Identification of potential regulatory long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA axes in periplaque regions in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Slow-burning inflammation at the lesion rim is connected to the expansion of chronic multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. However, the underlying processes causing expansion are not clearly realized. In this context, the current study used a bioinformatics approach to identify the expression profiles and related lncRNA-associated ceRNA regulatory axes in the periplaque region in MS patients. Expression data (GSE52139) from periplaque regions in the secondary progressive MS spinal cord and controls were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), which has details on mRNAs and lncRNAs. Using the R software’s limma package, the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were found. The RNA interactions were also found using the DIANA-LncBase, miRTarBase, and HMDD databases. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine whether there were any positive correlations between DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs in the ceRNA network. Finally, lncRNA-associated ceRNA axes were created based on co-expression and connections between DElncRNA, miRNA, and DEmRNA. We used the Enrichr tool to enrich the biological process, molecular function, and pathways for DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs. A network of DEmRNAs’ protein-protein interactions was developed, and the top five hub genes were found using Cytoscape and STRING. The current study indicates that 15 DEmRNAs, including FOS, GJA1, NTRK2, CTNND1, and SP3, are connected to the MS ceRNA network. Additionally, four DElncRNAs (such as TUG1, ASB16-AS1, and LINC01094) that regulated the aforementioned mRNAs by sponging 14 MS-related miRNAs (e.g., hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-23a-3p, hsa-miR-27a-3p, hsa-miR-29b-3p, hsa-miR-29c-3p, hsa-miR-34a-5p) were found. In addition, the analysis of pathway enrichment revealed that DEmRNAs were enriched in the pathways for the “MAPK signaling pathway”, “Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection”, “Human immunodeficiency virus one infection”, “Lipid and atherosclerosis”, and “Amphetamine addiction”. Even though the function of these ceRNA axes needs to be investigated further, this study provides research targets for studying ceRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms related to periplaque demyelination in MS.

Short-chain fatty acids abrogate Japanese encephalitis virus-induced inflammation in microglial cells via miR-200a-3p/ZBTB20/IKβα axis

“…Wang et al reported that miR-200a-3p, suppressed in Alzheimer’s disease models, when supplemented, led to reduced cell apoptosis, diminished amyloid beta-peptides deposits, and decreased tau phosphorylation ( 47 ). This aligns with literature suggesting a protective effect conferred by the miRNA ( 48 – 50 ), although its deleterious impact in various cellular contexts is also documented ( 51 – 53 ). The differential effects of miR-200a-3p on host cells vary with respect to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cancer cell types ( 54 ).…”

Multiple Sclerosis: Roles of miRNA, lcnRNA, and circRNA and Their Implications in Cellular Pathways

“…Furthermore, the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement in the MAPK signaling pathway, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection, lipids and atherosclerosis, and amphetamine addiction. The findings from this study highlight complex molecular dynamics in the periplaque region, which is an area previously underexplored in the MS landscape, offering potential future therapeutic targets [126].…”

MicroRNAs dysregulated in multiple sclerosis affect the differentiation of CG-4 cells, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line

“…miR-145-5p, which was also found upregulated in plasma, serum, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of MS patients ( Keller et al, 2009 ; Søndergaard et al, 2013 ), has been characterized as a pro-inflammatory [by targeting immune response limiting factors, semaphorin 3A and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated protein 4 ( CTLA4 )] and an anti-OPC differentiation (by targeting Myrf ) microRNA, and is thus potentially supportive of MS pathogenesis ( Fayyad-Kazan et al, 2012 ; Rezaeepoor et al, 2018 ; Kornfeld et al, 2021 ). Conversely, a bioinformatic-based network established the sponging of miR-145-5p by an upregulated long non-coding RNA, taurine upregulated 1 ( TUG1 ), in the periplaque regions in MS brains, leading to the upregulation of catenin delta ( CTNND1 ), a potential MBP-interacting protein ( Smirnova et al, 2021 ; Sabaie et al, 2022 ).…”