Emerging Roles of Dysregulated MicroRNAs in Myasthenia Gravis.

Lin Wang,Lijuan Zhang

doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00507

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare acquired autoimmune neuromuscular disease. Autoantibodies, cellular immunity, complement, and cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of MG. It is characterized by the dysfunction of neuromuscular junction transmission and skeletal muscle weakness. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small molecule ribonucleic acids that regulate various biological processes (e.g., development, differentiation, and immunity) at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels of gene expression. miRNAs play an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including MG. In recent studies, the functional mechanisms underlying the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of MG have received increasing attention. miRNAs are highly stable and have high specificity in peripheral body fluids. Therefore, the miRNAs in body fluids may represent promising biomarkers for determining the prognosis of MG and the efficacy of treatment. This article reviews the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of MG, highlights the potential of miRNAs as new biomarkers for the diagnosis of MG, and deepens our understanding of disease processes.

Highlights

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that is primarily mediated by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), which leads to postsynaptic membrane transmission dysfunction involving both cellular immunity and complement (Gilhus and Verschuuren, 2015; Gilhus, 2016)
MiRNAs are involved in MG immune disorders through a variety of mechanisms
Overexpression of miR-146a in exosomes from dendritic cells was recently found to have antigen-specific suppressive effects in experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) (Yin et al, 2017). miR-155 is a better-characterized miRNA that is involved in inflammation and the immune reactions observed in MG

Summary

Emerging Roles of Dysregulated MicroRNAs in Myasthenia Gravis

Reviewed by: Ravindran Caspa Gokulan, University of Miami Health System, United States Kannappan Sriramajayam, University of Miami Health System,. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare acquired autoimmune neuromuscular disease. Autoantibodies, cellular immunity, complement, and cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of MG. It is characterized by the dysfunction of neuromuscular junction transmission and skeletal muscle weakness. MiRNAs play an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including MG. MiRNAs are highly stable and have high specificity in peripheral body fluids. The miRNAs in body fluids may represent promising biomarkers for determining the prognosis of MG and the efficacy of treatment. This article reviews the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of MG, highlights the potential of miRNAs as new biomarkers for the diagnosis of MG, and deepens our understanding of disease processes

INTRODUCTION

THE ROLE OF miRNAs IN MG PATHOGENESIS

Target interleukin

Findings

CONCLUSION