The Effect and Therapeutic Potential Role of microRNAs in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia in elderly populationwhich gets worse over time. AD caused by abnormal amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles. MicroRNAs(miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that interfere with the regulation of gene expression. Studies show thatthey have important effects on cellular development and differentiation. Some upregulated miRNAs are relatedto metabolic pathways such as insulin signaling, glycogen metabolism, and glycolysis in AD brains. SeveralmiRNAs such as miR-9, miR-128, miR-146a, miR-107, miR-29a/b-1 have been identified to be involved in theetiopathogenesis of AD. Different miRNAs have various impression on the intensity of AD, for example, Studiesshowed that miR-107 targets the β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), anenzyme which plays a significant role in rate-limiting of the amyloid-beta production. The miR-29a/b-1, miR-15a, miR-9, and miR-19b also target BACE1 and the levels of these miRNAs are greatly reduced in AD brains.By identifying miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of AD and the effect of them, alongside controlling theirexpressions, there may be a potential treatment for this disease. This review will focus on different miRNAsrelated to AD and the importance and potential of using these miRNAs as a therapeutic modality in thisdisease.

Keywords:

Alzheimer’s disease , MicroRNA (miRNA) , Amyloid-beta , Tau protein