centre, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Abdolmabood Momeni
- Biology Department, School of Basic Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran
| | | | - Shaghayegh Mousavi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Sahar Moghbelinejad
- Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Cellular and Molecular Research Centre, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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21
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Boscher E, Hernandez-Rapp J, Petry S, Keraudren R, Rainone S, Loiselle A, Goupil C, Turgeon A, St-Amour I, Planel E, Hébert SS. Advances and Challenges in Understanding MicroRNA Function in Tauopathies: A Case Study of miR-132/212. Front Neurol 2020; 11:578720. [PMID: 33117266 PMCID: PMC7553085 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.578720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, several groups have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) can participate in the regulation of tau protein at different levels, including its expression, alternative splicing, phosphorylation, and aggregation. These observations are significant, since the abnormal regulation and deposition of tau is associated with nearly 30 neurodegenerative disorders. Interestingly, miRNA profiles go awry in tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal dementia. Understanding the role and impact of miRNAs on tau biology could therefore provide important insights into disease risk, diagnostics, and perhaps therapeutics. In this Perspective article, we discuss recent advances in miRNA research related to tau. While proof-of-principle studies hold promise, physiological validation remains limited. To help fill this gap, we describe herein a pure tauopathy mouse model deficient for the miR-132/212 cluster. This miRNA family is strongly downregulated in human tauopathies and shown to regulate tau in vitro and in vivo. No significant differences in survival, motor deficits or body weight were observed in PS19 mice lacking miR-132/212. Age-specific effects were seen on tau expression and phosphorylation but not aggregation. Moreover, various miR-132/212 targets previously implicated in tau modulation were unaffected (GSK-3β, Foxo3a, Mapk1, p300) or, unexpectedly, reduced (Mapk3, Foxo1, p300, Calpain 2) in miR-132/212-deficient PS19 mice. These observations highlight the challenges of miRNA research in living models, and current limitations of transgenic tau mouse models lacking functional miRNA binding sites. Based on these findings, we finally recommend different strategies to better understand the role of miRNAs in tau physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Boscher
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Julia Hernandez-Rapp
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Serena Petry
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Remi Keraudren
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Sara Rainone
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Andréanne Loiselle
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Claudia Goupil
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Andréanne Turgeon
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle St-Amour
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien S Hébert
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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