MicroRNAs as Early Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease : a synaptic perspective
Siedlecki-Wullich, Dolores (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)
Miñano Molina, Alfredo Jesús (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)
Rodríguez Álvarez, José (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Pathogenic processes underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) affect synaptic function from initial asymptomatic stages, long time before the onset of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Therefore, reliable biomarkers enabling early AD diagnosis and prognosis are needed to maximize the time window for therapeutic interventions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as promising cost-effective and non-invasive biomarkers for AD, since they can be readily detected in different biofluids, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates that miRNAs regulate synaptic homeostasis and plasticity processes, suggesting that they may be involved in early synaptic dysfunction during AD. Here, we review the current literature supporting a role of miRNAs during early synaptic deficits in AD, including recent studies evaluating their potential as AD biomarkers. Besides targeting genes related to Aβ and tau metabolism, several miRNAs also regulate synaptic-related proteins and transcription factors implicated in early synaptic deficits during AD. Furthermore, individual miRNAs and molecular signatures have been found to distinguish between prodromal AD and healthy controls. Overall, these studies highlight the relevance of considering synaptic-related miRNAs as potential biomarkers of early AD stages. However, further validation studies in large cohorts, including longitudinal studies, as well as implementation of standardized protocols, are needed to establish miRNA-based biomarkers as reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación SAF2017-89271-R Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-749
Note:	Aquest projecte ha rebut un ajut de la Fundació La Marató de TV3, ref. TV3-2014-3610.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	MiRNAs ; Synaptic dysfunction ; Alzheimer's disease ; Biomarkers
Published in:	Cells, Vol. 10, Num. 1 (January 2021) , art. 113, ISSN 2073-4409

DOI: 10.3390/cells10010113
PMID: 33435363

25 p, 1.2 MB

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