Role of Non-coding RNAs in Axon Regeneration after Peripheral Nerve Injury

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) may lead to disability and neuropathic pain, which constitutes a substantial economic burden to patients and society. It was found that the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has the ability to regenerate after injury due to a permissive microenvironment mainly provided by Schwann cells (SCs) and the intrinsic growth capacity of neurons; however, the results of injury repair are not always satisfactory. Effective, long-distance axon regeneration after PNI is achieved by precise regulation of gene expression. Numerous studies have shown that in the process of peripheral nerve damage and repair, differential expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) significantly affects axon regeneration, especially expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). In the present article, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axon regeneration after PNI, and analyze the roles of these ncRNAs in nerve repair. In addition, we discuss the characteristics and functions of these ncRNAs. Finally, we provide a thorough perspective on the functional mechanisms of ncRNAs in nervous injury repair, and explore the potential these ncRNAs offer as targets of nerve injury treatment.

Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Autonomic Nervous System Neuron Induction through Integrative Bioinformatics Analysis

“…This finding suggests that the autonomic induction may be regulated by intricate mechanisms involving miRNAs [33,34] and lncRNAs [35,36], which can modulate TF functions. Although miRNAs and lncRNAs have been implicated in central nervous system development and neurodegenerative diseases [37,38], their roles in ANS development remain largely unexplored, with a few exceptions highlighting their regulatory roles in peripheral nervous system injury and regeneration [39,40]. Further investigations into the roles of miRNAs and lncRNAs during autonomic induction will help unravel the mechanisms underlying ANS development.…”

Regulation by noncoding RNAs of local translation, injury responses, and pain in the peripheral nervous system

“…ncRNAs, and miRNAs in particular, have been found to be pervasive within dendrites and synapses of the CNS and to participate in neuronal plasticity, including during learning and memory ( Lugli et al, 2008 , Lugli et al, 2012 , Smalheiser, 2014 ). More recently, ncRNAs have also been appreciated to play vital roles in regulating the biological behaviors of neurons and Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury, including neuronal survival and nerve regeneration, Schwann cell dedifferentiation and proliferation, and neuroimmune responses ( Ghibaudi et al, 2017 ; M. Liu et al, 2022 , Tang and Sun, 2020 , Yu et al, 2015 ).…”

Transcriptome analysis of Long non-coding RNAs altered in sciatic nerves of aging SD rats

“…LncRNAs was considered as an intermediate product of transcription process and few of them had direct biological function. However, more and more evidences show that lncRNAs have complex functions, including activating or decreasing the expression of speci c genes, especially adjacent protein coding genes, and are related to the pathogenesis of some nervous system diseases 20 . An increasing body of evidences show that ncRNAs are involved in the physiological processes of central and peripheral nervous systems 21,22 .…”