Non-Coding RNAs Based Molecular Links in Type 2 Diabetes, Ischemic Stroke, and Vascular Dementia

Abstract

This article reviews recent advances in the study of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and their functions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), ischemic stroke (IS), and vascular dementia (VaD). miRNAs and lncRNAs are gene regulation markers that both regulate translational aspects of a wide range of proteins and biological processes in healthy and disease states. Recent studies from our laboratory and others have revealed that miRNAs and lncRNAs expressed differently are potential therapeutic targets for neurological diseases, especially T2DM, IS, VaD, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, the effect of aging in T2DM, IS, and VaD and the cellular and molecular pathways are largely unknown. In this article, we highlight results from the works on the molecular connections between T2DM and IS, and IS and VaD. In each disease, we also summarize the pathophysiology and the differential expressions of miRNAs and lncRNAs. Based on current research findings, we hypothesize that 1) T2DM bi-directionally and age-dependently induces IS and VaD, and 2) these changes are precursors to the onset of dementia in elderly people. Research into these hypotheses is required to examine further whether research efforts on reducing T2DM, IS, and VaD may affect dementia and/or delay the AD disease process in the aged population.

The noncoding and coding transcriptional landscape of the peripheral immune response in patients with COVID‐19

“…First, several risk factors could influence the expression of peripheral ncRNAs, consequently confounding the accuracy of the biomarker ncRNAs. Previous research have indicated that almost all risk factors could potentially result in different expression of certain miRNAs in peripheral blood, including age, 81 obesity, 82 type 2 diabetes, 83,84 and coronary artery diseases 85 . Here, in this study, though we matched one of the most fundamental confounders, age, the impact of some other comorbidities was hard to control because of the complicated healthy condition background of each patients, especially those with severe COVID-19.…”

<p>Long Non-Coding RNA SNHG7 Alleviates Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation-Induced Neuronal Injury by Modulating miR-9/SIRT1 Axis in PC12 Cells: Potential Role in Ischemic Stroke</p>

“…IS is a severe neurological disease with serious impairment of the neurological function. 38 Growing literature has shown that down-regulation of lncRNAs is implicated in the pathological process of IS, such as lncRNA Oprm1, 39 lncRNA ZFAS1 40 and lncRNA ANRIL. 34 Coincident with expression trend of previous studies, we also observed that SNHG7 was down-regulated by MCAO treatment in brain tissues of mice and by OGD/R treatment in PC12 cells, implying that SNHG7 might involve in the pathologies of IS.…”

Mitochondrial MicroRNAs in Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…MicroRNAs perform multiple important functions in the cell, including cell growth, cell proliferation, embryonic development, tissue differentiation, and apoptosis [ 10 ]. MicroRNAs have also been found to improve the gene-regulatory processes in cerebrovascular disease.…”

“…MicroRNA-mediated gene silencing controls a diverse set of important cellular processes, such as cellular senescence and neurodegeneration. Extensive research has also revealed that microRNAs are implicated in a number of human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s, as well as aging [ 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. These circulatory microRNAs can be used as biomarkers for human diseases [ 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”