MicroRNA-181 Variants Regulate T Cell Phenotype in the Context of Autoimmune Neuroinflammation (original) (raw)

MicroRNA-142 regulates inflammation and T cell differentiation in an animal model of multiple sclerosis

Journal of Neuroinflammation, 2017

Background: MicroRNAs have emerged as an important class of modulators of gene expression. These molecules influence protein synthesis through translational repression or degradation of mRNA transcripts. Herein, we investigated the potential role of miR-142a isoforms, miR-142a-3p and miR-142a-5p, in the context of autoimmune neuroinflammation. Methods: The expression levels of two mature isoforms of miR-142 were measured in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the CNS tissues from mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Expression analyses were also performed in mitogen and antigen-stimulated splenocytes, as well as macrophages and astrocytes using real-time RT-PCR. The role of the mature miRNAs was then investigated in T cell differentiation by transfection of CD4 + T cells, followed by flow cytometric analysis of intracellular cytokines. Luciferase assays using vectors containing the 3′UTR of predicted targets were performed to confirm the interaction of miRNA sequences with transcripts. Expression of targets were then analyzed in activated splenocytes and MS/EAE tissues. Results: Expression of miR-142-5p was significantly increased in the frontal white matter from MS patients compared with white matter from non-MS controls. Likewise, expression levels of miR-142a-5p and miR-142a-3p showed significant upregulation in the spinal cords of EAE mice at days 15 and 25 post disease induction. Splenocytes stimulated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide or anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies showed upregulation of miR-142a-5p and miR-142a-3p isoforms, whereas stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages and primary astrocytes did not show any significant changes in miRNA expression levels. miR-142a-5p overexpression in activated lymphocytes shifted the pattern of T cell differentiation towards Th1 cells. Luciferase assays revealed SOCS1 and TGFBR1 as direct targets of miR-142a-5p and miR-142a-3p, respectively, and overexpression of miRNA mimic sequences suppressed the expression of these target transcripts in lymphocytes. SOCS1 levels were also diminished in MS white matter and EAE spinal cords. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increased expression of miR-142 isoforms might be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune neuroinflammation by influencing T cell differentiation, and this effect could be mediated by interaction of miR-142 isoforms with SOCS1 and TGFBR-1 transcripts.

Expression, regulation and function of microRNAs in multiple sclerosis

International journal of medical sciences, 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded 19-25 nucleotide-long RNAs and have an important role in post-transcriptional gene silencing. It has been demonstrated that miRNAs are dysregulated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). For instance, miR-21, miR-142-3p, miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-155 and miR-326 were up-regulated in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and brain white matter lesions from MS patients and mouse model as well. These up-regulated miRNAs may be used as a signature for MS and play critical roles in MS pathogenesis. Moreover, miR-15a, miR-19a, miR-22, miR-210 and miR-223 were up-regulated in both regulatory T cells (Tregs) and other samples such as plasma, blood cells, PBMCs and brain white matter tissues from MS patients, suggesting that these up-regulated miRNAs and Tregs may also play a role in MS pathogenesis. Contrarily, other miRNAs such as miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-181c and miR-328 were down-regulated in MS. Drugs such as interferon-β and glatiramer acetate for MS treatment may regulate miRNA expression and thus have benefits for MS patients. The dysregulated miRNAs such as miR-155 and miR-326 may be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for MS.

MicroRNA regulate immune pathways in T-cells in multiple sclerosis (MS)

BMC Immunology, 2013

Background: MicroRNA are small noncoding RNA molecules that are involved in the control of gene expression. To investigate the role of microRNA in multiple sclerosis (MS), we performed genome-wide expression analyses of mRNA and microRNA in T-cells from MS patients and controls. Methods: Heparin-anticoagulated peripheral blood was collected from MS-patients and healthy controls followed by isolation of T-cells. MicroRNA and RNA from T-cells was prepared and hybridized to Affymetrix miR 2.0 array and Affymetrix U133Plus 2.0 Human Genome array (Santa Clara, CA), respectively. Verifications were performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Expression and Genetic Analysis of MicroRNAs Involved in Multiple Sclerosis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2013

Evidence underlines the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on the fact that miRNAs are present in human biological fluids, we previously showed that miR-223, miR-23a and miR-15b levels were downregulated in the sera of MS patients versus controls. Here, the expression levels of these candidate miRNAs were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the serum of MS patients, in addition to three genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Mapping in the genomic regions of miR-223, miR-23a and miR-15b genes, 399 cases and 420 controls were tested. Expression levels of miR-223 and miR-23a were altered in PBMCs from MS patients versus controls. Conversely, there were no differences in the expression levels of miR-15b. A significantly decreased genotypic frequency of miR-223 rs1044165 T/T genotype was observed in MS patients. Moreover, the allelic frequency of miR-23a rs3745453 C allele was significantly increased in patients versus controls. In contrast, there were no differences in the distribution of miR-15b SNP.

MicroRNAs as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic devastating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is reported to be the most common neuroinflammatory disorder of the young adults. Although the underlying etiology of MS is not completely elucidated, the number of patients and burden to societies increases worldwide. There are several CNS disorders that might have overlapping phenotypic manifestations with MS; therefore, reliable and accessible diagnostic test is highly desirable for differential diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that are proven to be master regulators of gene expression. Recently, several studies have shown potential roles for miRNAs in development, hemostasis and maturation of immune system, suggesting possible involvement of these regulatory elements in autoimmune diseases, such as MS. We reviewed recent literature to explore miRNAs that are reported to be involved in pathogenesis of MS and found some miRNAs that might have potentials as being diagnostic biomarkers.

Differential expression of microRNA-7188-5p and miR-7235 regulates Multiple Sclerosis in an experimental mouse model- an Biomarker approach

2021

The short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as reliable modulators of various pathological conditions including autoimmune diseases in mammals. The current study, aims to identify new potential differential expressed miRNAs and their downstream mRNA targets of the autoimmune disease, Multiple sclerosis (MS). First, we used a computational tool to identify a new set of miRNA(s) that are probably implicated in MS. Preliminary, computational screening reveals that miR-659-3p, miR-659-5p, miR- 684, miR-3607-3p, miR-3607-5p, miR-3682-3p, miR-3682-5p miR-4647, miR-7188-3p, miR-7188-5p and miR-7235 are specifically elevated in the secondary lymphoid cells of EAE mice. In addition, expression of the downstream target genes of these miRNAs such as FXBO33, SGMS-1, ZDHHC-9, GABRA-3, NRXN-2 were reciprocal to miRNA expression in lymphoid cells. These confirmed by applying the mimic and silencing miRNA models, these data suggesting new inflammatory target genes of these promising miRNA...

Differentially expressed microRNA in multiple sclerosis: A window into pathogenesis?

Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology, 2014

MicroRNA are small non-coding RNA that mediate mRNA translation repression or mRNA degradation, and thereby refine protein expression levels. More than 30-60% of all genes are regulated by microRNA. Exploring disease-related microRNA signatures is an emerging tool in biomarker discovery, and silencing has already been used in a clinical phase 2a trial. As microRNA regulate translation of more than 100 genes, they could also provide a focused insight into important pathways, and offer a better understanding of diseases with heterogeneous pathogenesis. The number of studies investigating microRNA related to multiple sclerosis has increased significantly in recent years. Differentially expressed microRNA have been identified in the whole blood, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, blood-derived cell subsets and brain lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis. Most studies applied a non-candidate approach of screening by microarray and validation by quantitative polymerase chain reaction or next generation sequencing; others used a candidate-driven approach. Despite a relatively high number of multiple sclerosisassociated microRNA, just a few could be repeatedly found, even if similar biological materials were examined. Only part of the identified microRNA has been extensively studied, and the biological function has not been explored in the majority. Some of the microRNA related to multiple sclerosis are also differentially expressed in other autoimmune diseases or autoimmune models. In the present review, we discuss microRNA related to disease compartments, activity and phenotype. We also focus on several microRNA with well-defined functions, or because of particular interest due to either validation by several independent studies or in-depth exploration of function. (Clin. Exp. Neuroimmunol.

Pathophysiology of translational regulation by microRNAs in multiple sclerosis

FEBS Letters, 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a group of several hundred, small non-coding RNA molecules with a fundamental influence on the regulation of gene expression. Certain miRNAs are altered in blood cells of multiple sclerosis (MS), and active and inactive MS brain lesions have distinct miRNA expression profiles. Several miRNAs such as miR-155 or miR-326 are considerably overexpressed in active MS lesions versus controls, and mice lacking these miRNAs either through knockout (miR-155) or by in vivo silencing (miR-326) show a reduction of symptoms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model system for multiple sclerosis. This review describes miRNAs regulated in the blood or in brain lesions of MS patients in the context of their previously described functions in physiology and pathophysiology.