MicroRNAs as a potential biomarker for central nervous system injury diagnosis

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) injuries, such as cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury (SCI), are often accompanied by complex pathological changes, and could lead to a variety of other neurological diseases. Neurons and glial cells are precisely regulated by many genes. MicroRNA (miRNA) are endogenous molecules discovered in recent years that regulate post transcriptional gene expression. They are highly expressed in the central nervous system and abnormal expressed under pathological conditions. They are involved in regulating variety of pathological processes after CNS injuries, and are CNS disease potential biomarkers. (Chin J Lab Med, 2015, 38: 211–214) Key words: microRNAs; Brain ischemia; Brain injuries; Spinal cord injuries; Biological markers