microRNA Biology on Brain Development and Neuroimaging Approach

Abstract

Proper brain development requires the precise coordination and orchestration of various molecular and cellular processes and dysregulation of these processes can lead to neurological diseases. In the past decades, post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression has been shown to contribute to various aspects of brain development and function in the central nervous system. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNAs, are emerging as crucial players in post-transcriptional gene regulation in a variety of tissues, such as the nervous system. In recent years, miRNAs have been implicated in multiple aspects of brain development, including neurogenesis, migration, axon and dendrite formation, and synaptogenesis. Moreover, altered expression and dysregulation of miRNAs have been linked to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging technology to obtain high-quality, detailed structural and functional information from the brains of human and animal models in a non-invasive manner. Because the spatial expression patterns of miRNAs in the brain, unlike those of DNA and RNA, remain largely unknown, a whole-brain imaging approach using MRI may be useful in revealing biological and pathological information about the brain affected by miRNAs. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in the research of miRNA-mediated modulation of neuronal processes that are important for brain development and their involvement in disease pathogenesis. Also, we overview each MRI technique, and its technological considerations, and discuss the applications of MRI techniques in miRNA research. This review aims to link miRNA biological study with MRI analytical technology and deepen our understanding of how miRNAs impact brain development and pathology of neurological diseases.

Plasma miRNAs as potential biomarkers for schizophrenia in a Jordanian cohort

“…Most of the identified miRNAs are expressed in the mammalian brain, playing a crucial role in neurodevelopmental signaling, synaptic plasticity, and adult neuronal activity [ 45 , 46 ]. Disruptions in either the miRNA biogenesis pathway or the function of a single miRNA have the potential to induce neurological deficits in both human subjects and animal models [ [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] ].…”

miRNAs: Targets to Investigate Herpesvirus Infection Associated with Neurological Disorders

“…Currently, the involvement of miRNAs in several pathologies is known; however, some studies have proposed that miRNAs play crucial roles in the nervous system [23,28,29]. Certain miRNAs have been shown to regulate synaptic function, axon formation, and some other neural functions [30,31]. Some miRNAs have also been reported to be associated with neuroinflammation, controlling the initiation and maintenance of inflammation [23].…”

CerebellarEx VivoMagnetic Resonance Imaging at its Feasibility Limit: Up to 77-Microns Isotropic Resolution using Low-Bandwidth Balanced Steady State Free Precession (LoBa-bSSFP) Sequences and 3T Standard Equipment

“…Ultra-high-resolution imaging (URI) of the human ex vivo brain has attracted a lot of interest lately [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . So far, less attention has been paid to the cerebellum, despite its importance for several nervous system functions in addition to fine-tuned motor control.…”