scholarly journals The Role of MicroRNAs in Repair Processes in Multiple Sclerosis

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor P. Duffy ◽  
Claire E. McCoy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by demyelination of central nervous system neurons with subsequent damage, cell death and disability. While mechanisms exist in the CNS to repair this damage, they are disrupted in MS and currently there are no treatments to address this deficit. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the influence of the small, non-coding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs), in autoimmune disorders, including MS. In this review, we examine the role of miRNAs in remyelination in the different cell types that contribute to MS. We focus on key miRNAs that have a central role in mediating the repair process, along with several more that play either secondary or inhibitory roles in one or more aspects. Finally, we consider the current state of miRNAs as therapeutic targets in MS, acknowledging current challenges and potential strategies to overcome them in developing effective novel therapeutics to enhance repair mechanisms in MS.


‘Infection and immunity’ considers the response of the body to pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, prions, fungi, and parasites, which are discussed in terms of their nature, life cycle, and modes of infection. The role of the immune system in defence against infection is discussed, including innate and adaptive (acquired) immunity, antigens, the major histocompatibility complex, and the different cell types involved (antigen-presenting cells, T-cells, and B-cells). The mechanisms and cellular basis of inflammation are considered, as are post-infection repair mechanisms, and pathologies of the immune system such as hypersensitivity, autoimmunity and transplantations, and immunodeficiency (both primary and secondary to other diseases).



Author(s):  
Kevin Sheets ◽  
Amrinder Nain

Cells attach to and interact with their immediate mechanistic native microenvironment. However, the current state-the-art in vitro cell studies are performed on flat substrates of glass, plastic or gel. [1]. The native environment consisting of an assembly of protein nanofibers forming the extracellular matrix (ECM) offers different mechanistic environments for different tissues, which elicits diverse cellular behavior [2]. Recently, there is increased interest in mimicking the ECM by depositing polymeric fibers in single and multiple layers using electrospinning, template synthesis, and micro dry-spinning. The key fibrous spatial parameters (diameter, alignment, spacing, and orientation) can be designed to generate microenvironments of varying mechanical properties. However, the exact role of these parameters on cellular behavior is not clearly understood. Hence, in this study we explore the topological-mechanistic effects of fibrous scaffolds on dynamics of different cell types.



2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 4940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Yi Loh ◽  
Brendan P. Norman ◽  
Kok-Song Lai ◽  
Nik Mohd Afizan Nik Abd. Rahman ◽  
Noorjahan Banu Mohamed Alitheen ◽  
...  

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules which function as critical post-transcriptional gene regulators of various biological functions. Generally, miRNAs negatively regulate gene expression by binding to their selective messenger RNAs (mRNAs), thereby leading to either mRNA degradation or translational repression, depending on the degree of complementarity with target mRNA sequences. Aberrant expression of these miRNAs has been linked etiologically with various human diseases including breast cancer. Different cellular pathways of breast cancer development such as cell proliferation, apoptotic response, metastasis, cancer recurrence and chemoresistance are regulated by either the oncogenic miRNA (oncomiR) or tumor suppressor miRNA (tsmiR). In this review, we highlight the current state of research into miRNA involved in breast cancer, with particular attention to articles published between the years 2000 to 2019, using detailed searches of the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The post-transcriptional gene regulatory roles of various dysregulated miRNAs in breast cancer and their potential as therapeutic targets are also discussed.



Acta Naturae ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. V. Elizar’ev ◽  
D. V. Lomaev ◽  
D. A. Chetverina ◽  
P. G. Georgiev ◽  
M. M. Erokhin

Maintenance of the individual patterns of gene expression in different cell types is required for the differentiation and development of multicellular organisms. Expression of many genes is controlled by Polycomb (PcG) and Trithorax (TrxG) group proteins that act through association with chromatin. PcG/TrxG are assembled on the DNA sequences termed PREs (Polycomb Response Elements), the activity of which can be modulated and switched from repression to activation. In this study, we analyzed the influence of transcriptional read-through on PRE activity switch mediated by the yeast activator GAL4. We show that a transcription terminator inserted between the promoter and PRE doesnt prevent switching of PRE activity from repression to activation. We demonstrate that, independently of PRE orientation, high levels of transcription fail to dislodge PcG/TrxG proteins from PRE in the absence of a terminator. Thus, transcription is not the main factor required for PRE activity switch.



Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Petra Korać ◽  
Mariastefania Antica ◽  
Maja Matulić

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA involved in the regulation of specific mRNA translation. They participate in cellular signaling circuits and can act as oncogenes in tumor development, so-called oncomirs, as well as tumor suppressors. miR-7 is an ancient miRNA involved in the fine-tuning of several signaling pathways, acting mainly as tumor suppressor. Through downregulation of PI3K and MAPK pathways, its dominant role is the suppression of proliferation and survival, stimulation of apoptosis and inhibition of migration. Besides these functions, it has numerous additional roles in the differentiation process of different cell types, protection from stress and chromatin remodulation. One of the most investigated tissues is the brain, where its downregulation is linked with glioblastoma cell proliferation. Its deregulation is found also in other tumor types, such as in liver, lung and pancreas. In some types of lung and oral carcinoma, it can act as oncomir. miR-7 roles in cell fate determination and maintenance of cell homeostasis are still to be discovered, as well as the possibilities of its use as a specific biotherapeutic.



Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 902
Author(s):  
Eva Costanzi ◽  
Carolina Simioni ◽  
Gabriele Varano ◽  
Cinzia Brenna ◽  
Ilaria Conti ◽  
...  

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted interest as mediators of intercellular communication following the discovery that EVs contain RNA molecules, including non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Growing evidence for the enrichment of peculiar RNA species in specific EV subtypes has been demonstrated. ncRNAs, transferred from donor cells to recipient cells, confer to EVs the feature to regulate the expression of genes involved in differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other biological processes. These multiple actions require accuracy in the isolation of RNA content from EVs and the methodologies used play a relevant role. In liver, EVs play a crucial role in regulating cell–cell communications and several pathophysiological events in the heterogeneous liver class of cells via horizontal transfer of their cargo. This review aims to discuss the rising role of EVs and their ncRNAs content in regulating specific aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma development, including tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. We analyze the progress in EV-ncRNAs’ potential clinical applications as important diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for liver conditions.



2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahereh Zadeh Mehrizi

: Today, Platelets and platelet-derived nanoparticles and microparticles have found many applications in nanomedical technology. The results of our review study show that no article has been published in this field to review the current status of applications of these platelet derivatives so far. Therefore, in present study, our goal is to compare the applications of platelet derivatives and review their latest status between 2010 and 2020 to present the latest findings to researchers. A very interesting point about the role of platelet derivatives is the presence of molecules on their surface which makes them capable of hiding from the immune system, reaching different target cells, and specifically attaching to different cell types. According to the results of this study, most of their applications include drug delivery, diagnosis of various diseases, and tissue engineering. However, their application in drug delivery is limited due to heterogeneity, large size, and the possibility of interference with cellular pathways in microparticles derived from other cells. On the other hand, platelet nanoparticles are more controllable and have been widely used for drug delivery in treatment of cancer, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, infectious diseases, repair of damaged tissue, and photothermal therapy. The results of this study show that platelet nanoparticles are more controllable than platelet microparticles and have a higher potential for use in medicine.



Development ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 499-509
Author(s):  
Janet E. Hornby

Cell suspensions were prepared from the kidney, liver and heart of chick embryos of 5 or 8 days of incubation, and from the limb-buds of chick embryos of 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 days of incubation. When these suspensions were aggregated under laminar shear in a Couette viscometer or random motion in a reciprocating shaker they obeyed the theoretical relationships derived for flocculating lyophobic sols. The values of the collision efficiency found for the different cell types under given conditions were used to calculate the force of interaction between cells of each type. The force of interaction ranged between 9 × 10−11 N (8-day heart) and 3 × 10−9 N (8-day liver). The forces of interaction between cells appear to be responsible for aligning the membranes of adjacent cells with a 10–20 nm gap. It is possible to arrange the cell types in a hierarchy based on the forces of interaction between them. The possible role of these forces in cell specificity is considered.





2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 580-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben R Hawley ◽  
Wei-Ting Lu ◽  
Ania Wilczynska ◽  
Martin Bushell

Abstract Many surveillance and repair mechanisms exist to maintain the integrity of our genome. All of the pathways described to date are controlled exclusively by proteins, which through their enzymatic activities identify breaks, propagate the damage signal, recruit further protein factors and ultimately resolve the break with little to no loss of genetic information. RNA is known to have an integral role in many cellular pathways, but, until very recently, was not considered to take part in the DNA repair process. Several reports demonstrated a conserved critical role for RNA-processing enzymes and RNA molecules in DNA repair, but the biogenesis of these damage-related RNAs and their mechanisms of action remain unknown. We will explore how these new findings challenge the idea of proteins being the sole participants in the response to DNA damage and reveal a new and exciting aspect of both DNA repair and RNA biology.



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