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Differentially expressed microRNAs in experimental cerebral malaria and their involvement in endocytosis, adherens

Aarón Martin-Alonso1, Amy Cohen2, María Antonieta Quispe-Ricalde3

  • 1Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Islas Canarias, Spain. amalonso@ull.edu.es.

Scientific Reports
|July 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in cerebral malaria (CM) pathogenesis. Specific miRNAs were dysregulated in the brains of mice with CM compared to non-cerebral malaria, suggesting a regulatory role in this severe neurological syndrome.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe Plasmodium infection with poorly understood pathogenesis.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of biological processes and implicated in various infections, including malaria.
  • Understanding miRNA roles in CM is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate miRNA expression differences in the brains of mice with CM versus non-cerebral malaria (NCM).
  • To identify specific miRNAs potentially involved in CM pathogenesis.
  • To explore the pathways regulated by these dysregulated miRNAs.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of miRNA expression in CBA mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (CM) or Plasmodium yoelii (NCM).
  • Microarray analysis of miRNA expression in the brains of non-infected (NI), NCM, and CM mice.
  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation of selected dysregulated miRNAs.

Main Results:

  • Six miRNAs were significantly dysregulated between NCM and CM groups.
  • Four miRNAs (miR-19a-3p, miR-19b-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-223-3p) were validated by qPCR.
  • These miRNAs are involved in TGF-β and endocytosis pathways, relevant to CM.

Conclusions:

  • Dysregulated miRNAs in CM brains suggest a regulatory role in the neurological syndrome.
  • Specific miRNAs may be critical in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.
  • This study highlights the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets in CM.

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