miRNA Function Research Articles

Validation of gene polymorphisms (rs2682818 and rs2043556) in has-miR-618 and has-miR-605 with the breast cancer susceptibility

BackgroundBreast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-affiliate death among ladies. BC is a heterogeneous sickness that is impacted by environment and genetic elements. Diagnosis in the early stages impacts treatment and patient survival rate. miRNA can play a vital role in BC's early stages of tumorigenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) can cause changes in miRNA expression and function, which are related to the risk of several cancers. AimThe goal of this examination is to assess the affiliation among two has-miR-605 (rs2043556A > G) and has-miR-618 (rs2682818 C > A) gene polymorphisms with the risk of BC in the Iranian ladies. MethodsOur case-control examination assessed two hundred whole blood samples of one hundred ladies with BC and one hundred healthy ladies. Hence, to assess the connection between the presence of SNP miRNA genes and the risk of BC, genotyping was done by the usage of the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method, then the usage of the Chi-square test of SPSS software statistically analyzed the acquired result. ResultsOur findings confirmed a statistically substantial distinction within the genotype frequency of the has-miR-618 gene polymorphism among the groups (P = 0.043), whereas no statistically substantial distinction inside the genotype frequency of the has-miR-605 gene polymorphism among the control and case (P = 0.183). In addition, the allelic frequency of two polymorphisms, (rs2043556 A > G) G allele (OR = 2.163, CI 95 % = 1.56–2.988, P = 0.022) and (rs2682818 C > A) A allele (OR = 3.997, CI 95 % = 1.584–10.081, P = 0.002) substantially enhance the risk of BC. ConclusionThe results show that the G allele of rs2043556 and the A allele of rs2682818 increase the risk of BC in the women population of East Azerbaijan province.

The Mechanisms of miRNAs on Target Regulation and their Recent Advances in Atherosclerosis.

miRNAs are crucial regulators in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, while their regulation mechanisms were usually described as negatively regulating gene expression by targeting the 3'-untranslated region(3'-UTR) of target gene miRNAs through seed sequence in tremendous studies. However, recent evidence indicated the existence of non-canonical mechanisms mediated by binding other molecules besides mRNAs. Additionally, accumulating evidence showed that functions of intracellular and intercellular miRNAs exhibited spatiotemporal patterns. Considering that detailed knowledge of the miRNA regulating mechanism is essential for understanding the roles and further clinical applications associated with their dysfunction and dysregulation, which is complicated and not fully clarified. Based on that, we summarized the recently reported regulation mechanisms of miRNAs, including recognitions, patterns of actions, and chemical modifications. And we also highlight the novel findings of miRNAs in atherosclerosis progression researches to provide new insights for non-coding RNA-based therapy in intractable diseases.

Interplay of microRNAs and circRNAs in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) with its high death incidence rate is generally detected at advanced stages. During its progression, EOC often develops peritoneal metastasis aggravating the outcomes of EOC patients. Studies on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have analyzed the impact of miRNAs and circRNAs, along with their interaction among each other, on cancer cells. MiRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors modulating post-transcriptional gene expression. There is accumulating evidence that circRNAs apply their stable, covalently closed, continuous circular structures to competitively inhibit miRNA function, and so act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). This interplay between both ncRNAs participates in the malignity of a variety of cancer types, including EOC. In the current review, I describe the characteristics of miRNAs and circRNAs, and discuss their interplay with each other in the development, progression, and drug resistance of EOC. Sponging of miRNAs by circRNAs may be used as a biomarker and therapeutic target in EOC.

Bibliometric analysis of microRNAs and Parkinson's disease from 2014 to 2023.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Recent research has emphasized a significant correlation between microRNAs (miRNAs) and PD. To identify key research areas, provide a comprehensive overview of current research in various fields, and propose potential directions for future studies, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on the involvement of miRNAs in Parkinson's disease from 2014 to 2023. Relevant literature records were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection on February 29, 2024. Subsequently, the data underwent analysis using the Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer (version 1.6.19). The annual scientific publications on miRNAs and Parkinson's disease demonstrated an increasing trend, with an annual growth rate of 12.67%. China, the United States, and India emerged as the top three most productive countries/regions. The University of Barcelona had the highest annual publications, followed by Central South University and the Helmholtz Association. The INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES held the top position in terms of H-index and total citations, reflecting its extensive influence and prolific publication output. Kim, J., Junn, E., Hébert, S.S., and Doxakis, E. were the most frequently co-cited authors in the field. Based on the analysis of keywords, the most frequently occurring terms included "alpha-synuclein," "neurodegenerative disease," "exosome," "neuroinflammation," "oxidative stress," "autophagy," and "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis," which have emerged as prominent research topics. Concurrently, there has been notable interest in topics such as "ceRNA," "lncRNAs," "mitochondrial dysfunction," and "circular RNA." This study focused on identifying emerging trends and critical research topics in the bibliometric analysis of microRNAs related to Parkinson's disease. These findings highlight the diverse research landscape and evolving trend of miRNA-related research in PD. The field of miRNA research in Parkinson's disease is actively exploring the underlying mechanisms of miRNA function, identifying potential diagnostic markers, and developing innovative therapeutic strategies. The results of our study offer significant contributions to researchers' ability to track contemporary developments and guide the trajectory of future research in this domain.

Identification of Specific Plasma miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Major Depressive Disorder.

Depression is a significant concern in clinical and preclinical psychoneurobiological sciences due to its high prevalence and its individual and collective consequences. Identifying efficient biomarkers for accurate diagnosis is crucial, with ideal biomarkers having detectable serum levels and conformational and thermal stability. This study aims to identify stable plasma biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of major depressive disorder, as the pathogenesis of the disorder remains incompletely understood, affecting diagnosis accuracy. Thus, this study included ten MDD patients and eight healthy controls. The present work analyzed miRNAs in patients with major depressive disorder compared to healthy controls. Eleven specific miRNAs, particularly hsa-miR-874-3p; hsa-let-7d-5p; and hsa-miR-93-3p showed upregulation-type plasma variations in the group of patients with major depressive disorder. miRNA functionality is linked to depressive pathophysiology. This study identifies a "bouquet" of miRNAs with significant upregulation variations in patients with major depressive disorder, suggesting further research to determine their suitability for personalization and evaluation, ultimately becoming integral components of major depression serological evaluations.

MiR-29b inhibits COC expansion and oocyte in vitro maturation via induction of ROS by targeting CYCS

Cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) expansion and oocyte maturation are crucial processes for embryo development and fertility across species. Although miR-29b has been detected in porcine ovarian granulosa cells, its specific role in regulating oocyte maturation remains largely unknown. In this study, using the pig as a model, we report that over-expression of miR-29b lead to a decrease of COC expansion area and inhibits oocyte maturation (P<0.05). This suppression correlated with a decrease expression of COC-expansion-associated genes, including SHAS2, ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2, ADAMTS17 and PTX 3 in both mural granulosa cells (mGCs) and cumulus granulosa cells (cGCs). Further investigation revealed that miR-29b over-expression induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in both mGCs and cGCs, conversely, knock-down of miR-29b reverses all these effects. Treatment with the antioxidant β-mercaptoethanol alleviates ROS accumulation, rescues COC expansion and restores oocyte polar body formation impaired by miR-29b mimics. Computational analysis predicted CYCS, the gene encoding cytochrome C, as a potential target of miR-29b. Subsequent examination demonstrated that miR-29b downregulates CYCS at both mRNA and protein levels. Dual-luciferase reporter assays further confirmed that miR-29b interacts with the 3’-untranslated region (3’UTR) of CYCS. Over-expression of CYCS decreases ROS accumulation and promotes COC expansion (P<0.05). These results indicate that miR-29b regulates COC expansion and oocyte maturation in vitro by inducing ROS, likely through targeting of CYCS. This study sheds light on the role of miR-29b in oocyte maturation and provides insight into the regulatory function of miRNAs in ovarian physiology.

Transcriptome-Wide Evaluation Characterization of microRNAs and Assessment of Their Functional Roles as Regulators of Diapause in Ostrinia furnacalis Larvae (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

microRNAs (miRNAs) function as vital regulators of diapause in insects through their ability to post-transcriptionally suppress target gene expression. In this study, the miRNA of Ostrinia furnacalis, an economically important global crop pest species, was characterized. For the included analyses, 9 small RNA libraries were constructed using O. furnacalis larvae in different diapause states (non-diapause, ND; diapause, D; diapause-termination, DT). The results identified 583 total miRNAs, of which 256 had previously been identified, whereas 327 were novel. Furthermore, comparison analysis revealed that 119 and 27 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the D vs. ND and DT vs. D, respectively. Moreover, the expression patterns of their miRNAs were also analyzed. GO and KEGG analysis of the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs highlighted the importance of these miRNAs as diapause regulators in O. furnacalis, especially through metabolic processes, endocrine processes, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and circadian clock signaling pathways. In summary, this study highlighted the involvement of specific miRNAs in the control of diapause in O. furnacalis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify miRNA expression patterns in O. furnacalis, thereby providing reference and novel evidence enhancing our current understanding of how small RNAs influence insect diapause.

Role of male gonad-enriched microRNAs in sperm production in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Germ cell development and gamete production in animals require small RNA pathways. While studies indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) are necessary for normal sperm production and function, the specific roles for individual miRNAs are largely unknown. Here, we use small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of dissected gonads and functional analysis of new loss-of-function alleles to identify functions for miRNAs in the control of fecundity and sperm production in Caenorhabditis elegans males and hermaphrodites. We describe a set of 29 male gonad-enriched miRNAs and identify a set of individual miRNAs (mir-58.1 and mir-235) and a miRNA cluster (mir-4807-4810.1) that are required for optimal sperm production at 20°C and a set of miRNAs (mir-49, mir-57, mir-83, mir-261, and mir-357/358) that are required for sperm production at 25°C. We observed defects in meiotic progression in mutants missing mir-58.1, mir-83, mir-235, and mir-4807-4810.1, which may contribute to the observed defects in sperm production. Further, analysis of multiple mutants of these miRNAs suggested genetic interactions between these miRNAs. This study provides insights on the regulatory roles of miRNAs that promote optimal sperm production and fecundity in males and hermaphrodites.

The lncRNA and miRNA regulatory axis in HPV16-positive oropharyngeal cancers

The global rise of oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 necessitates a deeper understanding of their underlying molecular mechanisms. Our study utilised RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to identify and analyse differentially expressed (DE) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in HPV16-positive OPC, and to elucidate the interplay within the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA regulatory network. We revealed 1929 DE lncRNAs and identified a significant expression shift in 37 of these, suggesting a regulatory 'sponge' function for miRNAs that modulate cellular processes. Notably, the lncRNA Linc00911 exhibited decreased expression in HPV16-positive OPC, a change directly attributable to HPV oncogenes E6 and E7 as confirmed by RT-qPCR in cell lines and patient samples. Our comprehensive analysis presents an expansive landscape of ncRNA-mRNA interactions, offering a resource for the ongoing pursuit of elucidating the molecular underpinnings of HPV-driven OPC.

MicroRNAs Regulate the Expression of Genes Related to the Innate Immune and Inflammatory Response in Rabbits Infected with Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 Genotypes.

MicroRNAs (miR) are a group of small, non-coding RNAs of 17-25 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNA expression or function may contribute to abnormal gene expression and signaling pathways, leading to disease pathology. Lagovirus europaeus (L. europaeus) causes severe disease in rabbits called rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). The symptoms of liver, lung, kidney, and spleen degeneration observed during RHD are similar to those of acute liver failure (ALF) and multi-organ failure (MOF) in humans. In this study, we assessed the expression of miRs and their target genes involved in the innate immune and inflammatory response. Also, we assessed their potential impact on pathways in L. europaeus infection-two genotypes (GI.1 and GI.2)-in the liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen. The expression of miRs and target genes was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). We assessed the expression of miR-155 (MyD88, TAB2, p65, NLRP3), miR-146a (IRAK1, TRAF6), miR-223 (TLR4, IKKα, NLRP3), and miR-125b (MyD88). We also examined biomarkers of inflammation: IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-18 in four tissues at the mRNA level. Our study shows that the main regulators of the innate immune and inflammatory response in L. europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 infection, as well as RHD, are miR-155, miR-223, and miR-146a. During infection with L. europaeus/RHD, miR-155 has both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in the liver and anti-inflammatory effects in the kidneys and spleen; miR-146a has anti-inflammatory effects in the liver, lungs and kidneys; miR-223 has anti-inflammatory effects in all tissues; however, miR-125b has anti-inflammatory effects only in the liver. In each case, such an effect may be a determinant of the pathogenesis of RHD. Our research shows that miRs may regulate three innate immune and inflammatory response pathways in L. europaeus infection. However, the result of this regulation may be influenced by the tissue microenvironment. Our research shows that infection of rabbits with L. europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes causes an overexpression of two critical acute phase cytokines: IL-6 in all examined tissues and TNF-α (in the liver, lungs, and spleen). IL-1β was highly expressed only in the lungs after L. europaeus infection. These facts indicate a strong and rapid involvement of the local innate immune and inflammatory response in L. europaeus infection-two genotypes (GI.1 and GI.2)-and in the pathogenesis of RHD. Profile of biomarkers of inflammation in rabbits infected with L. europaeus/GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes are similar regarding the nature of changes but are different for individual tissues. Therefore, we propose three inflammation profiles for L. europaeus infection for both GI.1 and GI.2 genotypes (pulmonary, renal, liver, and spleen).

Profiles of differential expression of miRNAs in the late stage of red blood cell preservation and their potential roles

ObjectiveTo detect the differentially expressed regulatory miRNAs in the late stage of red blood cell (RBC) preservation and predict their roles. MethodsSuspended RBCs with different storage periods of 35 day, 42 day, and 50 day were collected for routine blood tests, RNA extraction, and preparation of small RNA sequencing libraries. The constructed libraries were sequenced and the biological functions of differential miRNAs in RBCs in the late storage were analyzed by bioinformatics. ResultsRoutine indicators of RBCs in the late stage were not significantly affected by preservation time. The Pearson correlation analysis performing on RBC miRNAs with different storage days revealed that RBC miRNAs changed with the increase of storage days. RBC miRNAs from day 35 (D35), day 42 (D42) and day 50 (D50) showed significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared RBC miRNAs from D42 with these from D35, there were 690 up-regulated miRNAs and 82 down-regulated miRNAs; compared RBC miRNAs from D50 with these from D35, there were 638 up-regulated miRNAs and 123 down-regulated miRNAs; compared RBC miRNAs from D42 with these from D50, there were 271 up-regulated miRNAs and 515 down-regulated miRNAs. GO enrichment analysis of target genes of differential miRNAs were mainly involved in cell metabolism, biosynthesis, protein modification, gene expression and transcriptional regulation of biological processes. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of miRNA target genes showed that differential miRNA target genes were closely related to pathways in cancer. ConclusionMiRNAs were differentially expressed in the late stage of RBC preservation, and may be involved in various biological processes, especially cancer.

The expression profile of brain-derived exosomal miRNAs reveals the key molecules responsible for spontaneous motor function recovery in a rat model with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion.

The analysis of alterations in the expression and functionality of brain-derived exosomal miRNAs within ischemic stroke lesions provides significant insights into the mechanisms that contribute to disease recovery. We assessed spontaneous motor function in a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) using motor function scores and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain-derived exosomes from the infarcted brain tissue of the animal model were extracted and high-throughput sequencing of them was performed followed by bioinformatics analysis for differentially expressed miRNAs target genes. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure expression levels of differentially expressed miRNAs at various time points. The oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model was established to investigate gene function through the assessment of cell proliferation and apoptosis using EdU proliferation and JC-1 apoptosis assay. The rat model demonstrated a spontaneous recovery of motor function and a reduction in cerebral infarction area from day 1 to day 14 post-operation. Over the course of the recovery period, miR-24-3p, miR-129-1-3p, and miR-212-5p maintained consistent expression levels, reaching their peak on the initial day following surgery. In the cell model, EdU detection indicated that miR-129-1-3p promoted cellular proliferation, while JC-1 detection revealed its suppressive impact on cellular apoptosis. The current research findings indicated the presence of spontaneous motor function restoration in a rat model of ischemic stroke. MiR-24-3p, miR-129-1-3p, and miR-212-5p were identified as pivotal genes in this recovery process, with miR-129-1-3p potentially influencing the restoration of spontaneous motor function in ischemic stroke through the regulation of neuronal proliferation and apoptosis.

Polymorphisms in miRNA Genes Targeting the AMPK Signaling Pathway are Associated with Cervical Cancer Susceptibility in a Han Chinese Population.

Cervical cancer (CC) poses a significant threat to women's health worldwide, and multiple signaling pathways have been confirmed to be involved in its development. The AMPK signaling pathway plays a central role in maintaining energy homeostasis, and its dysregulation is closely associated with the occurrence of CC. Changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression levels might be related to the AMPK signaling pathway. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can affect the function of miRNA and result in the development of CC. To investigate the association between the SNPs of AMPK pathway-associated miRNAs and CC in a Han Chinese population, we selected eight miRNA genes located in the AMPK pathway and analyzed nine SNP loci within these genes to explore whether they are associated with genetic susceptibility to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and CC. A total of 2,220 subjects were included in this study, including 928 healthy controls, 421 CIN patients, and 871 CC patients. Nine candidate SNPs (rs895819 in miR-27a, rs10061133 in miR-449b, rs41291179 in miR-216a, rs76481776 in miR-182, rs10406069 in miR-5196, rs12803915 and rs550894 in miR-612, rs66683138 in miR-3622b, and rs2620381 in miR-627) were genotyped using the TaqMan method. The results showed significant differences in the allele distribution of rs41291179 and rs12803915 between the control group and the CIN group, as well as between the control group and the CC group (all P values < 0.005). The A allele of rs41291179 and the G allele of rs12803915 were associated with decreased risk of CIN (OR = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.39; OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49-0.76) and CC (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.66; OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.59-0.86), respectively. Our results suggest that polymorphisms in miRNA genes of the AMPK signaling pathway are associated with the development of CC.

Expression profile of microRNAs in bovine lymphocytes infected with Theileria annulata and treated with buparvaquone.

Several miRNA-based studies on Theileria-transformed bovine cells have been conducted; however, the mechanism by which transformed cells exhibit uncontrolled proliferation is not yet fully understood. Therefore, it is necessary to screen more microRNAs that may play a role in the transformation process of host cells infected with Theileria annulata to better understand the transformation mechanisms of Theileria-infected cells. RNA sequencing was used to analyze miRNAs expression in the host bovine lymphocytes infected with T. annulata at different time points after buparvaquone (BW720) treatment and DMSO treatment (control groups). Differential miRNAs related to cell proliferation and apoptosis were identified through comparison with gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, and a regulatory network of miRNA-mRNA was constructed. In total, 272 differentially expressed miRNAs were found at 36, 60 and 72h. The miRNAs change of bta-miR-2285t, novel-miR-622, bta-miR-2478, and novel-miR-584 were significant. Analysis of 27 of these co-differential expressed miRNAs revealed that 15 miRNAs were down-regulated and 12 miRNAs were up-regulated. A further analysis of the changes in the expression of each of these 27 miRNAs in the three datasets suggested that bta-miR-2285t, bta-miR-345-5p, bta-miR-34a, bta-miR-150, and the novel-miR-1372 had significantly changed. Predicted target genes for these 27 miRNAs were analyzed by KEGG and the results demonstrated that EZR, RASSF, SOCS1 were mainly enriched in the signaling pathway microRNAs in cancer. MAPKAPK2, RELB, FLT3LG, and GADD45B were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway, and some genes were enriched in Axon guidance. This study has provided valuable information to further the understanding of the regulatory function of miRNAs in the host microenvironment and host-parasite interaction mechanisms.

MiR1432 negatively regulates cold tolerance by targeting OsACAs.

miRNAs function as negative regulators that significantly influence plant growth and stress responses. Within rice and other monocotyledonous plants, miR1432 plays a conserved role in seed development and disease resistance. However, its involvement in the response to abiotic stresses remains unclear. Our study aimed to elucidate this mechanism by predicting the targeting of the rice P-type IIB Ca2+ ATPase gene OsACAs by miR1432 and identifying its cleavage sites via 5'RACE. We observed induced expression of miR1432 and its target gene, OsACA6, under abiotic stresses. Overexpression (OX) of miR1432 and suppression of OsACA6 resulted in reduced cold, salt, and drought tolerance, while OsACA6 suppression/knockout and OX had opposite effects on cold tolerance. Additionally, miR1432 may target other OsACA6 homologs. RNA-sequencing data highlighted the differential expression of stress-related genes in miR1432-overexpressing rice. Furthermore, miR1432-overexpressing rice exhibited weakened vigor, dwarfism, yellowing leaves and reduced fertility. Collectively, our results strongly suggest that miR1432 not only negatively modulates abiotic stress tolerance by suppressing Ca2+ ATPase gene(s) but also influences plant growth and development.

A Pilot Study of Saliva MicroRNA Signatures in Children with Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in children. Currently, no biological test can predict outcomes in pediatric TBI, complicating medical management. This study sought to identify brain-related micro-ribosomal nucleic acids (miRNAs) in saliva associated with moderate-to-severe TBI in children, offering a potential non-invasive, prognostic tool. Methods: A case-control design was used, enrolling participants ≤ 18 years old from three pediatric trauma centers. Participants were divided into moderate-to-severe TBI and non-TBI trauma control groups. Saliva samples were collected within 24 h of injury, with additional samples at 24-48 h and >48 h post-injury from the TBI group. miRNA profiles were visualized with partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and hierarchical clustering. Mann-Whitney testing was used to compare miRNAs between groups, and mixed models were used to assess longitudinal expression patterns. DIANA miRPath v3.0 was used to interrogate the physiological functions of miRNAs. Results: Twenty-three participants were enrolled (14 TBI, nine controls). TBI and control groups displayed complete separation of miRNA profiles on PLSDA. Three miRNAs were elevated (adj. p < 0.05) in TBI (miR-1255b-5p, miR-3142, and miR-4320), and two were lower (miR-326 and miR-4646-5p). Three miRNAs (miR-3907, miR-4254, and miR-1273g-5p) showed temporal changes post-injury. Brain-related targets of these miRNAs included the glutamatergic synapse and GRIN2B. Conclusions: This study shows that saliva miRNA profiles in children with moderate-to-severe TBI may differ from those with non-TBI trauma and exhibit temporal changes post-injury. These miRNAs could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for prognosticating pediatric TBI outcomes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

MiRNA expression signatures induced by pasteurella multocida infection in goats lung

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and are involved in bacterial pathogenesis and host–pathogen interactions. In this study, we investigated the function of miRNAs in the regulation of host responses to Pasteurella multocida infection. Using next-generation sequencing, we analyzed miRNA expression pattern and identified differentially expressed miRNAs in Pasteurella multocida-infected goat lungs. In addition, we investigated the function of differentially expressed miRNAs andtheir targeted signaling pathways in bacterial infection processes. The results showed that Pasteurella multocida infection led to 69 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs, including 28 known annotated miRNAs with miR-497-3p showing the most significant difference. Gene target prediction and functional enrichment analyses showed that the target genes were mainly involved in cell proliferation, regulation of the cellular metabolic process, positive regulation of cellular process, cellular senescence, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway and infection-related pathways. In conclusion, these data provide a new perspective on the roles of miRNAs in Pasteurella multocida infection.

MiRNAs as potential biomarkers for subclinical atherosclerosis in Sjögren’s disease

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate gene expression, controlling numerous cellular processes. Dysregulation of miRNA function is linked to various diseases, making them attractive diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Examples include hsa-miR-92a-3p, hsa-miR-126-3p,...

AcMNPV-miR-2 affects Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus infection by regulating the expression of ac28 and several other viral early genes.

Virus-encoded miRNAs have been extensively studied for their pivotal roles in finetuning viral infections. Baculoviruses, highly pathogenic in insects, remain underexplored concerning their encoded miRNAs. Previous reports outlined three AcMNPV-encoded miRNAs, AcMNPV-miR-1, -miR-3, and -miR-4. This study delves into the functions of another AcMNPV-encoded miRNA, AcMNPV-miR-2 (Ac-miR-2). Through a comprehensive analysis of target gene expression, the impact on larvae, and variations in host immune-related gene expression, we elucidate a functional pathway for Ac-miR-2. This miRNA suppresses viral load and infectivity and prolongs lifespans of infected larva by downregulating specific viral early genes and host immune-related genes. These mechanisms ultimately serve the virus's primary goal of enhanced propagation. Our study significantly contributes to understanding of the intricate regulatory mechanisms of virus-encoded miRNAs in baculovirus infections.

Predicting the Effect of miRNA on Gene Regulation to Foster Translational Multi-Omics Research-A Review on the Role of Super-Enhancers.

Gene regulation is crucial for cellular function and homeostasis. It involves diverse mechanisms controlling the production of specific gene products and contributing to tissue-specific variations in gene expression. The dysregulation of genes leads to disease, emphasizing the need to understand these mechanisms. Computational methods have jointly studied transcription factors (TFs), microRNA (miRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) to investigate gene regulatory networks. However, there remains a knowledge gap in comprehending gene regulatory networks. On the other hand, super-enhancers (SEs) have been implicated in miRNA biogenesis and function in recent experimental studies, in addition to their pivotal roles in cell identity and disease progression. However, statistical/computational methodologies harnessing the potential of SEs in deciphering gene regulation networks remain notably absent. However, to understand the effect of miRNA on mRNA, existing statistical/computational methods could be updated, or novel methods could be developed by accounting for SEs in the model. In this review, we categorize existing computational methods that utilize TF and miRNA data to understand gene regulatory networks into three broad areas and explore the challenges of integrating enhancers/SEs. The three areas include unraveling indirect regulatory networks, identifying network motifs, and enriching pathway identification by dissecting gene regulators. We hypothesize that addressing these challenges will enhance our understanding of gene regulation, aiding in the identification of therapeutic targets and disease biomarkers. We believe that constructing statistical/computational models that dissect the role of SEs in predicting the effect of miRNA on gene regulation is crucial for tackling these challenges.