Understanding the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of brain arteriovenous malformations

Ilgiz Gareev,Ozal Beylerli,Yang Guang,Xun Xu,Yanchao Liang,Huan Xiang,Chunlei Wang,Chunyang Liu,Andrei Sokhatskii

doi:10.32604/biocell.2022.016288

Abstract

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal vessels that are prone to rupture, causing life-threatening intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Understanding the molecular basis of pathogenesis, timely diagnosis, and treatment of brain AVMs are some of the urgent problems in neurosurgery. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene-expression posttranscriptionally. MiRNAs are involved in almost all biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell differentiation. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs can be involved in brain AVMs formation and rupture. There are also extracellular forms of miRNAs. Circulating miRNAs have been detected in the blood circulation and other body fluids. Owing to their stability and resistance to endogenous RNase activity, circulating miRNAs have been proposed as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for various diseases, such as tumors, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarized the role of some miRNAs in brain AVMs pathogenesis and discussed their potential clinical application as non-invasive biomarkers.

Highlights

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are usually regarded as congenital disorders resulting from aberrant differentiation of the mesoderm during embryonic development (Magro and Gentric, 2020)
A few studies attempted to correlate changes in the expression levels of miRNAs and their gene targets with brain AVMs in vitro and in vivo, in order to elucidate the mechanisms of pathogenesis
We suggested that circulating miRNAs would function as novel non-invasive biomarkers for brain AVMs, but which still needs further research

Summary

Introduction

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are usually regarded as congenital disorders resulting from aberrant differentiation of the mesoderm during embryonic development (Magro and Gentric, 2020). Risk factors associated with rupture of brain AVMs include certain genetic mutations, intranidal aneurysms, deep venous drainage, impaired venous outflow, and infratentorial arrangement of AVMs (Magro and Gentric, 2020; Murthy et al, 2017; Zhang et al, 2016). Circulating miRNAs may represent potential noninvasive biomarkers for monitoring the progression and likelihood of rupture of one of the blood vessels in AVMs. Here, we reviewed recent discoveries about how miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of brain AVMs and how it can promote the development of new therapies and noninvasive biomarkers

Molecular Basis of Brain AVM Pathogenesis

In vivo

In vivo and in vivo

Circulating miRNAs and Brain AVMs

Findings

Conclusion