MicroRNAs as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for traumatic brain injury

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 12; no. 11; pp. 1749 - 1761
• Main Authors: Martinez, Bridget, Peplow, PhilipV
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.11.2017; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA%Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Biological markers; Brain injuries; Care and treatment; Consciousness; Diagnosis; Fainting; Females; Gene expression; Health aspects; Invited Review; Males; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs; Neurological research; Physiological aspects; Traumatic brain injury; traumatic brain injury; microRNAs; diagnostic markers; therapeutic targets: humans; animal models; microRNAs; traumatic brain injury; diagnostic markers; animal models; therapeutic targets: humans
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.219025

Traumatic brain injury （TBI） is characterized by primary damage to the brain from the external mechanical force and by subsequent secondary injury due to various molecular and pathophysiological responses that eventually lead to neuronal cell death. Secondary brain injury events may occur minutes, hours, or even days after the trauma, and provide valuable therapeutic targets to prevent further neuronal degeneration. At the present time, there is no effective treatment for TBI due, in part, to the widespread impact of numerous complex secondary biochemical and pathophysiological events occurring at different time points following the initial injury. MicroRNAs control a range of physiological and pathological functions such as develop- ment, differentiation, apoptosis and metabolism, and may serve as potential targets for progress assessment and intervention against TBI to mitigate secondary damage to the brain. This has implications regarding improving the diagnostic accuracy of brain impairment and long-term outcomes as well as potential novel treatments. Recent human studies have identified specific microRNAs in serum/plasma （miR-425-p, -21, -93, -191 and -499） and cerebro-spinal fluid （CSF） （miR-328, -362-3p, -451, -486a） as possible indicators of the diagnosis, severity, and prognosis of TBI. Experimental animal studies have examined specific microRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for moderate and mild TBI （e.g., miR-21, miR-23b）. MicroRNA profil- ing was altered by voluntary exercise. Differences in basal microRNA expression in the brain of adult and aged animals and alterations in response to TBI （e.g., miR-21） have also been reported. Further large-scale studies with TBI patients are needed to provide more information on the changes in microRNA profiles in different age groups （children, adults, and elderly）.