Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs) are a type of RNA that is not translated into proteins. Transfer RNAs(tRNAs), a type of ncRNA, are the second most abundant type of RNA in cells. Recent studies have shown that tRNAs can be cle...Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs) are a type of RNA that is not translated into proteins. Transfer RNAs(tRNAs), a type of ncRNA, are the second most abundant type of RNA in cells. Recent studies have shown that tRNAs can be cleaved into a heterogeneous population of ncRNAs with lengths of 18–40 nucleotides, known as tRNA-derived small RNAs(tsRNAs). There are two main types of tsRNA, based on their length and the number of cleavage sites that they contain: tRNA-derived fragments and tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs. These RNA species were first considered to be byproducts of tRNA random cleavage. However, mounting evidence has demonstrated their critical functional roles as regulatory factors in the pathophysiological processes of various diseases, including neurological diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms by which tsRNAs affect specific cellular processes are largely unknown. Therefore, this study comprehensively summarizes the following points:(1) The biogenetics of tsRNA, including their discovery, classification, formation, and the roles of key enzymes.(2) The main biological functions of tsRNA, including its miRNA-like roles in gene expression regulation, protein translation regulation, regulation of various cellular activities, immune mediation, and response to stress.(3) The potential mechanisms of pathophysiological changes in neurological diseases that are regulated by tsRNA, including neurodegeneration and neurotrauma.(4) The identification of the functional diversity of tsRNA may provide valuable information regarding the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of neurological disorders, thus providing a new reference for the clinical treatment of neurological diseases. Research into tsRNAs in neurological diseases also has the following challenges: potential function and mechanism studies, how to accurately quantify expression, and the exact relationship between tsRNA and miRNA. These challenges require future research efforts.展开更多
RNA interfering(RNAi), mediated by small interfering RNAs and microRNAs, is currently one of the most promising tools of gene therapy. Small RNAs are capable of inducing specific post-transcriptional gene silencing, p...RNA interfering(RNAi), mediated by small interfering RNAs and microRNAs, is currently one of the most promising tools of gene therapy. Small RNAs are capable of inducing specific post-transcriptional gene silencing, providing a potentially effective platform for the treatment of a wide array of diseases. However, similar to other nucleic acid-based drugs,the major hurdle of RNAi therapy is lack of efficient and non-immunogenic delivery vehicles. Currently, viruses, synthetic polymers, and lipid-based carriers are among the most widely studied vehicles for small RNA delivery. However, many drawbacks are reported to be associated with these delivery vehicles. There is a pressing need to replace them with more efficient and better-tolerated approaches. Exosomes secreted from the endocytic compartment of live cells, are a subtype of endogenous extracellular vesicles that transfer genetic and biochemical information among different cells, thus playing an important role in cellcell communication. Recently, accumulating attention has been focused on harnessing exosomes as nanaocarriers for small RNAs delivery. Due to their natural role in shuttling endogenous nucleic acid in our body, exosomes may exhibit higher delivery efficiency, lower immunogenicity, and better compatibility than existing foreign RNA carriers. Importantly,exosomes own intrinsic homing capacity that can guide small RNAs across natural membranous barriers. Moreover, such a capacity can be further improved by adding appropriate targeting moieties. In this manuscript, we briefly review the progress and challenges of RNAi therapy, and discuss the potential of exosomes' applications in small RNA delivery with focus on the most recent advances in exosome-based small RNA delivery for disease therapy.展开更多
Synapsins serve as flagships among the presynaptic proteins due to their abundance on synaptic vesicles and contribution to synaptic communication. Several studies have emphasized the importance of this multi-gene fam...Synapsins serve as flagships among the presynaptic proteins due to their abundance on synaptic vesicles and contribution to synaptic communication. Several studies have emphasized the importance of this multi-gene family of neuron-specific phosphoproteins in maintaining brain physiology. In the recent times, increasing evidence has established the relevance of alterations in synapsins as a major determinant in many neurological disorders. Here,we give a comprehensive description of the diverse roles of the synapsin family and the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to several neurological disorders.These physiologically important roles of synapsins associated with neurological disorders are just beginning to be understood. A detailed understanding of the diversified expression of synapsins may serve to strategize novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating neurological disorders.展开更多
Objective:To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory（AChE1） and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorder...Objective:To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory（AChE1） and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders.Methods:AChEI activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the Ellman’s colorimetric method.Antioxidant activity was carried out by determining the ability of the extracts to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl（DPPH） and 2,2’-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid（ABTS） radicals.The levels of total phenols,flavonoids and flavonols were determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric methods.Results:AChEI was observed to be dose-dependent.Lannea schweinfurthii（L.schweinfurthii）（Engl.） Engl.and Scadoxus puniceus（S.puniceus）（L.） Friis & I.Nordal.root extracts showed the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.000 3 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extracts while Zanthoxylum davyi（Z.davyi）（I.Verd.） P.G. Watermann had the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.01 mg/mL for the methanol extracts in the AChEI assay. The roots of Piper capense（P.capense） L.f.,L.schweinfurthii,Ziziphus mucronata（Z.mucronata） Willd.,Z.davyi and Crinum bulbispermum（C.bulbispermum）（Burm.f.） Milne-Redh.& Schweick.showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity and good AChEI activity.Conclusions: Five plants show good antioxidant and AChEI activity.These findings support the traditional use of the plants for treating neurological disorders especially where a cholinesterase mechanism and reactive oxygen species（ROS） are involved.展开更多
Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection is considered a systemic disease because of involvement of other organs and tissues concomitantly with liver disease.Among the extrahepatic manifestations,neuropsychiatric disorders hav...Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection is considered a systemic disease because of involvement of other organs and tissues concomitantly with liver disease.Among the extrahepatic manifestations,neuropsychiatric disorders have been reported in up to 50%of chronic HCV infected patients.Both the central and peripheral nervous system may be involved with a wide variety of clinical manifestations.Main HCV-associated neurological conditions include cerebrovascular events,encephalopathy,myelitis,encephalomyelitis,and cognitive impairment,whereas"brain fog",depression,anxiety,and fatigue are at the top of the list of psychiatric disorders.Moreover,HCV infection is known to cause both motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy in the context of mixed cryoglobulinemia,and has also been recently recognized as an independent risk factor for stroke.These extrahepatic manifestations are independent of severity of the underlying chronic liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy.The brain is a suitable site for HCV replication,where the virus may directly exert neurotoxicity;other mechanisms proposed to explain the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders in chronic HCV infection include derangement of metabolic pathways of infected cells,alterations in neurotransmitter circuits,autoimmune disorders,and cerebral or systemic inflammation.A pathogenic role for HCV is also suggested by improvement of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in patients achieving a sustained virologic response following interferon treatment;however,further ad hoc trials are needed to fully assess the impact of HCV infection and specific antiviral treatments on associated neuropsychiatric disorders.展开更多
Chemical synapses are asymmetric intercellular junc. tions through which neurons send nerve impulses to communicate with other neurons or excitable cells. The appropriate formation of synapses, both spatially and temp...Chemical synapses are asymmetric intercellular junc. tions through which neurons send nerve impulses to communicate with other neurons or excitable cells. The appropriate formation of synapses, both spatially and temporally, is essential for brain function and depends on the intercellular protein-protein interactions of cell adhesion molecules （CAMs） at synaptic clefts. The CAM proteins link pre- and post-synaptic sites, and play essential roles in promoting synapse formation and maturation, maintaining synapse number and type, accumulating neurotransmitter receptors and ion chan- nels, controlling neuronal differentiation, and even regulating synaptic plasticity directly. Alteration of the interactions of CAMs leads to structural and functional impairments, which results in many neurological disorders, such as autism, Alzheimer＇s disease and schizophrenia. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the functions of CAMs during development and in the mature neural system, as well as in the pathogenesis of some neurological disorders. Here, we review the function of the major classes of CAMs, and how dysfunction of CAMs relates to several neurological disorders.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81870979(to JJL),No.81271366(to MLY)the National Key R&D Program of China,No.2018YFF0301104(to JJL)+4 种基金the Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central Public Research Institutes of China,No.2018CZ-1(to JJL)the Basic Scientific Research Foundation of China Rehabilitation Research Center,No.2018ZX-30(to FG)the Scientific Research Foundation of CRRC,No.2012C-1(to JJL)the Major Science and Technology Project of Beijing of China,No.D161100002816004(to JJL)the Special Capital Health Research and Development of China,No.2018-1-6011(to JJL)
文摘Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs) are a type of RNA that is not translated into proteins. Transfer RNAs(tRNAs), a type of ncRNA, are the second most abundant type of RNA in cells. Recent studies have shown that tRNAs can be cleaved into a heterogeneous population of ncRNAs with lengths of 18–40 nucleotides, known as tRNA-derived small RNAs(tsRNAs). There are two main types of tsRNA, based on their length and the number of cleavage sites that they contain: tRNA-derived fragments and tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs. These RNA species were first considered to be byproducts of tRNA random cleavage. However, mounting evidence has demonstrated their critical functional roles as regulatory factors in the pathophysiological processes of various diseases, including neurological diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms by which tsRNAs affect specific cellular processes are largely unknown. Therefore, this study comprehensively summarizes the following points:(1) The biogenetics of tsRNA, including their discovery, classification, formation, and the roles of key enzymes.(2) The main biological functions of tsRNA, including its miRNA-like roles in gene expression regulation, protein translation regulation, regulation of various cellular activities, immune mediation, and response to stress.(3) The potential mechanisms of pathophysiological changes in neurological diseases that are regulated by tsRNA, including neurodegeneration and neurotrauma.(4) The identification of the functional diversity of tsRNA may provide valuable information regarding the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of neurological disorders, thus providing a new reference for the clinical treatment of neurological diseases. Research into tsRNAs in neurological diseases also has the following challenges: potential function and mechanism studies, how to accurately quantify expression, and the exact relationship between tsRNA and miRNA. These challenges require future research efforts.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81373335)Liaoning Province Natural Science Foundation (Grant No.20170541025)
文摘RNA interfering(RNAi), mediated by small interfering RNAs and microRNAs, is currently one of the most promising tools of gene therapy. Small RNAs are capable of inducing specific post-transcriptional gene silencing, providing a potentially effective platform for the treatment of a wide array of diseases. However, similar to other nucleic acid-based drugs,the major hurdle of RNAi therapy is lack of efficient and non-immunogenic delivery vehicles. Currently, viruses, synthetic polymers, and lipid-based carriers are among the most widely studied vehicles for small RNA delivery. However, many drawbacks are reported to be associated with these delivery vehicles. There is a pressing need to replace them with more efficient and better-tolerated approaches. Exosomes secreted from the endocytic compartment of live cells, are a subtype of endogenous extracellular vesicles that transfer genetic and biochemical information among different cells, thus playing an important role in cellcell communication. Recently, accumulating attention has been focused on harnessing exosomes as nanaocarriers for small RNAs delivery. Due to their natural role in shuttling endogenous nucleic acid in our body, exosomes may exhibit higher delivery efficiency, lower immunogenicity, and better compatibility than existing foreign RNA carriers. Importantly,exosomes own intrinsic homing capacity that can guide small RNAs across natural membranous barriers. Moreover, such a capacity can be further improved by adding appropriate targeting moieties. In this manuscript, we briefly review the progress and challenges of RNAi therapy, and discuss the potential of exosomes' applications in small RNA delivery with focus on the most recent advances in exosome-based small RNA delivery for disease therapy.
文摘Synapsins serve as flagships among the presynaptic proteins due to their abundance on synaptic vesicles and contribution to synaptic communication. Several studies have emphasized the importance of this multi-gene family of neuron-specific phosphoproteins in maintaining brain physiology. In the recent times, increasing evidence has established the relevance of alterations in synapsins as a major determinant in many neurological disorders. Here,we give a comprehensive description of the diverse roles of the synapsin family and the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to several neurological disorders.These physiologically important roles of synapsins associated with neurological disorders are just beginning to be understood. A detailed understanding of the diversified expression of synapsins may serve to strategize novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating neurological disorders.
基金the financial support by the National Research Foundation(Pretoria) and RESCOM (University of Pretoria)
文摘Objective:To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory（AChE1） and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders.Methods:AChEI activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the Ellman’s colorimetric method.Antioxidant activity was carried out by determining the ability of the extracts to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl（DPPH） and 2,2’-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid（ABTS） radicals.The levels of total phenols,flavonoids and flavonols were determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric methods.Results:AChEI was observed to be dose-dependent.Lannea schweinfurthii（L.schweinfurthii）（Engl.） Engl.and Scadoxus puniceus（S.puniceus）（L.） Friis & I.Nordal.root extracts showed the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.000 3 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extracts while Zanthoxylum davyi（Z.davyi）（I.Verd.） P.G. Watermann had the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.01 mg/mL for the methanol extracts in the AChEI assay. The roots of Piper capense（P.capense） L.f.,L.schweinfurthii,Ziziphus mucronata（Z.mucronata） Willd.,Z.davyi and Crinum bulbispermum（C.bulbispermum）（Burm.f.） Milne-Redh.& Schweick.showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity and good AChEI activity.Conclusions: Five plants show good antioxidant and AChEI activity.These findings support the traditional use of the plants for treating neurological disorders especially where a cholinesterase mechanism and reactive oxygen species（ROS） are involved.
基金Supported by Research grant from Regione Campania,Italy
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection is considered a systemic disease because of involvement of other organs and tissues concomitantly with liver disease.Among the extrahepatic manifestations,neuropsychiatric disorders have been reported in up to 50%of chronic HCV infected patients.Both the central and peripheral nervous system may be involved with a wide variety of clinical manifestations.Main HCV-associated neurological conditions include cerebrovascular events,encephalopathy,myelitis,encephalomyelitis,and cognitive impairment,whereas"brain fog",depression,anxiety,and fatigue are at the top of the list of psychiatric disorders.Moreover,HCV infection is known to cause both motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy in the context of mixed cryoglobulinemia,and has also been recently recognized as an independent risk factor for stroke.These extrahepatic manifestations are independent of severity of the underlying chronic liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy.The brain is a suitable site for HCV replication,where the virus may directly exert neurotoxicity;other mechanisms proposed to explain the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders in chronic HCV infection include derangement of metabolic pathways of infected cells,alterations in neurotransmitter circuits,autoimmune disorders,and cerebral or systemic inflammation.A pathogenic role for HCV is also suggested by improvement of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in patients achieving a sustained virologic response following interferon treatment;however,further ad hoc trials are needed to fully assess the impact of HCV infection and specific antiviral treatments on associated neuropsychiatric disorders.
文摘Chemical synapses are asymmetric intercellular junc. tions through which neurons send nerve impulses to communicate with other neurons or excitable cells. The appropriate formation of synapses, both spatially and temporally, is essential for brain function and depends on the intercellular protein-protein interactions of cell adhesion molecules （CAMs） at synaptic clefts. The CAM proteins link pre- and post-synaptic sites, and play essential roles in promoting synapse formation and maturation, maintaining synapse number and type, accumulating neurotransmitter receptors and ion chan- nels, controlling neuronal differentiation, and even regulating synaptic plasticity directly. Alteration of the interactions of CAMs leads to structural and functional impairments, which results in many neurological disorders, such as autism, Alzheimer＇s disease and schizophrenia. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the functions of CAMs during development and in the mature neural system, as well as in the pathogenesis of some neurological disorders. Here, we review the function of the major classes of CAMs, and how dysfunction of CAMs relates to several neurological disorders.
