Fundamental Neurochemistry Review: At the intersection between the brain and the immune system: Non‐coding RNAs spanning learning, memory and adaptive immunity

• Published in: Journal of neurochemistry Vol. 168; no. 6; pp. 961 - 976
• Main Authors: Musgrove, Mason R. B., Mikhaylova, Marina, Bredy, Timothy W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Adaptive immunity; Adaptive Immunity - physiology; Adaptive learning; Animals; Brain; Brain - immunology; Brain - metabolism; Discrete functions; Genomes; Humans; Immune system; Immune System - metabolism; Immunological memory; Learning; Learning - physiology; memory; Memory - physiology; miRNA; Neural plasticity; Neurochemistry; Non-coding RNA; Plastic foam; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Untranslated - genetics; RNA, Untranslated - metabolism; vault‐associated RNA; Y‐RNA; vault‐associated RNA; non‐coding RNA; learning; memory; Y‐RNA; adaptive immunity
• ISSN: 0022-3042; 1471-4159; 1471-4159
• DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16071

Non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are highly plastic RNA molecules that can sequester cellular proteins and other RNAs, serve as transporters of cellular cargo and provide spatiotemporal feedback to the genome. Mounting evidence indicates that ncRNAs are central to biology, and are critical for neuronal development, metabolism and intra‐ and intercellular communication in the brain. Their plasticity arises from state‐dependent dynamic structure states that can be influenced by cell type and subcellular environment, which can subsequently enable the same ncRNA with discrete functions in different contexts. Here, we highlight different classes of brain‐enriched ncRNAs, including microRNA, long non‐coding RNA and other enigmatic ncRNAs, that are functionally important for both learning and memory and adaptive immunity, and describe how they may promote cross‐talk between these two evolutionarily ancient biological systems. We suggest that learning and the brain's adaptive immune system are functionally linked by a plethora of non‐coding RNA. That is, the same ncRNA can be repurposed through temporary modifications to its flexible structure, and used to transmit and encode information throughout and between the two systems. This theory comes from a multitude of studies showing that the same ncRNA species function in both systems and affecting the cells of one system affects the other. Consequentially, future academic and clinical research involving these systems should consider their intertwined nature.