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From Dark Matter to Center Stage: The Impact of circRNAs and lncRNAs on Neuronal Health and Disease

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 1042

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
Interests: Alzheimer's disease; schizophrenia; frontotemporal dementia; circular RNA; microRNA; extracellular vesicle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing field of neuroscience is revealing a remarkable complexity in the regulatory landscape of gene expression governing neuronal development, function, and pathology. Long considered 'dark matter' of the transcriptome, non-coding RNAs, particularly circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are emerging as pivotal elements in the molecular tapestry of neurobiology. These non-coding RNAs offer a compelling layer of post-transcriptional regulation, implicating them in a diverse array of cellular activities—ranging from synaptic plasticity to cellular homeostasis. Notably, an increasing body of evidence points towards their critical involvement in neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric disorders, making them compelling targets for therapeutic intervention.

This Special Issue, titled "From Dark Matter to Center Stage: The Impact of circRNAs and lncRNAs on Neuronal Health and Disease" invites contributions in the form of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and thought-provoking perspectives that seek to elucidate the roles and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs and lncRNAs in neuronal pathophysiology. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the identification of novel circRNA and lncRNA species in neural tissues, exploration of their regulatory roles in neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, and insights into their involvement in various neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric disorders. We are equally interested in manuscripts that explore advanced methodologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, single cell ATAC-Seq, and other Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques in the context of these non-coding RNAs. Additionally, studies that examine the translational potential of circRNAs and lncRNAs as biomarkers, prognostic indicators, or therapeutic agents are highly encouraged. Through this Special Issue, we aim to assemble a rich tapestry of interdisciplinary research that not only advances our understanding of the complex roles of circRNAs and lncRNAs but also paves the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

We look forward to your insightful contributions to this cutting-edge topic, and we hope that this Special Issue serves as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the scientific community.

Dr. Lalit Kaurani
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • circular RNAs (circRNAs)
  • long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)
  • neurogenesis
  • neurological disorders
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • biomarkers
  • therapeutic strategies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 16323 KiB  
Article
2,3-Diphosphoglyceric Acid Alleviating Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage through p38 MAPK Modulation
by Jiawei Ni, Jing Zhao, Haocong Chen, Wenjuan Liu, Meini Le, Xirong Guo and Xiaohua Dong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8877; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168877 - 15 Aug 2024
Viewed by 589
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a critical condition characterized by significant brain damage due to insufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery at birth, leading to high rates of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological deficits worldwide. 2,3-Diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG), a small molecule metabolite prevalent [...] Read more.
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a critical condition characterized by significant brain damage due to insufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery at birth, leading to high rates of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological deficits worldwide. 2,3-Diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG), a small molecule metabolite prevalent in erythrocytes, plays an important role in regulating oxygen delivery, but its potential neuroprotective role in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) has yet to be fully elucidated. Our research reveals that the administration of 2,3-DPG effectively reduces neuron damage caused by hypoxia-ischemia (HI) both in vitro and in vivo. We observed a notable decrease in HI-induced neuronal cell apoptosis, attributed to the downregulation of Bax and cleaved-caspase 3, alongside an upregulation of Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, 2,3-DPG significantly alleviates oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). The administration of 2,3-DPG in rats subjected to HIBD resulted in a marked reduction in brain edema and infarct volume, achieved through the suppression of neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Using RNA-seq analysis, we validated that 2,3-DPG offers protection against neuronal apoptosis under HI conditions by modulating the p38 MAPK pathway. These insights indicated that 2,3-DPG might act as a promising novel therapeutic candidate for HIE. Full article
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