Tsamou M, Roggen EL. Sex-associated microRNAs potentially implicated in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD).
Brain Res 2024;
1829:148791. [PMID:
38307153 DOI:
10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148791]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The onset and pathology of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) seem to be affected by both sex and genetic mechanisms. Evidence supports that the high prevalence of sAD in women, worldwide, may be attributed to an interplay among aging, sex, and lifestyle, influenced by genetics, metabolic changes, and hormones. Interestingly, epigenetic mechanisms such as microRNAs (miRNAs), known as master regulators of gene expression, may contribute to this observed sexual dimorphism in sAD.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the potential impact of sex-associated miRNAs on processes manifesting sAD pathology, as described by the Tau-driven Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) leading to memory loss.
METHODS
Using publicly available human miRNA datasets, sex-biased miRNAs, defined as differentially expressed by sex in tissues possibly affected by sAD pathology, were collected. In addition, sex hormone-related miRNAs were also retrieved from the literature. The compiled sex-biased and sex hormone-related miRNAs were further plugged into the dysregulated processes of the Tau-driven AOP for memory loss.
RESULTS
Several miRNAs, previously identified as sex-associated, were implicated in dysregulated processes associated with the manifestation of sAD pathology. Importantly, the described pathology processes were not confined to a particular sex. A mechanistic-based approach utilizing miRNAs was adopted in order to elucidate the link between sex and biological processes potentially involved in the development of memory loss.
CONCLUSIONS
The identification of sex-associated miRNAs involved in the early processes manifesting memory loss may shed light to the complex molecular mechanisms underlying sAD pathogenesis in a sex-specific manner.
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