Exploring the potential value of miR-148b-3p, miR-151b and miR-27b-3p as biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke

Cell-Free Nucleic Acids for Early Diagnosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rapid identification of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is challenging in both pre-hospital and hospital settings. We aimed to identify the most promising cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers for IS within 72 h from symptom onset. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for published articles that evaluated blood cfNAs in the early diagnosis of AIS until 10 May 2023. The diagnostic performances of individual cfNAs were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis based on the fold change of biomarkers' level between AIS and non-AIS patients. Of 2955 records, 66 articles reporting 143 different cfNAs met the inclusion criteria. The median sample size was 110, and 21.4% of the studies performed validation. Among selected high-quality studies, miR-106b-5p, miR-124, miR-155, lncRNA H19, and cfDNA showed good diagnostic performance. Data from four studies on cfDNA involving 355 AIS patients and 97 controls were pooled in the meta-analysis, which showed a significant fold change between AIS and controls (pooled ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.23-1.79, p < 0.001). This review highlights that cfDNA, miR-106b-5p, miR-124, miR-155, and lncRNA H19 are the most promising biomarkers for AIS diagnosis, and further research is needed for verification.

The association between toenail metals and extracellular MicroRNAs (ex-miRNAs) among the participants of the Normative Aging study (NAS)

BACKGROUND

Mechanistic studies of the effects of environmental risk factors have been exploring the potential role of microRNA(miRNAs) as a possible pathway to clinical disease. In this study we examine whether levels of toenail metals are associated with changes in extracellular miRNA(ex-miRNA) expression.

METHODS

We used data derived from the Normative Aging Study from 1996 to 2014 to conduct our analyses. We looked at associations between measured toenail metals: arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese, and mercury and 282 ex-miRNAs in this population using canonical correlation analyses (CCAs) and longitudinal median regression. We adjusted for covariates such as age, education, body mass index, drinking and smoking behaviors, diabetes, and where available, seafood consumption. The p-values obtained from regression analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons. Ex-miRNAs identified to be associated with toenail metal levels were further examined using pathway analyses.

RESULTS

Our dataset included 937 observations from 589 men with an average age of 72.9 years at baseline. Both our correlation and regression analyses identified lead and cadmium as exposures most strongly associated with ex-miRNA expression. Numerous ex-miRNAs were identified as being associated with toenail metal levels. miR-27b-3p, in particular, was found to have high correlation with the first canonical dimension in the CCA and was significantly associated with cadmium in the regression analysis. Pathway analyses revealed messenger RNA (mRNA) targets for the ex-miRNAs that were associated with a number of clinical disorders including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders, etc. CONCLUSION: Toenail metals were associated with changes in ex-miRNA levels in both correlational and regression analyses. The ex-miRNAs identified can be linked to a variety of clinical disorders. Further studies are required to validate these findings.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Assessing the Accuracy of Blood Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Ischemic Stroke in Adult and Elderly Populations

This study aims to elucidate the methodology and compare the accuracy of different blood biomarkers for diagnosing ischemic stroke (IS). We reviewed 29 articles retrieved from PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Among these, 23 articles involving 3,494 participants were suitable for meta-analysis. The pooled area under the curve (AUC) of all studies for meta-analysis was 0.89. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 (0.74-0.78) and 0.84 (0.83-0.86), respectively. Blood biomarkers from noninpatient settings demonstrated better diagnostic performance than those in inpatient settings (AUC 0.91 vs 0.88). Smaller sample sizes (<100) showed better performance than larger ones (≥100; AUC 0.92 vs 0.86). Blood biomarkers from acute IS (AIS) patients showed higher diagnostic values than those from IS and other stroke types (AUC 0.91 vs 0.87). The diagnostic performance of multiple blood biomarkers was superior to that of a single biomarker (AUC 0.91 vs 0.88). The diagnostic value of blood biomarkers from Caucasians was higher than that from Asians and Africans (AUC 0.90 vs 0.89, 0.75). Blood biomarkers from those with comorbidities (AUC 0.92) showed a better diagnostic performance than those not reporting comorbidities (AUC 0.84). All the subgroups analyzed, including setting, sample size, target IS population, blood biomarker profiling, ethnicity, and comorbidities could lead to heterogeneity. Blood biomarkers have demonstrated sufficient diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing IS and hold promise for integration into routine clinical practice. However, further research is recommended to refine the optimal model for utilizing blood biomarkers in IS diagnosis.

Small RNA signatures of acute ischemic stroke in L1CAM positive extracellular vesicles

L1CAM-positive extracellular vesicles (L1EV) are an emerging biomarker that may better reflect ongoing neuronal damage than other blood-based biomarkers. The physiological roles and regulation of L1EVs and their small RNA cargoes following stroke is unknown. We sought to characterize L1EV small RNAs following stroke and assess L1EV RNA signatures for diagnosing stroke using weighted gene co-expression network analysis and random forest (RF) machine learning algorithms. Interestingly, small RNA sequencing of plasma L1EVs from patients with stroke and control patients (n = 28) identified micro(mi)RNAs known to be enriched in the brain. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed small RNA transcript modules correlated to diagnosis, initial NIH stroke scale, and age. L1EV RNA signatures associated with the diagnosis of AIS were derived from WGCNA and RF classification. These small RNA signatures demonstrated a high degree of accuracy in the diagnosis of AIS with an area under the curve (AUC) of the signatures ranging from 0.833 to 0.932. Further work is necessary to understand the role of small RNA L1EV cargoes in the response to brain injury, however, this study supports the utility of L1EV small RNA signatures as a biomarker of stroke.

Identification of hypoxia- and immune-related biomarkers in patients with ischemic stroke

Background

The immune microenvironment and hypoxia play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke (IS). Hence, in this study, we aimed to identify hypoxia- and immune-related biomarkers in IS.

Methods

The IS microarray dataset GSE16561 was examined to determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) utilizing bioinformatics-based analysis. The intersection of hypoxia-related genes and DEGs was conducted to identify differentially expressed hypoxia-related genes (DEHRGs). Then, using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), all of the genes in GSE16561 dataset were examined to create a co-expression network, and module-clinical trait correlations were examined for the purpose of examining the genes linked to immune cells. The immune-related DEHRGs were submitted to gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by Cytoscape plugin MCODE, in order to extract hub genes. The miRNet was used to predict hub gene-related transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs. Finally, a diagnostic model was developed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression.

Results

Between the control and IS samples, 4171 DEGs were found. Thereafter, the intersection of hypoxia-related genes and DEGs was conducted to obtain 45 DEHRGs. Ten significantly differentially infiltrated immune cells were found-namely, CD56dim natural killer cells, activated CD8 T cells, activated dendritic cells, activated B cells, central memory CD8 T cells, effector memory CD8 T cells, natural killer cells, gamma delta T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and neutrophils-between IS and control samples. Subsequently, we identified 27 immune-related DEHRGs through the intersection of DEHRGs and genes in important modules of WGCNA. The immune-related DEHRGs were primarily enriched in response to hypoxia, cellular polysaccharide metabolic process, response to decreased oxygen levels, polysaccharide metabolic process, lipid and atherosclerosis, and HIF-1 signaling pathway H. Using MCODE, FOS, DDIT3, DUSP1, and NFIL3 were found to be hub genes. In the validation cohort and training set, the AUC values of the diagnostic model were 0.9188034 and 0.9395085, respectively.

Conclusion

In brief, we identified and validated four hub genes-FOS, DDIT3, DUSP1, and NFIL3-which might be involved in the pathological development of IS, potentially providing novel perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of IS.

BMSC-derived exosomal miR-148b-3p attenuates OGD/R-induced HMC3 cell activation by targeting DLL4 and Notch1

Bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosome (BMSC-Exo) could be a treatment method for ischemic injury. In ischemic cerebrovascular disease (IC), microglia is pivotal in neuronal damage and remodeling. This study explores the mechanisms of BMSC-Exo miR-148b-3p in regulating oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced human microglial clone 3 (HMC3) cell activation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and qNano were used to assess BMSC-Exo features. The functions of BMSC-Exo miR-148 b-3p in OGD/R-induced HMC3 cell activation were explored via MTT assay, flow cytometry, scratch, transwell, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the relationship between miR-148b-3p and Delta-like ligand 4(DDL4) or neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1). OGD/R decreased miR-148b-3p expression in HMC3 cells. After BMSC-Exo treatment, miR-148b-3p expression was upregulated, cell viability and migration were inhibited, cell cycles remained in the G0/G1 phase, and proinflammatory cytokines were decreased in OGD/R-induced HMC3 cells. More importantly, BMSC-Exo miR-148b-3p could further strengthen BMSC-Exo effects. DDL4 and Notch1 are direct targets of miR-148b-3p, respectively. Moreover, the knockdown of DLL4 or Notch1 could inhibit OGD/R-induced HMC3 cell activation. BMSC-Exo miR-148b-3p inhibited OGD/R-induced HMC3 cell activation via inhibiting DLL4 and Notch1 expression, which provided a new strategy for treating cerebral ischemia.

Exploratory Study of Differentially Expressed Genes of Peripheral Blood Monocytes in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

The abundance of circulating monocytes is closely associated with the development of atherosclerosis in humans.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to further research into diagnostic biomarkers and targeted treatment of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS).

METHODS

We performed transcriptomics analysis through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of monocytes from patients in public databases with and without CAS. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by R package limma. Diagnostic molecules were derived by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms. NetworkAnalyst, miRWalk, and Star- Base databases assisted in the construction of diagnostic molecule regulatory networks. The Drug- Bank database predicted drugs targeting the diagnostic molecules. RT-PCR tested expression profiles.

RESULTS

From 14,369 hub genes and 61 DEGs, six differentially expressed monocyte-related hub genes were significantly associated with immune cells, immune responses, monocytes, and lipid metabolism. LASSO and SVM-RFE yielded five genes for CAS prediction. RT-PCR of these genes showed HMGB1 was upregulated, and CCL3, CCL3L1, CCL4, and DUSP1 were downregulated in CAS versus controls. Then, we constructed and visualized the regulatory networks of 9 transcription factors (TFs), which significantly related to 5 diagnostic molecules. About 11 miRNAs, 19 lncRNAs, and 39 edges centered on four diagnostic molecules (CCL3, CCL4, DUSP1, and HMGB1) were constructed and displayed. Eleven potential drugs were identified, including ibrutinib, CTI-01, roflumilast etc. Conclusion: A set of five biomarkers were identified for the diagnosis of CAS and for the study of potential therapeutic targets.

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Post-Traumatic Epileptogenesis: A Systematic Review

Structural or post-traumatic epilepsy often develops after brain tissue damage caused by traumatic brain injury, stroke, infectious diseases of the brain, etc. Most often, between the initiating event and epilepsy, there is a period without seizures-a latent period. At this time, the process of restructuring of neural networks begins, leading to the formation of epileptiform activity, called epileptogenesis. The prediction of the development of the epileptogenic process is currently an urgent and difficult task. MicroRNAs are inexpensive and minimally invasive biomarkers of biological and pathological processes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive ability of microRNAs to detect the risk of epileptogenesis. In this study, we conducted a systematic search on the MDPI, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science platforms. We analyzed publications that studied the aberrant expression of circulating microRNAs in epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke in order to search for microRNAs-potential biomarkers for predicting epileptogenesis. Thus, 31 manuscripts examining biomarkers of epilepsy, 19 manuscripts examining biomarkers of traumatic brain injury, and 48 manuscripts examining biomarkers of ischemic stroke based on circulating miRNAs were analyzed. Three miRNAs were studied: miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-155. The findings showed that miR-21 and miR-155 are associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis, and miR-181a is associated with protein modifications. These miRNAs are not strictly specific, but they are involved in processes that may be indirectly associated with epileptogenesis. Also, these microRNAs may be of interest when they are studied in a cohort with each other and with other microRNAs. To further study the microRNA-based biomarkers of epileptogenesis, many factors must be taken into account: the time of sampling, the type of biological fluid, and other nuances. Currently, there is a need for more in-depth and prolonged studies of epileptogenesis.

The expression levels of circulating miR-140-3p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-320b as diagnostic biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke

Plasma miRNAs can characterize several diseases, including acute ischemic stroke (AIS), which is noninvasive and currently affordable in most laboratories worldwide. We aimed to demonstrate plasma miR-140-3p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-320b as diagnostic biomarkers in AIS.GSE110993 and GSE86291 datasets were analyzed to obtain plasma differentially expressed miRNAs between AIS and healthy control subjects (HCs). We further applied RT-qPCR for the validation in 85 AIS patients and 85 HCs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were conducted to evaluate their diagnostic utility in AIS. Correlation was analyzed between DEmiRNAs and clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as inflammatory markers. The plasma levels of miR-140-3p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-320b were found to be consistently altered in both GSE110993 and GSE86291 datasets. In comparison to HCs, AIS patients at admission exhibited lower levels of miR-140-3p and miR-320b and higher level of miR-130a-3p in their plasma. The ROC analysis revealed that plasma miR-140-3p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-320b had area under the curve values of 0.790, 0.831, and 0.907, respectively. When combined, these miRNAs showed superior discriminatory power with a sensitivity of 91.76% and specificity of 95.29%. Plasma miR-140-3p and miR-320b negatively correlated glucose levels and inflammatory markers (IL-6, MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF) in AIS patients. Conversely, plasma miR-130a-3p levels were positively associated with glucose levels and these markers. Plasma miR-140-3p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-320b levels varied significantly among AIS patients with different NIHSS scores. Plasma miR-140-3p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-320b had high diagnostic value in AIS patients, which were correlated with inflammation and severity in stroke.

Long Noncoding RNA SNHG4 Attenuates the Injury of Myocardial Infarction via Regulating miR-148b-3p/DUSP1 Axis

Objective

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), including some members of small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG), are important regulators in myocardial injury, while the role of SNHG4 in myocardial infarction (MI) is rarely known. This study is aimed at exploring the regulatory role and mechanisms of SNHG4 on MI.

Methods

Cellular and rat models of MI were established. The expression of relating genes was measured by qRT-PCR and/or western blot. In vitro, cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and cell apoptosis was assessed by caspase-3 level, Bax/Bcl-2 expression, and/or flow cytometry. The inflammation was evaluated by TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. The myocardial injury in MI rats was evaluated by echocardiography, TTC/HE/MASSON/TUNEL staining, and immunohistochemistry (Ki67). DLR assay was performed to confirm the target relationships.

Results

SNHG4 was downregulated in hypoxia-induced H9c2 cells and MI rats, and its overexpression enhanced cell viability and inhibited cell apoptosis and inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. SNHG4 overexpression also decreased infarct and fibrosis areas, relieved pathological changes, and improved heart function in MI rats. In addition, miR-148b-3p was an action target of SNHG4, and its silencing exhibited consistent results with SNHG4 overexpression in vitro. DUSP1 was a target of miR-148b-3p, which inhibited the apoptosis of hypoxia-induced H9c2 cells. Both miR-148b-3p overexpression and DUSP1 silencing weakened the effects of SNHG4 overexpression on protecting H9c2 cells against hypoxia.

Conclusions

Overexpression of SNHG4 relieved MI through regulating miR-148b-3p/DUSP1, providing potential therapeutic targets.

Circulating miRNA-195-5p and -451a in Patients with Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke in Emergency Department

(1) Background: In our previous study, acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients showed increased levels of circulating miRNAs (-195-5p and -451a) involved in vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) regulation. Here, we evaluated, for the first time, both circulating miRNAs in acute intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) patients. (2) Methods: Circulating miRNAs and serum VEGF-A were assessed by real-time PCR and ELISA in 20 acute ICH, 21 AIS patients, and 21 controls. These were evaluated at hospital admission (T0) and after 96 h (T96) from admission. (3) Results: At T0, circulating miRNAs were five-times up-regulated in AIS patients, tending to decrease at T96. By contrast, in the acute ICH group, circulating miRNAs were significantly increased at both T0 and T96. Moreover, a significant decrease was observed in serum VEGF-A levels at T0 in AIS patients, tending to increase at T96. Conversely, in acute ICH patients, the levels of VEGF-A were significantly decreased at both T0 and T96. (4) Conclusions: The absence of a reduction in circulating miRNAs (195-5p and -451a), reported in acute ICH subjects after 96 h from hospital admission, together with the absence of increment of serum VEGF-A, may represent useful biomarkers indicating the severe brain damage status that characterizes acute ICH patients.

Novel Biomarkers of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease-Latest Insights in the Research Field

The atherosclerotic vascular disease is a cardiovascular continuum in which the main role is attributed to atherosclerosis, from its appearance to its associated complications. The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, population ageing, and burden on both the economy and the healthcare system have led to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the field. The better understanding or discovery of new pathophysiological mechanisms and molecules modulating various signaling pathways involved in atherosclerosis have led to the development of potential new biomarkers, with key role in early, subclinical diagnosis. The evolution of technological processes in medicine has shifted the attention of researchers from the profiling of classical risk factors to the identification of new biomarkers such as midregional pro-adrenomedullin, midkine, stromelysin-2, pentraxin 3, inflammasomes, or endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles. These molecules are seen as future therapeutic targets associated with decreased morbidity and mortality through early diagnosis of atherosclerotic lesions and future research directions.

MiR-151b inhibits osteoblast differentiation via downregulating Msx2

PURPOSE

MicroRNA-151b (miR-151b) showed altered expression in ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis. This study established an ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic rat model to investigate the role of miR-151b in osteoblasts.

METHODS

Eighteen female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided randomly into Sham and OVX group (n = 9). The transfections with different miRNAs and expression vectors were confirmed by RT-qPCR. The protein expression of Msx2 was detected by Western blots. The interaction between miR-151b and Msx2D was evaluated by RNA pull-down and dual luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-151b was significantly increased in femoral tissues of ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic rats. The expression of osteogenesis marker genes including RUNX2, ALP, OCN, OSX, and Msx2 were all significantly increased in osteogenic medium (OM) incubated primary osteoblasts and MC3T3-E1 cells. The interaction between miR-151b and Msx2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down. Moreover, overexpression of miR-151b significantly inhibited Msx2 in both MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts, while miR-151b inhibitor had the opposite effect on the expression of Msx2. In addition, in primary osteoblasts and MC3T3-E1 cells, miR-151b overexpression, or Msx2 silence significantly decreased the expression of OSX, ALP, RUNX2, and OCN.

CONCLUSION

MiR-151b could inhibit osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization via downregulating Msx2 in both MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts. MiR-151b might serve as a novel therapeutic target for osteoporosis.

ABBREVIATIONS

miR-151b: microRNA-151b; miRNAs: microRNAs; Msx2: Msh homeobox 2; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; STAT: signal transducer and activator of transcription; SD: Sprague-Dawley; BMD: bone mineral density; qRT-PCR: quantitative reverse transcription PCR; MTT: methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium; OVX: ovariectomy; ALP: alkaline phosphatase.

MiR-1224 downregulation inhibits OGD/R-induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis through targeting Ku protein

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease is the main cause of disability due to stroke. This study aimed to investigate the function of miR-1224 in OGD/R-induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis, as well as the regulatory mechanism of miR-1224 in ischemic cerebrovascular disease. The oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model of primary mouse hippocampal neurons was established. RT-qPCR detected miR-1224, Ku70 and Ku86 levels. Western blotting was applied to measure the expression of Ku70/86 and apoptosis related proteins. Flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis. JC-1 fluorescence was performed to test the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in neurons. The double luciferase reporter assay was performed to investigate the relationship between miR-1224 and Ku70/86. OGD/R induced the apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in neuronal cells, while miR-1224 downregulation or Ku70/86 upregulation reversed this phenomenon. Meanwhile, miR-1224 negatively regulated the expression of Ku70/86 in neuronal cells through directly targeting Ku70/86. Furthermore, knockdown of Ku70/86 significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-1224 silencing on apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in OGD/R-treated neuronal cells. Our findings indicated that miR-1224 downregulation suppressed OGD/R-induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis by targeting Ku protein, suggesting that miR-1224 could serve as a new target for ischemic cerebrovascular disease treatment.

LncRNA HOXA11-AS aggravates the keloid formation by targeting miR-148b-3p/IGFBP5 axis

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) homeobox (HOX) A11 antisense (HOXA11-AS) mediates cell-biological phenotypes of keloid fibroblasts and influence the keloid progression, yet the underlying mechanism need to be further understood. HOXA11-AS, microRNA miR-148b-3p and Insulin like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) expression were detected by RT-qPCR or western blot. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were applied to examine the cell proliferation. The cell migration was determined via Transwell migration assays. The cell apoptosis was determined by western blots with anti-Bax antibodies and anti-Cleaved Caspase-3 antibodies. The interplay between miR-148b-3p, HOXA11-AS and IGFBP5 was confirmed by luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation assay. The amplification of HOXA11-AS and IGFBP5 was detected in keloid and keloid fibroblasts, while miR-148b-3p expression was reduced. Moreover, downregulation of HOXA11-AS in keloid fibroblasts inhibited cell proliferation, migration and triggered apoptosis. Mechanically, HOXA11-AS was proved to sponge miR-148b-3p and abrogate the inhibition on miR-148b-3p target, IGFBP5 mRNA, thus promoting keloid fibroblasts proliferation, migration and inhibiting apoptosis. These results find that HOXA11-AS promotes keloid progression by miR-148b-3p/IGFBP5 axis, suggesting the potential of targeting HOXA11-AS/miR-148b-3p/IGFBP5 axis to combat keloid.

Long non-coding RNA ZFAS1 exerts a protective role to alleviate oxygen and glucose deprivation-mediated injury in ischemic stroke cell model through targeting miR-186-5p/MCL1 axis

In recent years, accumulating articles have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in ischemic stroke (IS). A previous study found that lncRNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) was down-regulated in IS patients compared with healthy controls. However, the precise function of ZFAS1 in IS and its associated mechanism remain unclear. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were conducted to measure protein and RNA expression. The interaction between microRNA-186-5p (miR-186-5p) and ZFAS1 or MCL1 apoptosis regulator, BCL2 family member (MCL1) was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA-pull down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. IS cell model was established through exposing N2a cells to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). OGD exposure restrained the viability and induced the apoptosis of N2a cells. OGD exposure down-regulated the expression of ZFAS1 and up-regulated the level of miR-186-5p in a time-dependent manner. ZFAS1 overexpression alleviated OGD-mediated injury in IS cell model. MiR-186-5p was identified as a direct target of ZFAS1, and OGD-induced injury in IS cell model was attenuated by the silence of miR-186-5p. MiR-186-5p interacted with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of MCL1 messenger RNA (mRNA). ZFAS1 positively regulated MCL1 mRNA expression by sequestering miR-186-5p in N2a cells. ZFAS1 overexpression-mediated protective effects in IS cell model were partly overturned by the overexpression of miR-186-5p. MCL1 silencing partly counteracted the protective effects mediated by miR-186-5p silencing in IS cell model. In conclusion, ZFAS1 overexpression exerted a protective role in IS cell model to attenuate OGD-induced injury through targeting miR-186-5p/MCL1 axis. ZFAS1/miR-186-5p/MCL1 signaling might be a novel diagnostic marker and promising treatment target for IS patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10616-021-00481-4.

LncRNA NEAT1 Promote Inflammatory Responses in Coronary Slow Flow Through Regulating miR-148b-3p/ICAM-1 Axis

Background

Coronary slow flow (CSF) is an angiographic phenomenon characterized by delayed coronary opacification with normal or near-normal epicardial coronary arteries. The pathogenesis of CSF is closely related to inflammatory response. Accumulating evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanism underlying the influence of the lncRNA nuclear enriched abundant transcripts 1 (NEAT1) on CSF is still unknown.

Patients and Methods

Forty CSF patients and forty control subjects were included in the study and underwent coronary angiography, Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ) and echocardiography. The plasma levels of the inflammatory factors soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were determined by ELISA. The expression levels of NEAT1, miR-148b-3p and ICAM-1 in cells were measured by qRT-PCR or Western blotting. Cell proliferation was measured by 5‐Ethynyl‐2ʹ‐deoxyuridine (EdU) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by apoptosis assay. The relationship between NEAT1 and miR-148b-3p was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and avidin-biotin pull-down assay. The relationship between ICAM-1 and miR-148b-3p was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay and avidin-biotin pull-down assay.

Results

This study showed that plasma sICAM-1, miR-148b-3p, and NEAT1 as independent predictors of a CSF diagnosis. Furthermore, plasma NEAT1 level showed superior diagnostic ability for CSF compared with sICAM-1 and miR-148b-3p. It was also shown that high expression of NEAT1 in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). By specifically binding miR-148b-3p, it weakened the negative regulatory effects of miR-148b-3p on the ICAM-1 target gene leading to upregulated expression of ICAM-1. This interaction was also shown to inhibit HUVEC proliferation and enhance apoptosis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated for the first time the important mechanism of action of the NEAT1/miR-148b-3p/ICAM-1 axis in the progression of CSF disease, and indicated the potential of NEAT1, miR-148b-3p, and ICAM-1 as a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of CSF.

MicroRNA-363-3p promote the development of acute myeloid leukemia with RUNX1 mutation by targeting SPRYD4 and FNDC3B

BACKGROUND

Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in most of hematological malignancies, especially in acute myeloid leukemia. In the present study, we aimed to identify the key genes and microRNAs based on acute myeloid leukemia with RUNX1 mutation. The newly finding targeted genes and microRNA associated with RUNX1 may benefit to the clinical treatment in acute myeloid leukemia.

MATERIAL/METHODS

The gene and miRNA expression data sets relating to RUNX1 mutation and wild-type adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Differentially expressed miRNAs and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by edgeR of R platform. Gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed by Metascape and Gene set enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction network and miRNA-mRNA regulatory network were performed by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database and Cytoscape software.

RESULTS

A total of 27 differentially expressed miRNAs (25 upregulated and 2 downregulated) and 561 DEGs (429 upregulated and 132 downregulated) were identified. Five miRNAs (miR-151b, miR-151a-5p, let-7a-2-3p, miR-363-3p, miR-20b-5p) had prognostic significance in AML. The gene ontology analysis showed that upregulated DEGs suggested significant enrichment in MHC class II protein complex, extracellular structure organization, blood vessel development, cell morphogenesis involved in differentiation, embryonic morphogenesis, regulation of cell adhesion, and so on. Similarly, the downregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in secretory granule lumen, extracellular structure organization. In the gene set enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, the RUNX1 mutation was associated with adherent junction, WNT signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, cell adhesion molecules CAMs, MAPK signaling pathway. Eleven genes (PPBP, APP, CCR5, HLA-DRB1, GNAI1, APLNR, P2RY14, C3AR1, HTR1F, CXCL12, GNG11) were simultaneously identified by hub gene analysis and module analysis. MicroRNA-363-3p may promote the development of RUNX1 mutation AML, targeting SPRYD4 and FNDC3B. In addition, the RUNX1 mutation rates in patient were obviously correlated with age, white blood cell, FAB type, risk(cyto), and risk(molecular) (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings have indicated that multiple genes and microRNAs may play a crucial role in RUNX1 mutation AML. MicroRNA-363-3p may promote the development of RUNX1 mutation AML by targeting SPRYD4 and FNDC3B.

ΜicroRNA-122 protects against ischemic stroke by targeting Maf1

The protection of brain tissue against damage and the reduction of infarct size is crucial for improving patient prognosis following ischemic stroke. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the regulatory effect of microRNA (miR)-122 and its target gene repressor of RNA polymerase III transcription MAF1 homolog (Maf1) on the infarct area in ischemic stroke. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine miR-122 expression levels in an ischemic stroke [middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)] mouse model. Nissl staining was conducted to measure the infarct area of the MCAO mouse model. Moreover, RT-qPCR was performed to investigate the relationship between the expression of Maf1 and miR-122 in the MCAO mouse model. Dual-luciferase reporter assay in vitro and miR-122 mimic or inhibitor treatment in vivo were conducted to verify that miR-122 targeted and inhibited Maf1 expression. The results suggested that miR-122 was upregulated in the brain tissue of MCAO model mice. miR-122 overexpression effectively reduced the size of the infarct area in comparison with a control and miR-122 knockdown in brain tissue resulted in the opposite effect. Moreover, Maf1 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-122. The results of a dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-122 bound to the 3'-untranslated region of Maf1. Maf1 expression decreased after stroke model induction in comparison with that in sham animals, and Maf1 expression was negatively associated with the expression of miR-122. In addition, miR-122 knockdown increased Maf1 expression levels, whereas miR-122 overexpression decreased Maf1 expression levels in comparison with a control. In conclusion, the results suggested that miR-122 improved the outcome of acute ischemic stroke by reducing the expression of Maf1.

Research progress of IGF-1 and cerebral ischemia

Cerebral ischemic disease is a group of diseases that cause insufficient blood supply to the cerebrum, cerebellum or brain stem for different reasons, resulting in corresponding nervous system symptoms. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Among them, the death caused by cerebral ischemia accounts for the vast majority, and it is one of the fatal diseases in the middle-aged and elderly at present. Epidemiologic studies have projected increasing mortality due to cardiovascular disease worldwide (about 23.3 million people by 2030) because of the aging population. However, related studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) is a multifunctional cell proliferation regulator. It plays an important role in cerebral ischemia. It is effective in promoting cell differentiation, proliferation and individual development. Studies have shown that IGF-1 signaling pathway is a key pathway controlling cell growth and survival. There may be five mechanisms in cerebral ischemia: prevention of intracellular calcium overload, inhibition of the upregulation of nNOS, IGF-1upregulations activating HIF-1α, regulation of Bcl-2 to resist apoptosis, and enhancement of vascular endothelial function. Three critical nodes in the IGF-1 signaling pathway have been described in cardiomyocytes: protein kinase Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Ras/Raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and phospholipase C (PLC)/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3)/Ca2+. IGF-1 plays an important role in cerebral ischemia and myocardial ischemia, mainly by activating downstream of IGF-1, controlling cell death and differentiation or transcription work, improving the function of heart muscle cells, reducing the myocardial cell apoptosis induced by myocardial infarction, regulating endogenous protection and restoration of cerebral ischemia injury, thus protecting cerebral and myocardial injury. Related studies have shown that bcl-2 exerts great influence on both cerebral ischemia and myocardial ischemia. Therefore, the relevant pathways and targets of cerebral ischemia and myocardial ischemia and the role of IGF-1 in protecting the heart are reviewed in this paper.

MicroRNA-27b-3p Targets the Myostatin Gene to Regulate Myoblast Proliferation and Is Involved in Myoblast Differentiation

microRNAs play an important role in the growth and development of chicken embryos, including the regulation of skeletal muscle genesis, myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Our previous RNA-seq studies showed that microRNA-27b-3p (miR-27b-3p) might play an important role in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs). However, the mechanism of miR-27b-3p regulating the proliferation and differentiation of CPMs is still unclear. In this study, the results showed that miR-27b-3p significantly promoted the proliferation of CPMs and inhibited the differentiation of CPMs. Then, myostatin (MSTN) was confirmed to be the target gene of miR-27b-3p by double luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blot. By overexpressing and interfering with MSTN expression in CPMs, the results showed that overexpression of MSTN significantly inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of CPMs. In contrast, interference of MSTN expression had the opposite effect. This study showed that miR-27b-3p could promote the proliferation of CPMs by targeting MSTN. Interestingly, both miR-27b-3p and MSTN can inhibit the differentiation of CPMs. These results provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the function of miR-27b-3p in chicken and revealing its regulation mechanism on chicken muscle growth.

Circulating miR-27b as a Biomarker of the Development and Progression of Carotid Artery Stenosis

OBJECTIVE

A close relationship of microRNAs (miRNAs) with various human diseases has been widely reported, including cardiovascular disease. The current study attempted to examine the abnormal expression of miR-27b in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS), its diagnostic value and predictive value for the development of ACAS were also assessed.

METHODS

Clinical serum samples were collected from both ACAS patients and healthy individuals, and levels of miR-27b in the clinical samples were detected using Real-time quantitative PCR. Cerebral ischemia events (CIEs) of patients during the 5-year follow-up were collected. The diagnostic and predictive values of serum miR-27b was assessed via plotting Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier curves. Multivariate cox regression analysis was performed for clinical independent index analysis.

RESULTS

ACAS patients had higher levels of miR-27b than the healthy subjects. There were close association of serum miR-27b levels with total cholesterol (TC) level, absence of hypertension and degree of carotid stenosis. High levels of miR-27b could differentiate ACAS cases from healthy subjects, and predicted the high incidence of CIEs. MiR-27b could be used as an independent predictor of cerebrovascular events via multiple Cox regression analysis (P = .031).

CONCLUSION

The high level of miR-27b can predict the occurrence of ACAS, and is closely related to the subsequent occurrence of CIEs. The present results provide evidence for circulating miR-27b as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients with ACAS.

MicroRNA profiling of the pig periaqueductal grey (PAG) region reveals candidates potentially related to sex-dependent differences

Background

MicroRNAs indirectly orchestrate myriads of essential biological processes. A wide diversity of miRNAs of the neurodevelopmental importance characterizes the brain tissue, which, however, exhibits region-specific miRNA profile differences. One of the most conservative regions of the brain is periaqueductal grey (PAG) playing vital roles in significant functions of this organ, also those observed to be sex-influenced. The domestic pig is an important livestock species but is also believed to be an excellent human model. This is of particular importance for neurological research because of the similarity of pig and human brains as well as difficult access to human samples. However, the pig PAG profile has not been characterized so far. Moreover, molecular bases of sex differences connected with brain functioning, including miRNA expression profiles, have not been fully deciphered yet.

Methods

Thus, in this study, we applied next-generation sequencing to characterize pig PAG expressed microRNAs. Furthermore, we performed differential expression analysis between females and males to identify changes of the miRNA profile and reveal candidates underlying sex-related differences.

Results

As a result, known brain-enriched, and new miRNAs which will expand the available profile, were identified. The downstream analysis revealed 38 miRNAs being differentially expressed (DE) between female and male samples. Subsequent pathway analysis showed that they enrich processes vital for neuron growth and functioning, such as long-term depression and axon guidance. Among the identified sex-influenced miRNAs were also those associated with the PAG physiology and diseases related to this region.

Conclusions

The obtained results broaden the knowledge on the porcine PAG miRNAome, along with its dynamism reflected in different isomiR signatures. Moreover, they indicate possible mechanisms associated with sex-influenced differences mediated via miRNAs in the PAG functioning. They also provide candidate miRNAs for further research concerning, i.e., sex-related bases of physiological and pathological processes occurring in the nervous system.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13293-020-00343-2.

miR-195 and miR-497 in acute stroke and their correlations with post-stroke cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the expression of miR-195 and miR-497 in acute stroke and to evaluate their correlations with post-stroke cognitive impairment.

METHODS

A total of 108 patients with acute stroke admitted to our hospital from January, 2019 to June, 2020 were enrolled as a patient group, and 76 healthy volunteers were recruited as a normal group. Levels of serum miR-195 and miR-497 in the two groups were quantified. Neurological and cognitive functions were tested by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), respectively. Diagnostic value of serum miR-195 and miR-497 in acute stroke was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and independent risk factors were determined by multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Levels of serum miR-195 and miR-497 increased in acute stroke. The area under the curve (AUC) of serum miR-195 in the diagnosis of acute stroke was 0.901, while that of serum miR-497 was 0.922. Levels of miR-195 and miR-497 were positively correlated with NIHSS score and negatively correlated with MoCA score. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that family history of stroke, diabetes, hypertension, NIHSS score, MoCA score, miR-195, and miR-497 were independent risk factors for acute stroke.

CONCLUSION

Serum miR-195 and miR-497 are elevated in acute stroke and associated with the loss of neurologic and cognitive functions. They may be biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of acute stroke.

CHIP as a therapeutic target for neurological diseases

Carboxy-terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) functions both as a molecular co-chaperone and ubiquitin E3 ligase playing a critical role in modulating the degradation of numerous chaperone-bound proteins. To date, it has been implicated in the regulation of numerous biological functions, including misfolded-protein refolding, autophagy, immunity, and necroptosis. Moreover, the ubiquitous expression of CHIP in the central nervous system suggests that it may be implicated in a wide range of functions in neurological diseases. Several recent studies of our laboratory and other groups have highlighted the beneficial role of CHIP in the pathogenesis of several neurological diseases. The objective of this review is to discuss the possible molecular mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases in which CHIP has a pivotal role, such as stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and polyglutamine diseases; furthermore, CHIP mutations could also cause neurodegenerative diseases. Based on the available literature, CHIP overexpression could serve as a promising therapeutic target for several neurological diseases.

miR-135b levels in the peripheral blood serve as a marker associated with acute ischemic stroke

The protective role of microRNA (miR)-135b in cerebral neurons has been previously identified. However, to the best of our knowledge, the involvement of miR-135b in acute ischemic stroke has yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the expression profile of miR-135b in peripheral blood obtained from patients with acute ischemic stroke. A total of 76 patients with acute ischemic stroke were selected as the case group, which included 33 cases of aorta atheromatous plague, 19 cases of cardioembolism, 16 cases of small arterial occlusion and 8 cases with unknown causes. In addition, 60 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-135b in the peripheral blood of the patients. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was used to evaluate the severity of acute ischemic stroke. The relationship between miR-135b levels and acute stroke was subsequently analyzed. The expression of miR-135b in the peripheral blood of the case group was found to be significantly higher compared with that in the control group. By contrast, the expression levels of miR-135b in the case group did not differ significantly between the different etiology types of acute ischemic stroke. In addition, a significant positive correlation was observed between levels of miR-135b expression and NIHSS scores. Further analysis demonstrated that hypertension, hyperglycemia, platelet count, international normalized ratio and miR-135b were risk factors for acute ischemic stroke. Based on bioinformatics analysis, a conserved binding site for miR-135b was identified in the 3'-untranslated region of the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C member 6 (TRPC6). Dual luciferase reporter and western blot analysis showed that TRPC6 was a target gene of miR-135b. In conclusion, data from the present study suggest that elevated expression of miR-135b in the peripheral blood of patients with acute ischemic stroke is closely associated with disease severity.

Inhibition of miR-19a-3p decreases cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by targeting IGFBP3 in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and apoptosis are considered to be two main factors affecting ischemic brain injury and the subsequent reperfusion damage. MiR-19a-3p has been reported to be a possible novel biomarker in ischemic stroke. However, the function and molecular mechanisms of miR-19a-3p remain unclear in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODS

The I/R injury model was established in vivo by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) in rats and in vitro by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) induced SH-SY5Y cells. The expression of miR-19a-3p was determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The infarction volumes, Neurological deficit scores, apoptosis, cell viability, pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis were evaluated using Longa score, Bederson score, TTC, TUNEL staining, CCK-8, ELISA, flow cytometry assays. Luciferase reporter assay was utilized to validate the target gene of miR-19a-3p.

RESULTS

We first found miR-19a-3p was significantly up-regulated in rat I/R brain tissues and OGD/R induced SH-SY5Y cells. Using the in vivo and in vitro I/R injury model, we further demonstrated that miR-19a-3p inhibitor exerted protective role against injury to cerebral I/R, which was reflected by reduced infarct volume, improved neurological outcomes, increased cell viability, inhibited inflammation and apoptosis. Mechanistically, miR-19a-3p binds to 3'UTR region of IGFBP3 mRNA. Inhibition of miR-19a-3p caused the increased expression of IGFBP3 in OGD/R induced SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, we showed that IGFBP3 overexpression imitated, while knockdown reversed the protective effects of miR-19a-3p inhibitor against OGD/R-induced injury.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our findings showed miR-19a-3p regulated I/R-induced inflammation and apoptosis through targeting IGFBP3, which might provide a potential therapeutic target for cerebral I/R injury.

Light exercise without lactate elevation induces ischemic tolerance through the modulation of microRNA in the gerbil hippocampus

Previously we studied the possible neuroprotective effects of ischemia-resistant exercise in a gerbil model of transient whole-brain ischemia and evaluated the histology, expression of specific proteins, and brain function under different conditions. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of light exercise, without lactate elevation, in a gerbil model of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Transient whole-brain ischemia was induced by occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries for 5 min. A group of animals was subjected to treadmill exercise before ischemia induction. Hippocampal neuronal damage and miRNA expression, as well as behavioral deficits and plasma lactate levels, were evaluated. Light exercise suppressed hippocampal neuron loss and preserved short-term memory. Moreover, 14 miRNAs (mmu-miR-211-3p, -327, -451b, -711, -3070-3p, -3070-2-3p, -3097-5p, -3620-5p, -6240, -6916-5p, -6944-5p, 7083-5p, -7085-5p, and -7674-5p) were upregulated and 6 miRNAs (mmu-miR-148b-3p, -152-3p, -181c-5p, -299b-5p, -455-3p, and -664-3p) were downregulated due to ischemia. However, the expression of these miRNAs remained unchanged when animals performed light exercise before the ischemic event. Differentially expressed miRNAs regulate multiple biological processes such as inflammation, metabolism, and cell death. These findings suggest that light exercise reduces neuronal death and behavioral deficits after transient ischemia by regulating hippocampal miRNAs.

Extracellular microRNAs in blood differentiate between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke subtypes

Rapid identification of patients suffering from cerebral ischaemia, while excluding intracerebral haemorrhage, can assist with patient triage and expand patient access to chemical and mechanical revascularization. We sought to identify blood-based, extracellular microRNAs 15 (ex-miRNAs) derived from extracellular vesicles associated with major stroke subtypes using clinical samples from subjects with spontaneous intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH), aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and ischaemic stroke due to cerebral vessel occlusion. We collected blood from patients presenting with IPH (n = 19), SAH (n = 17) and ischaemic stroke (n = 21). We isolated extracellular vesicles from plasma, extracted RNA cargo, 20 sequenced the small RNAs and performed bioinformatic analyses to identify ex-miRNA biomarkers predictive of the stroke subtypes. Sixty-seven miRNAs were significantly variant across the stroke subtypes. A subset of exmiRNAs differed between haemorrhagic and ischaemic strokes, and LASSO analysis could distinguish SAH from the other subtypes with an accuracy of 0.972 ± 0.002. Further analyses predicted 25 miRNA classifiers that stratify IPH from ischaemic stroke with an accuracy of 0.811 ± 0.004 and distinguish haemorrhagic from ischaemic stroke with an accuracy of 0.813 ± 0.003. Blood-based, ex-miRNAs have predictive value, and could be capable of distinguishing between major stroke subtypes with refinement and validation. Such a biomarker could one day aid in the triage of patients to expand the pool eligible for effective treatment.

Serum miRNAs Expression and SNAP-25 Genotype in Alzheimer's Disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by binding their 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) region; these molecules play a fundamental role in several pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is a vesicular protein of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) involved in neural plasticity and in the exocytosis of neurotransmitters, processes that are altered in AD. Recent results showed that a reduction of SNAP-25 is associated with dementia, and that the rs363050 SNAP-25 polymorphism correlates with cognitive decline and brain atrophy, as well as with the outcome of multistructured rehabilitation in AD patients. We verified the presence of possible correlations between the serum concentration of miRNAs that bind the SNAP-25 3'UTR region and AD. Six different microRNAs (miR-181a-5p, miR-361-3p, miR-23a-3p, miR-15b-3p, 130a-3p and miR-27b-3p) that bind the SNAP-25 3'UTR region were measured by qPCR in serum of AD patients (n = 22), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects (n = 22) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 22); analysis of results was done stratified for the rs363050 SNAP-25 genotype. Results showed that miR-27b-3p, miR-23a-3p and miR181a-5p serum concentration was significantly reduced in rs363050 SNAP-25 GG homozygous AD patients. Notably, concentration of these miRNAs was comparable in rs363050 AA homozygous AD patients, MCI and healthy controls (HCs). Data herein suggest that miRNAs that bind the SNAP-25 3'UTR region interact with SNAP-25 polymorphisms to influence the neural plasticity typical of AD brains, possibly as a consequence of modulatory activity on SNAP-25 mRNA and/or protein.