Dysregulation of miRNA and its potential therapeutic application in schizophrenia

Emerging insights into the role of microRNAs regulation of ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major type of liver cancer and an important cause of cancer death. It has been reported that the hepatocyte death plays an important role in HCC. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of free iron and lipid peroxidation. A series of studies have shown that ferroptosis contributes to the occurrence and development of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with a length of approximately 222 nt. In recent years, miRNAs have been shown to participate in regulating ferroptosis to play a vital role in HCC, but the related mechanisms are not fully understood. This review summarized the current understanding of ferroptosis, as well as the biogenesis and function of miRNAs, and focused on the role of miRNAs regulation of ferroptosis in HCC, with the hope of providing new targets and ideas for the treatment of HCC.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis identifies hub genes associated with immune cell infiltration in early-onset schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) occurs between the ages of 13 and 17 years, and neurobiological factors leading to cognitive deficits and psychotic symptoms with varying degrees of positive and negative symptoms. Numerous studies have demonstrated a broad link between immune dysregulation and the central nervous system in EOS, and its pathogenesis involves immune dysfunction, but the exact biological mechanisms have not been elucidated. This study employs immune infiltration analysis and bioinformatics to unveil the pathogenic mechanisms of EOS and identify potential diagnostic biomarkers, aiming for more precise clinical interventions.

METHODS

In this study, we recruited 26 EOS patients and 27 healthy controls (HCs), and microarray data were collected. Crossover genes were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression genes (DEGs) analysis. These genes were subjected to genome enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene ontology (GO) analysis. Hub genes were identified through protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and the GeneMANIA database. The diagnostic potential of immune-associated hub genes was evaluated using ROC analysis. Immune infiltration in EOS was analyzed with CIBERSORT. Regulatory miRNAs for the hub genes were predicted using miRNet, and the correlation between mRNAs and miRNAs was analyzed and validated in clinical samples.

RESULTS

By WGCNA and DEGs analysis, 330 relevant genes were screened in EOS patients compared to HCs. Functional enrichment analysis using Metascape showed significant enrichment in immune system pathways. Subsequently, a PPI network was constructed to select the top 10 potential hub genes, and functional analysis was performed by GeneMANIA, resulting in the identification of four immune-related genes. In addition, significant differences were observed among the four immune cell types in the two groups of samples. ROC analysis showed clinical relevance of the immune-related hub genes, and the AUC of all genes was greater than 0.7. A miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed from miRNA data, and three miRNAs were found to be significantly associated with the immune-related hub genes.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrated that CCL3, IL1B, CXCL8, CXCL10 and miR-34a-5p may be biomarkers that play crucial roles in the underlying mechanisms of EOS immune-related pathways. These findings contribute to the understanding of EOS pathophysiology and may help identify new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

An In Vitro Study for the Role of Schizophrenia-Related Potential miRNAs in the Regulation of COMT Gene

This study aimed to analyze the possible association of miR-30a-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-34a-5p identified as potential candidate miRNAs in schizophrenia, with the COMT gene. Candidate miRNAs were obtained from the TargetScan database. The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line was used as a cellular model for schizophrenia. miR-30a-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-34a-5p mimics were transfected into the SH-SY5Y cell line. Total RNA was isolated from transfected cells and RNA-IP samples and reverse transcripted for miRNA and mRNA analysis. RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to observe changes in expression levels of COMT. RNA-ımmunoprecipitation was performed to determine RNA-protein interactions after mimic transfection. In the study, it was observed that COMT gene expression levels decreased significantly after miR-30a-5p and miR-34a-5p expressions, whereas increased significantly as a result of miR-30e-5p transfection. RNA-IP data have shown that the amount of COMT pulled down by Ago2 was increased after miR-30a-5p and miR-34a-5p transfections. RNA-IP results revealed that miR-30a-5p and miR-34a-5p are direct targets for the COMT gene.

Further evidence of the role of microRNA in schizophrenia: a case report

According to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia, genetic predisposing factors cause abnormalities in neural functions, leading to the disease. A 2-year follow-up of a young woman with schizophrenia is presented. Karyotype, Affymetrix CytoScan TM 750K SNP array, and optical genome mapping ultra-high molecular weight were carried out. The case presented a severe and resistant to treatment schizophrenia. A 404 kbp microduplication in 2q13 (chr2 : 112088944-112492811; Hg19) was revealed, which includes an only gene ( MIR4435-2HG , OMIM 617144). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia questionnaire showed a moderate improvement after 2 years, but functioning was still poor. The presented case had a microduplication of copy number variants at 2q13, previously linked to schizophrenia, but it only involved one gene, encoding a microRNA, which regulates the expression of candidate genes associated to neurodevelopment. This case provides further evidence of the importance of microRNA in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

'Whole-Body' Perspectives of Schizophrenia and Related Psychotic Illness: miRNA-143 as an Exemplary Molecule Implicated across Multi-System Dysfunctions

A wide array of biological abnormalities in psychotic illness appear to reflect non-cerebral involvement. This review first outlines the evidence for such a whole-body concept of schizophrenia pathobiology, focusing particularly on cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, immunity and inflammation, cancer, and the gut-brain axis. It then considers the roles of miRNAs in general and of miRNA-143 in particular as they relate to the epidemiology, pathobiology, and treatment of schizophrenia. This is followed by notable evidence that miRNA-143 is also implicated in each of these domains of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, immunity and inflammation, cancer, and the gut-brain axis. Thus, miRNA-143 is an exemplar of what may be a class of molecules that play a role across the multiple domains of bodily dysfunction that appear to characterize a whole-body perspective of illness in schizophrenia. Importantly, the existence of such an exemplary molecule across these multiple domains implies a coordinated rather than stochastic basis. One candidate process would be a pleiotropic effect of genetic risk for schizophrenia across the whole body.

Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Psychosis-Induced Atrial Fibrillation: The Links between Mental Disorder and Arrhythmia

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common phenomenon of sustained arrhythmia leading to heart failure or stroke. Patients with mental disorders (MD), particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are at a high risk of AF triggered by the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, atrial stretch, oxidative stress, inflammation, and electrical or structural remodeling. Moreover, pathophysiological mechanisms underlying MD may also contribute to the genesis of AF. An overactivated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, aberrant renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, abnormal serotonin signaling, disturbed sleep, and genetic/epigenetic factors can adversely alter atrial electrophysiology and structural substrates, leading to the development of AF. In this review, we provide an update of our collective knowledge of the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms that link MD and AF. Targeting the pathogenic mechanisms of MD-specific AF may facilitate the development of therapeutics that mitigate AF and cardiovascular mortality in this patient population.

Knockdown of miR-1293 attenuates lung adenocarcinoma angiogenesis via Spry4 upregulation-mediated ERK1/2 signaling inhibition

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histologic subtype of lung cancer. Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in LUAD progression via supplying oxygen and nutrients for cancer cells. Non-coding miR-1293, a significantly up-regulated miRNA in LUAD tissues, can be potentially used as a novel biomarker for predicting the prognosis of LUAD patients. However, little information is available about the function of miR-1293 in LUAD progression especially cancer-induced angiogenesis. Herein, we found that miR-1293 knockdown could obviously attenuate LUAD-induced angiogenesis in vitro and down-regulate two most important pro-angiogenic cytokines VEGF-A and bFGF expression and secretion. Indeed, miR-1293 abrogation inactivated the angiogenesis-promoting ERK1/2 signaling characterized by decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm. Next we found that miR-1293 knockdown reactivated the endogenous ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor Spry4 expression and Spry4 perturbance with specific siRNA transfection abolished the inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway and LUAD-induced angiogenesis by miR-1293 knockdown. Finally, with in vivo assay, we found obvious Spry4 up-regulation and VEGF-A, bFGF, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, micro-vessel density marker CD31 expression down-regulation in vivo, respectively. Collectively, these results indicated that miR-1293 knockdown could significantly attenuate LUAD angiogenesis via Spry4-mediated ERK1/2 signaling inhibition, which might be helpful for uncovering more functions of miR-1293 in LUAD and providing experimental basis for possible LUAD therapeutic strategy targeting miR-1293.

Influence of antipsychotic drugs on microRNA expression in schizophrenia patients - A systematic review

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder with unclear pathophysiology. Moreover, there is no specific biological marker to help clinicians to define a diagnosis, and medication is decided according to the psychiatrist's experience. In this scenario, microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate several genes, emerge as potential peripheral biomarkers to help not only the evaluation of the disease state but also the treatment response. Here, we systematically reviewed indexed literature and evaluated follow-up studies investigating the changes in miRNA expression due to antipsychotic treatment. We also assessed target genes and performed pathway enrichment analysis of miRNAs listed in this systematic review. A total of 11 studies were selected according to research criteria, and we observed that 28 miRNAs play a relevant role in schizophrenia pathogenesis or response to antipsychotic treatment, seven of those of extreme interest as possible biomarkers either for condition or treatment. Predicted targets of the miRNAs reviewed here were previously associated with schizophrenia in genome-wide studies, and pathway analysis showed enrichment for genes related to neural processes. With this review, we expect to highlight the importance of miRNAs in schizophrenia pathogenesis and its treatment and point out interesting miRNAs to future studies.

Plasma miRNAs as potential biomarkers for schizophrenia in a Jordanian cohort

Background

Schizophrenia (SZ), a complex and chronic neuropsychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1 % of the general population, presents diagnostic challenges due to the absence of reliable biomarkers, and relying mainly on clinical observations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) signatures in a wide range of diseases, including psychiatric disorders, hold immense potential for serving as biomarkers. This study aimed to analyze the expression levels of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) namely miR-29b-3p, miR-106b-5p, and miR-199a-3p and explore their diagnostic potential for SZ in Jordanian patients.

Methods

Small RNAs (miRNAs) were extracted from plasma samples of 30 SZ patients and 35 healthy controls. RNA was reverse transcribed and quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression levels of three miRNAs (miR-29b-3p, miR-106b-5p and miR-199a-3p) were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic value of these miRNAs. Target genes prediction, functional enrichment and pathway analyses were done using miRWalk and Metascape. STRING database was used to construct protein-protein network and identify hub genes.

Results

Notably, miR-106b-5p and miR-199a-3p were significantly upregulated (p < 0.0001), while miRNA-29b-3p was downregulated (p < 0.0001) in SZ patients compared to controls. The diagnostic potential was assessed through ROC curves, revealing substantial diagnostic value for miR-199a-3p (AUC: 0.979) followed by miR-106b-5p (AUC: 0.774), with limited diagnostic efficacy for miR-29b-3p. Additionally, bioinformatic analyses for the predicted target genes of the diagnostically significant miRNAs uncovered Gene Ontology (GO) terms related to neurological development, including morphogenesis, which is involved in neuron differentiation, brain development, head development, and neuron projection morphogenesis. These findings highlight a potential connection between the identified miRNAs and SZ pathophysiology in the studied Jordanian population. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction network from the target genes identified in association with neurological development in the Gene Ontology (GO) terms deepens our comprehension of the molecular landscape of the regulated target genes.

Conclusions

This comprehensive exploration highlights the promising role of miRNAs in unraveling intricate molecular pathways associated with SZ in the Jordanian cohort and suggests that plasma miRNAs could serve as reliable biomarkers for SZ diagnosis and disease progression. Remarkably, this study represents the first investigation into the role of circulating miRNA expression among Jordanian patients with SZ, providing valuable insights into the diagnostic landscape of this disorder.

A meta-analysis of differentially expressed circulatory micro-RNAs in chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other tauopathies: A significant role of miR-181c-5p

BACKGROUND

Micro-RNA (miRs) targeting kinases and phosphatases regulate the hyper-phosphorylation of tau protein, which is a characteristic feature of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Identification of lead dysregulated miR expressed in CTE, and other similar tauopathies.

METHODS

A search strategy was devised using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to mine into multiple indexing databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed spanning from 2005 to June 2022. Seven articles were screened out of 34,221 publications based on inclusion criteria and were categorized into two groups i.e., (1) CTE and its risk factors and (2) Age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis [RevMan 5.4.1] results showed that the overall risk ratio (RR) of the first group is significant (RR = 0.62, 95% CI = [0.38, 1.00], z = 1.95, p = 0.05) whereas, the second group favours the control population (RR = 1.64, 95% CI = [0.85, 3.16], z = 1.14, p = 0.14).

CONCLUSION

We observed that among all other dysregulated miRs, miR-181c-5p is significantly overexpressed in Alzhimers disease (AD) and CTE. Further, we found that miR-210-3p is also upregulated notably in all groups. In sum, we conclude that these miRs can be considered as potential target and biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of various tauopathies.

Diagnostic significance and potential function of miR-320d in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder and needs objective diagnostic biomarkers. MicroRNAs are highly expressed in the nervous system. The study investigated the expression and clinical values of serum miR-320d in schizophrenia patients. In addition, the underlying mechanism was preliminarily examined via bioinformatic analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 57 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 62 healthy controls. The cognitive function of patients was assessed via Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) consisting of seven domains. Serum miR-320d levels were tested via qRT-PCR. The miRNA target predictions were obtained from Target Scan, and annotated through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

Based on the GSE167630 dataset, downregulated serum miR-320d in schizophrenia was identified, which was determined in the serum of schizophrenia patients. Serum miR-320d presented a conspicuous relationship with MCCB score in both the control group and the schizophrenia group. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and education, serum miR-320d was still independently related to the occurrence of schizophrenia. It can identify schizophrenia cases from healthy ones with an AUC of 0.931. The Go enrichment analysis indicated that the target genes were mainly enriched in homophilic cell adhesion and cell-cell adhesion via plasma-membrane adhesion molecules, and GTPase activity and guanosine diphosphate (GDP) binding. Rap1 signaling pathway was enriched via KEGG analysis.

CONCLUSION

Serum miR-320d can be taken as a candidate marker for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Its regulatory role in neuronal cell adhesion and Rap1 signaling pathway might be the potential underlying mechanism of miR-320d in schizophrenia.

Integrating mitoepigenetics into research in mood disorders: a state-of-the-art review

Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, are highly prevalent and stand among the leading causes of disability. Despite the largely elusive nature of the molecular mechanisms underpinning these disorders, two pivotal contributors-mitochondrial dysfunctions and epigenetic alterations-have emerged as significant players in their pathogenesis. This state-of-the-art review aims to present existing data on epigenetic alterations in the mitochondrial genome in mood disorders, laying the groundwork for future research into their pathogenesis. Associations between abnormalities in mitochondrial function and mood disorders have been observed, with evidence pointing to notable changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These changes encompass variations in copy number and oxidative damage. However, information on additional epigenetic alterations in the mitochondrial genome remains limited. Recent studies have delved into alterations in mtDNA and regulations in the mitochondrial genome, giving rise to the burgeoning field of mitochondrial epigenetics. Mitochondrial epigenetics encompasses three main categories of modifications: mtDNA methylation/hydroxymethylation, modifications of mitochondrial nucleoids, and mitochondrial RNA alterations. The epigenetic modulation of mitochondrial nucleoids, lacking histones, may impact mtDNA function. Additionally, mitochondrial RNAs, including non-coding RNAs, present a complex landscape influencing interactions between the mitochondria and the nucleus. The exploration of mitochondrial epigenetics offers valuable perspectives on how these alterations impact neurodegenerative diseases, presenting an intriguing avenue for research on mood disorders. Investigations into post-translational modifications and the role of mitochondrial non-coding RNAs hold promise to unravel the dynamics of mitoepigenetics in mood disorders, providing crucial insights for future therapeutic interventions.

The potential role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia - A focus on signaling pathways interplay

microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in brain growth and function. Hence, research on miRNA has the potential to reveal much about the etiology of neuropsychiatric diseases. Among these, schizophrenia (SZ) is a highly intricate and destructive neuropsychiatric ailment that has been thoroughly researched in the field of miRNA. Despite being a relatively recent area of study about miRNAs and SZ, this discipline has advanced enough to justify numerous reviews that summarize the findings from the past to the present. However, most reviews cannot cover all research, thus it is necessary to synthesize the large range of publications on this topic systematically and understandably. Consequently, this review aimed to provide evidence that miRNAs play a role in the pathophysiology and progression of SZ. They have also been investigated for their potential use as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

MicroRNA137-loaded lipid nanoparticles regulate synaptic proteins in the prefrontal cortex

Genome-wide association studies indicate that allele variants in MIR137, the host gene of microRNA137 (miR137), confer an increased risk of schizophrenia (SCZ). Aberrant expression of miR137 and its targets, many of which regulate synaptic functioning, are also associated with an increased risk of SCZ. Thus, miR137 represents an attractive target aimed at correcting the molecular basis for synaptic dysfunction in individuals with high genetic risk for SCZ. Advancements in nanotechnology utilize lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to transport and deliver therapeutic RNA. However, there remains a gap in using LNPs to regulate gene and protein expression in the brain. To study the delivery of nucleic acids by LNPs to the brain, we found that LNPs released miR137 cargo and inhibited target transcripts of interest in neuroblastoma cells. Biodistribution of LNPs loaded with firefly luciferase mRNA remained localized to the mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) injection site without circulating to off-target organs. LNPs encapsulating Cre mRNA preferentially co-expressed in neuronal over microglial or astrocytic cells. Using quantitative proteomics, we found miR137 modulated glutamatergic synaptic protein networks that are commonly dysregulated in SCZ. These studies support engineering the next generation of brain-specific LNPs to deliver RNA therapeutics and improve symptoms of central nervous system disorders.

Identification, cleavage, and amplification (ICA): A versatile strategy for highly sensitive detection of miRNA

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that can play important roles as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancers and other diseases. Herein, an identification-cleavage-amplification (ICA) strategy for highly sensitive and versatile detection of miRNA has been proposed, and successfully applied to miR-155 and miR-21 assays. It combines an aligner-target mediated cleavage with strand displacement amplification (ATMC-SDA) to achieve the ICA process. During the identification process, a DNA-aligner (DA) and a DNA-amplicon (DM) can bind together with the help of target miRNA, forming a T-junction structure. Then, a nicking endonuclease (NEase), binding on the recognition sequence at the stem part of DA, can make a cleavage on DM, and the cleaved DM (CDM) can serve as an initiator to trigger the SDA reaction for signal amplification. Sharing the same set of enzymes and primers, the proposed ATMC-SDA can serve as a versatile ICA strategy for highly sensitive detection of various miRNAs, without the requirement of reverse transcription. Results show that the limits of detection (LOD) for miR-155 and miR-21 are 5.4 aM and 6.8 aM, respectively, with a dynamic range from 10.0 aM to 10.0 pM. The compatibility of ATMC-SDA with biological samples has also been tested by using human serum, indicating a promising potential for a wide variety of applications.

Nanotechnology prospects in brain therapeutics concerning gene-targeting and nose-to-brain administration

Neurological diseases are one of the most pressing issues in modern times worldwide. It thus possesses explicit attention from researchers and medical health providers to guard public health against such an expanding threat. Various treatment modalities have been developed in a remarkably short time but, unfortunately, have yet to lead to the wished-for efficacy or the sought-after clinical improvement. The main hurdle in delivering therapeutics to the brain has always been the blood-brain barrier which still represents an elusive area with lots of mysteries yet to be solved. Meanwhile, nanotechnology has emerged as an optimistic platform that is potentially holding the answer to many of our questions on how to deliver drugs and treat CNS disorders using novel technologies rather than the unsatisfying conventional old methods. Nanocarriers can be engineered in a way that is capable of delivering a certain therapeutic cargo to a specific target tissue. Adding to this mind-blowing nanotechnology, the revolutionizing gene-altering biologics can have the best of both worlds, and pave the way for the long-awaited cure to many diseases, among those diseases thus far are Alzheimer's disease (AD), brain tumors (glioma and glioblastoma), Down syndrome, stroke, and even cases with HIV. The review herein collects the studies that tested the mixture of both sciences, nanotechnology, and epigenetics, in the context of brain therapeutics using three main categories of gene-altering molecules (siRNA, miRNA, and CRISPR) with a special focus on the advancements regarding the new favorite, intranasal route of administration.

The non-coding genome in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, repetitive behavior, and restricted interests. While ASD have been proven to have a strong genetic component, current research largely focuses on coding regions of the genome. However, non-coding DNA, which makes up for ∼99% of the human genome, has recently been recognized as an important contributor to the high heritability of ASD, and novel sequencing technologies have been a milestone in opening up new directions for the study of the gene regulatory networks embedded within the non-coding regions. Here, we summarize current progress on the contribution of non-coding alterations to the pathogenesis of ASD and provide an overview of existing methods allowing for the study of their functional relevance, discussing potential ways of unraveling ASD's "missing heritability".

The over-expression of miRNA-206 in peripheral blood of patients with burning mouth syndrome and its relationship with anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterised by persisting burning pain of the oral mucosa, and its etiopathogenesis remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aimed to detect the expression of miRNA-206 in the blood and clarify the relationship among miRNA-206, pain, anxiety and depression of BMS patients.

METHODS

Thirty patients with BMS and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Data on medical history and clinical oral examination for all participants were collected. Simultaneously, scores of Visual Analogous Scale (VAS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were administered. The expression level of miRNA-206 in plasma were determined by RT-(q)PCR. Finally, the relationship of miRNA-206 expression with the VAS score, SAS score, and SDS score was analysed. Chi-square test and t-test were used for statistical analysis of the data, and p < .05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The majority of the patients with BMS identified the tongue as the main pain area, and showed dry mouth and poor sleep quality. The SAS and SDS scores of patients with BMS were higher than those of healthy controls (p < .05) and were positively correlated with VAS pain score. In addition, miRNA-206 expression was higher in patients with BMS than in healthy individuals (p < .05), and was positively correlated with the VAS and SDS scores (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BMS suffer from pain and tend to be more anxious and depressed than healthy controls. miRNA-206 expression in the peripheral blood of patients with BMS is positively correlated with pain and depression, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of BMS.

Circ_0088194 Regulates Proliferation, Migration, Apoptosis, and Inflammation by miR-30a-3p/ADAM10 Axis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblastic Synovial Cells

Dysregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been observed in multiple diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and we investigated the role of the circ_0088194/microRNA (miR)-30a-3p/a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) axis in RA. Circ_0088194, miR-30a-3p, and ADAM10 contents in RA tissues and RA-fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. Cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and inflammatory factor secretion of RA-FLSs were detected using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), wound healing assay, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Targeting relationship between miR-30a-3p and circ_0088194 or ADAM10 was validated by luciferase reporter system, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down assays. Circ_0088194 and ADAM10 levels were increased, while miR-30a-3p was decreased in RA tissues and RA-FLSs. Circ_0088194 knockdown suppressed the growth, migration, and inflammation of RA-FLSs, while the upregulation of circ_0088194 showed opposite effects. Circ_0088194 directly targeted miR-30a-3p, ADAM10 was a target of miR-30a-3p, and circ_0088194 regulated the expression of ADAM10 by sponging miR-30a-3p. MiR-30a-3p inhibition restored the inhibition effects of circ_0088194 knockdown or RA-FLSs. Moreover, miR-30a-3p re-expression repressed growth, migration, and inflammatory response in RA-FLSs, which were reversed by ADAM10 overexpression. Circ_0088194 acted on miR-30a-3p/ADAM10 axis to promote the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory response, and inhibit apoptosis in RA-FLSs.

Extracellular Vesicles in Mental Disorders: A State-of-art Review

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale particles with various physiological functions including mediating cellular communication in the central nervous system (CNS), which indicates a linkage between these particles and mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, etc. To date, known characteristics of mental disorders are mainly neuroinflammation and dysfunctions of homeostasis in the CNS, and EVs are proven to be able to regulate these pathological processes. In addition, studies have found that some cargo of EVs, especially miRNAs, were significantly up- or down-regulated in patients with mental disorders. For many years, interest has been generated in exploring new diagnostic and therapeutic methods for mental disorders, but scale assessment and routine drug intervention are still the first-line applications so far. Therefore, underlying the downstream functions of EVs and their cargo may help uncover the pathogenetic mechanisms of mental disorders as well as provide novel biomarkers and therapeutic candidates. This review aims to address the connection between EVs and mental disorders, and discuss the current strategies that focus on EVs-related psychiatric detection and therapy.

Gene Therapy for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Potential Targets and Tools

Neuropsychiatric disorders that affect the central nervous system cause considerable pressures on the health care system and have a substantial economic burden on modern societies. The present treatments based on available drugs are mostly ineffective and often costly. The molecular process of neuropsychiatric disorders is closely connected to modifying the genetic structures inherited or caused by damage, toxic chemicals, and some current diseases. Gene therapy is presently an experimental concept for neurological disorders. Clinical applications endeavor to alleviate the symptoms, reduce disease progression, and repair defective genes. Implementing gene therapy in inherited and acquired neurological illnesses entails the integration of several scientific disciplines, including virology, neurology, neurosurgery, molecular genetics, and immunology. Genetic manipulation has the power to minimize or cure illness by inducing genetic alterations at endogenous loci. Gene therapy that involves treating the disease by deleting, silencing, or editing defective genes and delivering genetic material to produce therapeutic molecules has excellent potential as a novel approach for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. With the recent advances in gene selection and vector design quality in targeted treatments, gene therapy could be an effective approach. This review article will investigate and report the newest and the most critical molecules and factors in neuropsychiatric disorder gene therapy. Different genome editing techniques available will be evaluated, and the review will highlight preclinical research of genome editing for neuropsychiatric disorders while also evaluating current limitations and potential strategies to overcome genome editing advancements.

Mapping miRNA Research in Schizophrenia: A Scientometric Review

Micro RNA (miRNA) research has great implications in uncovering the aetiology of neuropsychiatric conditions due to the role of miRNA in brain development and function. Schizophrenia, a complex yet devastating neuropsychiatric disorder, is one such condition that had been extensively studied in the realm of miRNA. Although a relatively new field of research, this area of study has progressed sufficiently to warrant dozens of reviews summarising findings from past to present. However, as a majority of reviews cannot encapsulate the full body of research, there is still a need to synthesise the diversity of publications made in this area in a systematic but easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, this study adopted bibliometrics and scientometrics, specifically document co-citation analysis (DCA), to review the literature on miRNAs in the context of schizophrenia over the course of history. From a literature search on Scopus, 992 papers were found and analysed with CiteSpace. DCA analysis generated a network of 13 major clusters with different thematic focuses within the subject area. Finally, these clusters are qualitatively discussed. miRNA research has branched into schizophrenia, among other medical and psychiatric conditions, due to previous findings in other forms of non-coding RNA. With the rise of big data, bioinformatics analyses are increasingly common in this field of research. The future of research is projected to rely more heavily on interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, it can be expected that there will be more translational studies focusing on the application of these findings to the development of effective treatments.

Mahonia Alkaloids (MA) Ameliorate Depression Induced Gap Junction Dysfunction by miR-205/Cx43 Axis

Depression has become an important disease threatening human health. In recent years, the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating the disease has become increasingly prominent, so it is meaningful to find new antidepressant TCM. Mahonia fortune (Lindl.) Fedde is a primary drug in traditional formulas for the treatment of depression, and alkaloids are the main components of it. However, the detailed mechanism of Mahonia alkaloids (MA) on depression remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of MA on gap junction function in depression via the miR-205/Cx43 axis. The antidepressant effects of MA were observed by a rat model of reserpine-induced depression and a model of corticosterone (CORT)-induced astrocytes. The concentrations of neurotransmitters were measured by ELISA, the expression of Connexin 43 (Cx43) protein was measured by Immunohistochemistry and western-blot, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) proteins were measured by western-blot, the pathological changes of prefrontal cortex were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the binding of miR-205 and Cx43. The regulation effect of Cx43 on CREB was verified by interference experiment. Gap junction dysfunction was detected by fluorescent yellow staining. The results confirmed that MA remarkably decreased miR-205 expression and increased Cx43, BDNF, CREB expression in depression rat and CORT-induced astrocytes. In addition, after overexpression of miR-205 in vitro, the decreased expression of Cx43, BDNF and CREB could be reversed by MA. Moreover, after interfering with Cx43, the decreased expression of CREB and BDNF could be reversed by MA. Thus, MA may ameliorate depressive behavior through CREB/BDNF pathway regulated by miR-205/Cx43 axis.

Identification of the miR-423-3p/VLDLR Regulatory Network for Glioma Using Transcriptome Analysis

As the most prevalent primary CNS tumor, glioma is characterized by high mortality and morbidity. This research aims to investigate glioma-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target mRNAs, as well as to explore their biological functions in gliomas. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was applied to acquire the GSE112264 miRNA microarray dataset and the GSE15824 mRNA dataset. We selected samples from the GSE112264 dataset and the GSE15824 to identify differently expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) as well as differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs), respectively. Next, the intersections of mRNA and target mRNAs of miRNA were selected, and we constructed miRNA-mRNA regulation networks. These DEGs were selected for Gene Oncology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses by conducting the package clusterProfiler. After conducting Cytoscape software, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created. Next, survival analysis of the miR-423-3p was confirmed by conducting TCGA database. Subsequently, Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to verify miR-423-3p's expression. Finally, miR-423-3p's biological functions of in effecting the cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive capabilities of glioma were investigated by performing Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. Our analysis elucidated a novel miRNA-mRNA regulatory network related to glioma carcinogenesis, which may be considered as future therapeutic biomarkers for glioma.

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

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

Solution Structure of NPSL2, A Regulatory Element in the oncomiR-1 RNA

The miR-17 ∼ 92a polycistron, also known as oncomiR-1, is commonly overexpressed in multiple cancers and has several oncogenic properties. OncomiR-1 encodes six constituent microRNAs (miRs), each enzymatically processed with different efficiencies. However, the structural mechanism that regulates this differential processing remains unclear. Chemical probing of oncomiR-1 revealed that the Drosha cleavage sites of pri-miR-92a are sequestered in a four-way junction. NPSL2, an independent stem loop element, is positioned just upstream of pri-miR-92a and sequesters a crucial part of the sequence that constitutes the basal helix of pri-miR-92a. Disruption of the NPSL2 hairpin structure could promote the formation of a pri-miR-92a structure that is primed for processing by Drosha. Thus, NPSL2 is predicted to function as a structural switch, regulating pri-miR-92a processing. Here, we determined the solution structure of NPSL2 using solution NMR spectroscopy. This is the first high-resolution structure of an oncomiR-1 element. NPSL2 adopts a hairpin structure with a large, but highly structured, apical and internal loops. The 10-bp apical loop contains a pH-sensitive A+·C mismatch. Additionally, several adenosines within the apical and internal loops have elevated pKa values. The protonation of these adenosines can stabilize the NPSL2 structure through electrostatic interactions. Our study provides fundamental insights into the secondary and tertiary structure of an important RNA hairpin proposed to regulate miR biogenesis.

MiR-382 Functions on the Regulation of Melanogenesis via Targeting dct in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous small noncoding RNAs that are involved in a diverse collection of biological processes as important post-transcriptional regulators. However, little is known about the molecular regulatory mechanism of miRNAs in fish skin pigmentation. In this study, we first confirmed that dopachrome tautomerase (dct), a key gene of melanogenesis, is a target of miR-382 in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using luciferase reporter assay. The analysis of different developmental stages and tissue expression patterns between wild-type and yellow mutant rainbow trout suggested that miR-382 is a potential regulator during the process of skin pigmentation. In vitro, miR-382 mimics in rainbow trout primary liver cells significantly downregulated dct expression and resulted in decreased expression of key melanogenic genes including tyrosine-related protein 1 (tyrp1) and premelanosome protein (pmel), whereas the expression level of dct was markedly increased after transfected with miR-382 inhibitor. In vivo, overexpression of miR-382 by injection of miR-382 agomir significantly depressed the expression of dct in dorsal skin, tail fin, and liver and then reduced the expression levels of tyrp1 and pmel. Furthermore, transfection of miR-382 mimics inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results identified a functional role of miR-382 in rainbow trout skin pigmentation through targeting dct, which facilitate understanding the regulatory mechanism of rainbow trout skin color at the post-transcriptional level and provide a theoretical basis for molecular breeding with skin color as the target trait.

MiR-483-3p improves learning and memory abilities via XPO1 in Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a common form of dementia, has been reported to influence 27 million individuals globally. Several risk factors including oxidative stress, gut microbiota imbalance, and cognitive activity are reported to be closely associated with the initiation or progression of AD. Although miR-483-3p was identified to be downregulated in AD patient serum. However, the biological role and mechanism of miR-483-3p remained unknown in AD. Here, we explored the role of miR-483-3p in AD.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with homocysteine (Hcy) to establish an AD animal model. The Morris water maze tests and contextual fear tests were conducted to assess the cognitive and memory abilities of rats. TUNEL staining was utilized to determine cell apoptosis. Luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate the binding relation between miR-483-3p and exportin 1 (XPO1).

RESULTS

Homocysteine treatment (400 μg/kg) induced the learning, cognitive and memory defects of rats. miR-483-3p was downregulated in Hcy-treated rat hippocampus. Functionally, miR-483-3p alleviated cell apoptosis and impairments of learning and memory abilities in Hcy-treated rats. In addition, miR-483-3p inhibited cell apoptosis and protein level of AD-associated factors (APP, BACE1, and Aβ1-42) in PC12 cells. In mechanism, miR-483-3p was confirmed to target XPO1 in PC12 cells. XPO1 displayed high level in rat hippocampus and was negatively correlated with miR-483-3p levels. Finally, XPO1 overexpression rescued the suppressive effect of miR-483-3p on cell apoptosis and protein levels of AD-associated factors.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-483-3p alleviates neural cell apoptosis and impairments of learning and memory abilities by targeting XPO1 in AD.

miR-218: A Stress-Responsive Epigenetic Modifier

Understanding the epigenetic role of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been a critical development in the field of neuropsychiatry and in understanding their underlying pathophysiology. Abnormalities in miRNA expression are often seen as key to the pathogenesis of many stress-associated mental disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD). Recent advances in omics biology have further contributed to this understanding and expanded the role of miRNAs in networking a diverse array of molecular pathways, which are essentially related to the stress adaptivity of a healthy brain. Studies have highlighted the role of many such miRNAs in causing maladaptive changes in the brain's stress axis. One such miRNA is miR-218, which is debated as a critical candidate for increased stress susceptibility. miR-218 is expressed throughout the brain, notably in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is expressed at various levels through life stages, as seen by adolescent and adult animal models. Until now, a minimal number of studies have been conducted on human subjects to understand its role in stress-related abnormalities in brain circuits. However, several studies, including animal and cell-culture models, have been used to understand the impact of miR-218 on stress response and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. So far, expression changes in this miRNA have been found to regulate signaling pathways such as glucocorticoid signaling, serotonergic signaling, and glutamatergic signaling. Recently, the developmental role of miR-218 has generated interest, given its increasing expression from adolescence to adulthood and targeting the Netrin-1/DCC signaling pathway. Since miR-218 expression affects neuronal development and plasticity, it is expected that a change in miR-218 expression levels over the course of development may negatively impact the process and make individuals stress-susceptible in adulthood. In this review, we describe the role of miR-218 in stress-induced neuropsychiatric conditions with an emphasis on stress-related disorders.

Circ_0017274 acts on miR-637/CDX2 axis to facilitate cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer

Currently, a substantial amount of circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with cancer development and the occurrence of drug resistance, however, circ_0017274 in cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in gastric cancer (GC) has not been addressed. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot were utilized for circ_0017274, microRNA-637 (miR-637) and caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) contents analysis. Analysis of IC50, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration and invasion of GC cells using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry or transwell assays. Interaction between miR-637 and circ_0017274 or CDX2 was validated under the application of luciferase reporter system, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis, and Pull-down assay. The effect of circ_0017274 on CDDP sensitivity in vivo was tapped by xenograft models. Circ_0017274 and CDX2 had higher content in CDDP-resistant GC tissues and cells, while miR-637 was lower content. CDDP resistance and development of GC cells were arrested when circ_0017274 level was reduced in vitro. MiR-637 acted as a target of circ_0017274, and miR-637 downregulation abated the phenomenon of elevated sensitivity of sh-circ_0017274 to CDDP. MiR-637 was also demonstrated to interact with CDX2 and to co-regulate CDDP sensitivity in GC cells. The xenograft models also established that circ_0017274 downregulation strengthened CDDP sensitivity and thus curtailed tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0017274 downregulation boosted CDDP sensitivity by acting on miR-637/CDX2 in CDDP-resistant GC cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The Progress and Promise of RNA Medicine─An Arsenal of Targeted Treatments

In the past decade, there has been a shift in research, clinical development, and commercial activity to exploit the many physiological roles of RNA for use in medicine. With the rapid success in the development of lipid-RNA nanoparticles for mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and with several approved RNA-based drugs, RNA has catapulted to the forefront of drug research. With diverse functions beyond the role of mRNA in producing antigens or therapeutic proteins, many classes of RNA serve regulatory roles in cells and tissues. These RNAs have potential as new therapeutics, with RNA itself serving as either a drug or a target. Here, based on the CAS Content Collection, we provide a landscape view of the current state and outline trends in RNA research in medicine across time, geography, therapeutic pipelines, chemical modifications, and delivery mechanisms.

miR-589-3p promoted osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells through targeting ATF1

Background

An increasing number of studies have shown that dysregulated miR-589-3p is associated with multiple diseases. However, the role of miR-589-3p in osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the biological function and potential molecular mechanism of miR-589-3p in osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs.

Methods

GSE159508 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omibus (GEO, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/). Differentially expressed miRNAs between osteogenic induction PDLSCs versus non-induction PDLSCs were obtained by R software. miR-589-3p mimic and miR-589-3p inhibitor and corresponding negative control were obtained and to identify the role of miR-589-3p in osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. ALP staining and ARS were used to evaluate ALP activity and mineralization, respectively. The targeted binding relationship between miR-589-3p and ATF1 was predicted and verified by target prediction analysis and dual-luciferase assay. Furthermore, the functional mechanism based on miR-589-3p and ATF1 in osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs was further investigated through rescue experiments.

Results

According to the cut-off criteria with log 2 FC > 1.0 and P < 0.05, 514 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between osteogenic induction and non-induction PDLSCs, including 309 upregulated miRNAs and 205 downregulated miRNAs. Compared with control PDLSCs, miR-589-3p expression level was notably increased in PDLSCs that underwent osteogenic induction. The overexpression of miR-589-3p promoted the cell viability of PDLSCs, while the low expression of miR-589-3p had the opposite effect. The dual luciferase reporter assay verified that ATF1 was proved to be a direct target of miR-589-3p in PDLSCs. And overexpressed miR-589-3p reduced the expression of ATF1. Overexpression of miR-589-3p enhanced the osteogenic capacity of PDLSCs, as demonstrated by increases in ALP activity, matrix mineralization, and RUNX2, OCN and OSX expression. In addition, the rescue experiments confirmed that overexpressed ATF1 restored the effects of overexpressed miR-589-3p on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs.

Conclusion

miR-589-3p could down-regulate the expression of ATF1, thereby promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. This finding may provide a new therapeutic target for molecular therapy of periodontitis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-022-03000-z.

miR-103-3p targets Ndel1 to regulate neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation

The regulation of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) is critical for lifelong neurogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of small, endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and influence signaling networks responsible for several cellular processes. In this study, miR-103-3p was transfected into neural stem cells derived from embryonic hippocampal neural stem cells. The results showed that miR-103-3p suppressed neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and promoted apoptosis. In addition, miR-103-3p negatively regulated NudE neurodevelopment protein 1-like 1 (Ndel1) expression by binding to the 3' untranslated region of Ndel1. Transduction of neural stem cells with a lentiviral vector overexpressing Ndel1 significantly increased cell proliferation and differentiation, decreased neural stem cell apoptosis, and decreased protein expression levels of Wnt3a, β-catenin, phosphor-GSK-3β, LEF1, c-myc, c-Jun, and cyclin D1, all members of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings suggest that Ndel1 is a novel miR-103-3p target and that miR-103-3p acts by suppressing neural stem cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis and differentiation. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nantong University, China (approval No. 20200826-003) on August 26, 2020.

Altered Peripheral Immune Profiles in First-Episode, Drug-Free Patients With Schizophrenia: Response to Antipsychotic Medications

Previous research has demonstrated aberrations in the levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), but most of the respective studies have tested a narrow set of inflammatory cytokines. Here, we aimed to analyze broad immune profiles in the peripheral blood of the first-episode drug-free (FEDF) patients with SCZ at baseline and after an 8-week treatment with atypical antipsychotics. Serum samples from 24 FEDF patients with SCZ and 25 healthy control (HC) subjects were tested using Luminex multiplex analysis for 30 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Multiple comparison tests demonstrated that interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), monokine induced by IFN-γ, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels were significantly increased, whereas those of the epidermal growth factor were significantly decreased in the FEDF patients with SCZ. Moreover, the levels of the 6 dysregulated cytokines as well as those of 12 additional soluble factors in FEDF patients with SCZ were significantly decreased after 8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. Furthermore, the transcription of G-CSF and IFN-γ was significantly increased in FEDF patients with SCZ when compared with controls, and G-CSF and IFN-γ mRNA levels were highly correlated with their respective protein concentrations. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that G-CSF and IFN-γ had good performance in differentiating between FEDF patients with SCZ and HC subjects. Taken together, our data revealed that FEDF patients with SCZ were accompanied by a unique pattern of immune profile, and antipsychotic medications seemed to suppress the immune function in these patients, which could be used to develop novel targets for the diagnosis and treatment of SCZ.

miR-130-CYLD Axis Is Involved in the Necroptosis and Inflammation Induced by Selenium Deficiency in Pig Cerebellum

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in creatures which deficiency can cause necroptosis and inflammation of multiple tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to participate multiple biological processes by regulating the expression of target genes. In the present study, the Se-deficient pig cerebellar model was established and conducted by light microscopy, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. Morphological observation exhibited necrosis-like lesions and inflammatory infiltration in the cerebellum of the Se-deficient group. Quantitative analysis result showed that Se deficiency significantly suppressed miR-130 expression, which in turn disinhibited the expression of CYLD. Meanwhile, in comparison to the control group, the expression levels of TNF-α pathway genes (TNF-α, TNFR1, and NF-κB p65) and necroptosis-related genes (RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL) in Se deficiency group were obviously increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, Se deficiency induced the occurrence of inflammation by upregulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-18, IFN-γ, COX-2, PTGEs, and NLRP3). In conclusion, we proved Se deficiency could induce the deregulation of miR-130-CYLD axis to cause RIPK3-dependent necroptosis and inflammation in pig cerebellum.

Transcriptome analysis reveals deep insights into the early immune response of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) induced by inactivated Aeromonas salmonicida vaccine

Non-coding RNAs are a class of RNAs, including circRNA and miRNA, that cannot be translated into proteins, but play an important role in the regulation of the expression of protein-coding genes. More and more evidences showed that circRNA can regulate the expression of miRNA target genes by adsorbing miRNA and form the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. The inactivated Aeromonas salmonicida vaccine is a commercial vaccine for many teleost. Understanding the role of circRNA and miRNA in the early stage of vaccine injection will provide a new insight for the study of the early immune response process in teleost. In this study, the expression profiles of circRNA, miRNA and mRNA were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 96 h after injection of inactivated Aeromonas salmonicida vaccine and normal turbot spleen. Compared with the control group, 111, 141 and 453 differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs were identified in the four vaccination groups, respectively. The targeting relationships of differentially expressed miRNA to circRNA and mRNA were predicted by using miRanda software, and the results showed that a variety of differentially expressed immune-related genes were targeted. A total of 53 differentially expressed circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed according to circRNA-miRNA pairs and miRNA-mRNA pairs. Among them, cell adhesion molecule 3 and immunoglobulin superfamily member 21 were regulated by the same miRNA (novel_880) and circRNA (novel_circ_0000311/novel_circ_0005326). These suggest that these circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks may be a multi-molecule regulatory network, and its regulatory mechanism needs to be further studied.

MicroRNA-22-3p targeted regulating transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) constrains the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and malignant behavior in osteosarcoma

Various studies have manifested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the modulation of the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma (OS). However, whether miR-22-3p is associated with OS growth remains unclear. In the study, the potential molecular mechanisms of miR-22-3p in OS was explored. It was affirmed that miR-22-3p was associated with distant metastasis and tumor size in OS patients, and reduced in OS tissues and cells while transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) was elevated. Elevated miR-22-3p repressed OS cell progression, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while elevated TCF7L2 was opposite. MiR-22-3p targeted TCF7L2 in OS. In functional rescue experiments, knockdown of miR-22-3p on OS progression and promotion of Wnt/β-catenin were reversed by simultaneous knockdown of TCF7L2. Transplantation experiments in nude mice showed that elevated miR-22-3p repressed OS tumor growth and decreased TCF7L2, Wnt and β-catenin. Shortly, this study suggest that miR-22-3p refrains the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by targeting TCF7L2 and thereby preventing OS deterioration. MiR-22-3p/TCF7L2 axis is supposed to be a candidate molecular target for future OS treatment.

Non-coding RNAs and their bioengineering applications for neurological diseases

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.

First Episode Psychosis and Schizophrenia Are Systemic Neuro-Immune Disorders Triggered by a Biotic Stimulus in Individuals with Reduced Immune Regulation and Neuroprotection

There is evidence that schizophrenia is characterized by activation of the immune-inflammatory response (IRS) and compensatory immune-regulatory systems (CIRS) and lowered neuroprotection. Studies performed on antipsychotic-naïve first episode psychosis (AN-FEP) and schizophrenia (FES) patients are important as they may disclose the pathogenesis of FES. However, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of FEP/FES is not established. The aim of the current study was to delineate a) the characteristics of the PPI network of AN-FEP and its transition to FES; and b) the biological functions, pathways, and molecular patterns, which are over-represented in FEP/FES. Toward this end, we used PPI network, enrichment, and annotation analyses. FEP and FEP/FES are strongly associated with a response to a bacterium, alterations in Toll-Like Receptor-4 and nuclear factor-κB signaling, and the Janus kinases/signal transducer and activator of the transcription proteins pathway. Specific molecular complexes of the peripheral immune response are associated with microglial activation, neuroinflammation, and gliogenesis. FEP/FES is accompanied by lowered protection against inflammation, in part attributable to dysfunctional miRNA maturation, deficits in neurotrophin and Wnt/catenin signaling, and adherens junction organization. Multiple interactions between reduced brain derived neurotrophic factor, E-cadherin, and β-catenin and disrupted schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) expression increase the vulnerability to the neurotoxic effects of immune molecules, including cytokines and complement factors. In summary: FEP and FES are systemic neuro-immune disorders that are probably triggered by a bacterial stimulus which induces neuro-immune toxicity cascades that are overexpressed in people with reduced anti-inflammatory and miRNA protections, cell–cell junction organization, and neurotrophin and Wnt/catenin signaling.

MicroRNA-100 inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration by targeting FOXA1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are highly conserved single-stranded small non-coding RNAs, which are involved in the physiological and pathological processes of breast cancer, and affect the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. The present study used the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO)2R tool to detect miR-100 expression in breast cancer tissues obtained from GEO breast cancer-related datasets. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-100 expression was downregulated in different stages, grades and lymph node metastasis stages of breast cancer, and patients with high miR-100 expression had a more favorable prognosis. Based on these analyses, Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays were performed, and the results demonstrated that overexpression of miR-100 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. To verify the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-100 in breast cancer, the LinkedOmics and PITA databases were used to assess the association between miR-100 and forkhead box A1 (FOXA1). The results demonstrated that miR-100 had binding sites within the FOXA1 gene, and FOXA1 expression was negatively associated with miR-100 expression in breast cancer tissues. Similarly, a negative association was observed between miR-100 and FOXA1 expression, using the StarBase V3.0 database. The association between miR-100 and FOXA1 was further verified via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analyses, and the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results demonstrated that miR-100 targeted the 3′-untranslated region of FOXA1 in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, rescue experiments were performed to confirm whether miR-100 exerts its antitumor effects by regulating FOXA1. The results demonstrated that overexpression of FOXA1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells; thus, the antitumor effects of miR-100 in breast cancer were reversed following overexpression of FOXA1. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that miR-100 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by targeting FOXA1 expression. These results may provide a novel insight and an experimental basis for identifying effective therapeutic targets of high specificity for breast cancer.

Association study between genetic variants and the risk of schizophrenia in the Chinese population based on GWAS-implicated 6p21.3-23.1 human genome region: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a polygenic disease; however, the specific risk genetic variants of schizophrenia are still largely unknown. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is important genetic factor for the susceptibility of schizophrenia. Investigating individual candidate gene contributing to disease risk remains important.

METHODS

In a case-control study, five SNPs located in 6p21.3-p23.1 including rs2021722 in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus and rs107822, rs383711, rs439205 and rs421446 within the upstream of microRNA-219a-1 were genotyped in 454 schizophrenia patients and 445 healthy controls to investigate the possible association between the loci and schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population.

RESULTS

Our results showed significant associations between the rs2021722 and schizophrenia in allele (A vs. G: adjusted OR = 1.661, 95%CI = 1.196-2.308), co-dominant (AG vs. GG: OR = 1.760, 95%CI = 1.234-2.510) and dominant genetic model (AG + AA vs. GG: OR = 1.756, 95%CI = 1.237-2.492), respectively. Haplotype analysis showed that TGGT and CAAC were protective factor for schizophrenia compared with TAAC haplotype (OR = 0.324, 95% CI = 0.157-0.672; OR = 0.423, 95% CI = 0.199-0.900).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that rs2021722 in HLA locus might be involved in pathogenesis of schizophrenia and that genotypes AG and allele A of the locus are risk factors for schizophrenia in the Han Chinese population, confirming the association between immune system and schizophrenia.

Overexpressing miR-122-5p Inhibits the Relaxation of Vaginal Smooth Muscle in Female Sexual Arousal Disorder by Targeting Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor 1

Introduction

Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is a common issue causing physical and psychological pain, but it has no standard diagnostic criteria or treatment. So its pathogenesis desiderates to be explored.

Aim

To investigate the specific function of miR-122-5p in FSAD.

Methods

18 subjects were grouped into FSAD and normal control groups according to the Chinese version of the Female Sexual Function Index, and the expression levels of miR-122-5p and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1 (VIPR1) protein in their tissue were verified through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) analysis. Then in vitro experiment, miR-122-5p was overexpressed or inhibited in rat vaginal smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The relaxation of rat vaginal SMCs was reflected by the cell morphology, intracellular free cytosolic calcium ion (Ca²⁺) levels, cell proliferation and apoptosis, together with the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and protein kinase A (PKA) activities. Additionally, the expression levels of relaxation-related proteins, including VIPR1, stimulatory G protein (Gs), adenylate cyclase (AC), and PKA, were detected based on WB analysis. Furthermore, a rescue experiment that simultaneously overexpressed or silenced miR-122-5p and VIPR1 was conducted, and all the indicators were evaluated.

Main Outcomes Measure

The expression level of VIPR1 and downstream proteins, cell morphology, cell proliferation and apoptosis, and intracellular free Ca²⁺ levels were examined.

Results

We verified that women with FSAD had higher miR-122-5p and lower VIPR1 protein. Then overexpressing miR-122-5p decreased relaxation of rat vaginal SMCs, which was manifested as a contractile morphology of cells, an increased intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration, and lower cAMP concentration and PKA activity. Moreover, by rescue experiments, we inferred that VIPR1 was the target of miR-122-5p and affected the relaxation function of vaginal SMCs.

Conclusion

miR-122-5p regulates the relaxation of vaginal SMCs in FSAD by targeting VIPR1, ulteriorly providing an underlying diagnostic and therapeutic target for FSAD.

Cong S, Gui T, Shi Q, et al. Overexpressing miR-122-5p Inhibits the Relaxation of Vaginal Smooth Muscle in Female Sexual Arousal Disorder by Targeting Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor 1. Sex Med 2021;9:100390.

miR-132 and miR-942 Expression Levels in Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disease with high genetic transition, our knowledge about the mechanism of the disease is limited. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the levels of miR-132-3p and miR-942-5p that are associated with the dopamine carrier protein gene (DAT1) and dopamine receptor 5 (DRD5) genes, which have been shown to play a role in the development of ADHD.

METHODS

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition, 50 children diagnosed with ADHD and 48 healthy controls were included in the study. Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Interview Schedule-Now and Lifetime Version-Turkish Adaptation was used to evaluate ADHD and the diagnoses accompanying ADHD. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to evaluate miR-132-3p and miR-942-5p expression levels.

RESULTS

It was observed that miR-132-3p level (p = 0.001) was significantly higher with children with ADHD compared to the control group, and the level of miR-942-5p (p = 0.181) was higher in ADHD but did not reach statistically significant level.

CONCLUSION

In our study, we found that the increase in the miR-132-3p levels of children with ADHD may be a therapeutic target of the disease.

An "Omic" Overview of Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with a wide range of cognitive, behavioral and medical problems. It arises from the silencing of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene and, consequently, in the absence of its encoded protein, FMRP (fragile X mental retardation protein). FMRP is a ubiquitously expressed and multifunctional RNA-binding protein, primarily considered as a translational regulator. Pre-clinical studies of the past two decades have therefore focused on this function to relate FMRP's absence to the molecular mechanisms underlying FXS physiopathology. Based on these data, successful pharmacological strategies were developed to rescue fragile X phenotype in animal models. Unfortunately, these results did not translate into humans as clinical trials using same therapeutic approaches did not reach the expected outcomes. These failures highlight the need to put into perspective the different functions of FMRP in order to get a more comprehensive understanding of FXS pathophysiology. This work presents a review of FMRP's involvement on noteworthy molecular mechanisms that may ultimately contribute to various biochemical alterations composing the fragile X phenotype.

Transcriptome analysis reveals disparate expression of inflammation-related miRNAs and their gene targets in iPSC-astrocytes from people with schizophrenia

Despite the high heritability of schizophrenia (SCZ), details of its pathophysiology and etiology are still unknown. Recent findings suggest that aberrant inflammatory regulation and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved. Here we performed a comparative analysis of the global miRNome of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-astrocytes, derived from SCZ patients and healthy controls (CTRLs), at baseline and following inflammatory modulation using IL-1β. We identified four differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-337-3p, miR-127-5p, miR-206, miR-1185-1-3p) in SCZ astrocytes that exhibited significantly lower baseline expression relative to CTRLs. Group-specific differential expression (DE) analyses exploring possible distinctions in the modulatory capacity of IL-1β on miRNA expression in SCZ versus CTRL astroglia revealed trends toward altered miRNA expressions. In addition, we analyzed peripheral blood samples from a large cohort of SCZ patients (n = 484) and CTRLs (n = 496) screening for the expression of specific gene targets of the four DE miRNAs that were identified in our baseline astrocyte setup. Three of these genes, LAMTOR4, IL23R, and ERBB3, had a significantly lower expression in the blood of SCZ patients compared to CTRLs after multiple testing correction. We also found nominally significant differences for ERBB2 and IRAK1, which similarly displayed lower expressions in SCZ versus CTRL. Furthermore, we found matching patterns between the expressions of identified miRNAs and their target genes when comparing our in vitro and in vivo results. The current results further our understanding of the pathobiological basis of SCZ.

Construction of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network for Exploring Underlying Mechanisms of Lubrication Disorder

Lubrication disorder is a common health issue that manifests as insufficient sexual arousal at the beginning of sex. It often causes physical and psychological distress. However, there are few studies on lubrication disorder, and the complexity of circular RNA (circRNA) and the related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in lubrication disorder is still poorly known. Therefore, this study aims to build a regulatory circRNA-micro (mi)RNA-mRNA network and explore potential molecular markers of lubrication disorder. In the study, 12 subjects were recruited, including 6 in the lubrication disorder group and 6 in the normal control group. RNA sequencing was exploited to identify the expression profiles of circRNA, miRNA and mRNA between two groups, and then to construct the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks. The enrichment analyses of the differentially expressed (DE)-mRNAs were examined via Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Furthermore, the expression level and interactions among circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. In the results, 73 circRNAs, 287 miRNAs, and 354 target mRNAs were differentially expressed between two groups when taking | Log2 (fold change)| > 1 and P-value < 0.05 as criteria, and then the results of GSEA revealed that DE-mRNAs were linked with "vascular smooth muscle contraction," "aldosterone regulated sodium reabsorption," "calcium signaling pathway," etc. 19 target relationships among 5 circRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 7 mRNAs were found and constructed the ceRNA network. Among them, hsa-miR-212-5p and hsa-miR-874-3p were demonstrated to be related to the occurrence of lubrication disorder. Eventually, consistent with sequencing, RT-qPCR showed that hsa_circ_0026782 and ASB2 were upregulated while hsa-miR-874-3p was downregulated, and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed the interactions among them. In summary, the findings indicate that the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network is presented in lubrication disorder, and ulteriorly provide a deeper understanding of the specific regulatory mechanism of lubrication disorder from the perspective of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network.

Neuronal Development-Related miRNAs as Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease, Depression, Schizophrenia and Ionizing Radiation Exposure

Radiation exposure may induce Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression or schizophrenia. A number of experimental and clinical studies suggest the involvement of miRNA in the development of these diseases, and also in the neuropathological changes after brain radiation exposure. The current literature review indicated the involvement of 65 miRNAs in neuronal development in the brain. In the brain tissue, blood, or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), 11, 55, or 28 miRNAs are involved in the development of AD respectively, 89, 50, 19 miRNAs in depression, and 102, 35, 8 miRNAs in schizophrenia. We compared miRNAs regulating neuronal development to those involved in the genesis of AD, depression and schizophrenia and also those driving radiation-induced brain neuropathological changes by reviewing the available data. We found that 3, 11, or 8 neuronal developmentrelated miRNAs from the brain tissue, 13, 16 or 14 miRNAs from the blood of patient with AD, depression and schizophrenia respectively were also involved in radiation-induced brain pathological changes, suggesting a possibly specific involvement of these miRNAs in radiation-induced development of AD, depression and schizophrenia respectively. On the other hand, we noted that radiationinduced changes of two miRNAs, i.e., miR-132, miR-29 in the brain tissue, three miRNAs, i.e., miR- 29c-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-34a-5p in the blood were also involved in the development of AD, depression and schizophrenia, thereby suggesting that these miRNAs may be involved in the common brain neuropathological changes, such as impairment of neurogenesis and reduced learning memory ability observed in these three diseases and also after radiation exposure.

The role of microRNAs in learning and long-term memory

The mechanisms of long-term memory formation and ways to improve it (in the case of its impairment) remain an extremely difficult problem yet to be solved. Over the recent years, much attention has been paid to microRNAs in this regard. MicroRNAs are unique endogenous non-coding RNAs about 22 nucleotides in length; each can regulate translation of hundreds of messenger RNA targets, thereby controlling entire gene networks. MicroRNAs are widely represented in the central nervous system. A large number of studies are currently being conducted to investigate the role of microRNAs in the brain functioning. A number of microRNAs have been shown to be involved in the process of synaptic plasticity, as well as in the long-term memory formation. Disruption of microRNA biogenesis leads to significant cognitive dysfunctions. Moreover, impaired microRNA biogenesis is one of the causes of the pathogenesis of mental disorders, neurodegenerative illnesses and senile dementia, which are often accompanied by deterioration in the learning ability and by memory impairment. Optimistic predictions are made that microRNAs can be used as targets for therapeutic treatment and for diagnosing the above pathologies. The importance of applications related to microRNAs significantly raises interest in studying their functions in the brain. Thus, this review is focused on the role of microRNAs in cognitive processes. It describes microRNA biogenesis and the role of miRNAs in the regulation of gene expression, as well as the latest achievements in studying the functional role of microRNAs in learning and in long-term memory formation, depending on the activation or inhibition of their expression. The review presents summarized data on the effect of impaired microRNA biogenesis on long-term memory formation, including those associated with sleep deprivation. In addition, analysis is provided of the current literature related to the prospects of improving cognitive processes by influencing microRNA biogenesis via the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies and active mental and physical exercises.

Decreased MiR-485-5p Contributes to Inflammatory Pain Through Post-Transcriptional Upregulation of ASIC1 in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion

Background

Inflammatory pain is the most common type of pain treated clinically. However, the currently available treatments for inflammatory pain have limited effects and can cause severe side effects. The aim of this study is to describe the effect of miRNA-485-5p on osteoarthritis-related inflammatory pain.

Methods

Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) of rats was measured by von Frey filaments. The expressions of miRNA-485-5p and acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were measured with real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting analysis. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and fluorescent immunohistochemistry were employed to detect expression of miRNA-485-5p, acid-sensing ion channelASIC1 and co-location of miRNA-485-5p with ASIC1.

Results

The PWT of rats was significantly reduced after complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection. The miRNA-485-5p expression level clearly decreased while the ASIC1 expression level was upregulated in the L4-6 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of CFA rats. MiRNA-485-5p and ASIC1 were co-expressed in the same DRG cells of CFA rats. Amiloride, an inhibitor of ASIC1, clearly increased the PWT of CFA rats. Further, miRNA-485-5p agomir reversed the upregulation of ASICI1 and alleviated CFA-induced mechanical hypersensitivity of CFA rats.

Conclusion

These results suggest that reduced expression of miRNA-485-5p contributes to inflammatory pain through upregulating ASIC1 expression, implying a promising strategy for pain therapy.