MicroRNAs, Multiple Sclerosis, and Depression

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord. There are several disease courses in MS including relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Up to 50% of MS patients experience depressive disorders. Major depression (MD) is a serious comorbidity of MS. Many dysfunctions including neuroinflammation, peripheral inflammation, gut dysbiosis, chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress, and neuroendocrine and mitochondrial abnormalities may contribute to the comorbidity between MS and MD. In addition to these actions, medical treatment and microRNA (miRNA) regulation may also be involved in the mechanisms of the comorbidity between MS and MD. In the study, I review many common miRNA biomarkers for both diseases. These common miRNA biomarkers may help further explore the association between MS and MD.

The Impacts of the Clinical and Genetic Factors on Chronic Damage in Caucasian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

“…MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA that play important functions in cell differentiation and development, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs have various essential roles in the normal brain and that abnormal miRNA expression contributes to neurological and psychiatric diseases such as fronto-temporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, major depression and stroke [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Molecular Research in Multiple Sclerosis

“…The Special Issue, “Molecular Research in Multiple Sclerosis”, provides a better comprehension of the disease and establishes possible new biomarkers to ensure better care of MS patients in the future. It contains a review of the contribution of metabolomics in MS [ 1 ], the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 2 ], a review on common microRNAs (miRNAs) in MS and major depression (MD) [ 3 ], the first case of comorbid MS with Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMcD) with regressive symptoms in a young woman who improved after treatment with methylprednisolone [ 4 ], and a review on intrathecal inflammation in progressive MS [ 5 ].…”

“…Two papers highlight the fact that comorbidities must be considered for disease management [ 3 , 4 ]. Two comorbidities are discussed, namely MD [ 3 ] and PMcD [ 4 ].…”

“…Two papers highlight the fact that comorbidities must be considered for disease management [ 3 , 4 ]. Two comorbidities are discussed, namely MD [ 3 ] and PMcD [ 4 ]. First, MD is present in up to 50% of MS patients and shares abnormalities such as neuroinflammation, peripheral inflammation, gut dysbiosis, chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress, neuroendocrine abnormalities, and mitochondrial dysfunction.…”

“…Therefore, the author published a non-exhaustive table of 67 miRNAs and discussed their expression in MS and MD. As an example of the importance of considering MD morbidity in MS management, it was shown that IFN treatment has an incidence rate of depression greater than 0.1, probably due to the interaction between immune, endocrine, and neuronal pathways [ 3 ]. Second, the first case of comorbid MS in PMcD with regressive symptoms, in a young woman who improved after treatment with methylprednisolone, is discussed [ 4 ].…”