International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neuroscience has witnessed an increase in research into the complex mechanisms underlying neuronal development, function, and disease. The study of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small noncoding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, is an area of particular interest. Their participation in a variety of cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, makes them essential regulators of neuronal development. Also, more and more evidence suggests that miRNAs play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric illnesses, and brain tumors. Thus, determining the function of microRNAs in neuronal development and disease is essential for advancing our knowledge of the nervous system and potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets for neurological disorders.

The aim of this Special Issue, titled "The Role of MicroRNAs in Neuronal Development and Disease: Insights into Neurogenesis and Pathogenesis", is to gather high-quality original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that contribute to our understanding of the roles miRNAs play in neurogenesis and disease pathogenesis. Potential topics for submission may include, but are not limited to, the identification of miRNA-target interactions in neuronal cells, regulatory networks and signaling pathways modulated by miRNAs, and the development of innovative experimental models and computational tools for miRNA research. We also encourage submissions that explore the role of miRNAs in specific neurological disorders, their potential as biomarkers for disease progression or diagnosis, and the development of miRNA-based therapeutic strategies. Through this Special Issue, we hope to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of miRNA research in neuroscience, as well as a platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaborations among researchers in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Lalit Kaurani
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

microRNAs (miRNAs)
neuronal development
neurogenesis
neurological disorders
neurodegenerative diseases
miRNA-target interactions
biomarkers
therapeutic strategies

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MiR-138-5p Upregulation during Neuronal Maturation Parallels with an Increase in Neuronal Survival

by María Asunción Barreda-Manso, Altea Soto, Teresa Muñoz-Galdeano, David Reigada, Manuel Nieto-Díaz and Rodrigo M. Maza

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216509 - 20 Nov 2023

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Abstract

Neuronal maturation is a process that plays a key role in the development and regeneration of the central nervous system. Although embryonic brain development and neurodegeneration have received considerable attention, the events that govern postnatal neuronal maturation are less understood. Among the mechanisms influencing such neuronal maturation processes, apoptosis plays a key role. Several regulators have been described to modulate apoptosis, including post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs. This study aimed to analyze endogenous expression changes of miR-138-5p, as well as its main validated pro-apoptotic target caspase3, during the maturation of neuronal cultures and their response under apoptotic challenge. Our results point out that the observed opposite expression of miR-138-5p and its target caspase3 might modulate apoptosis favoring neuronal survival at distinct maturation stages. The unchanged expression of miR-138-5p in mature neurons contrasts with the significant downregulation in immature neurons upon apoptotic stimulation. Similarly, immunoblot and individual cellular assays confirmed that during maturation, not only the expression but processing of CASP-3 and caspase activity is reduced after apoptotic stimulation which results in a reduction of neuronal death. Further studies would be needed to determine a more detailed role of miR-138-5p in apoptosis during neuronal maturation and the synergistic action of several microRNAs acting cooperatively on caspase3 or other apoptotic targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of MicroRNAs in Neuronal Development and Disease: Insights into Neurogenesis and Pathogenesis)

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Review

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27 pages, 2758 KiB

Open AccessReview

Clinical Insights into MicroRNAs in Depression: Bridging Molecular Discoveries and Therapeutic Potential

by Lalit Kaurani

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 2866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052866 - 1 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 981

Abstract

Depression is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. The discovery of biomarkers for diagnosis or prediction of treatment responses and as therapeutic agents is a current priority. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of short RNA molecules in the etiology of depression. The most extensively researched of these are microRNAs, a major component of cellular gene regulation and function. MicroRNAs function in a temporal and tissue-specific manner to regulate and modify the post-transcriptional expression of target mRNAs. They can also be shuttled as cargo of extracellular vesicles between the brain and the blood, thus informing about relevant mechanisms in the CNS through the periphery. In fact, studies have already shown that microRNAs identified peripherally are dysregulated in the pathological phenotypes seen in depression. Our article aims to review the existing evidence on microRNA dysregulation in depression and to summarize and evaluate the growing body of evidence for the use of microRNAs as a target for diagnostics and RNA-based therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of MicroRNAs in Neuronal Development and Disease: Insights into Neurogenesis and Pathogenesis)

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