MicroRNAs
(miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. We
compared the expression of 1059 miRNAs in B lymphocytes from untreated
and natalizumab treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)
patients and healthy volunteers (HV). Forty nine miRNAs were
down-regulated in untreated MS patients compared with HV. A distinct
pattern of 10 differentially expressed miRNAs was found in natalizumab
treated patients compared with untreated patients. Two clusters, i.e.
miR-106b-25 and miR-17-92, were particularly deregulated. MiRNA-mRNA
interaction analysis revealed B cell receptor, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphatase and tensin homology (PTEN) signaling being the key affected pathways.
We
discovered deregulated viral miRNAs in untreated patients as compared
with HV and natalizumab treated patients, a novel finding that may be
related to latency and activation of viruses in MS. Our findings provide
first insights into miRNA dependent regulation of B cell function in MS
and the impact of a therapy not primarily targeting B cells on this
regulation.
We have discussed
what micro RNA does and what it is in previous posts and effects how the
DNA is transcribed and made into protiens. This study further indicates
that the microRNA profile changes during the course of MS. How these
functionally affect B cell function is not clear, but their precence
suggggests that they will be somehow affecting B cell function. These
micro RNA may be generated from within the cell or as a consequence of
past viral infection. Could this be a way that latent infections of
Epstein Barr Virus influence the immune response? Furtherwork is needed
to address this.
Multiple Sclerosis Research: Research: MicroRNA in Multiple ... 27 Jan 2012. Recently we introduced you to the concept of microRNA and that they may influence the effects of proteins ...
Multiple Sclerosis Research: Research MicroRNA
15 Jan 2012. A novel class of small ribo nucleic acid (RNA) molecules,
microRNAs (miRNAs) has acquired much attention because they regulate the
expression of up to 30% of protein-coding genes and may play a pivotal
role in the ...
Multiple Sclerosis Research: Research:miRNA
05 May 2012. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which
regulate many genes post-transcriptionally. In various contexts of
medical science, miRNAs gained increasing attention over the last few
years.