Circular RNA expression in ALS is progressively deregulated and tissue-dependent

There is increasing evidence on the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in neuronal and muscular processes. Accordingly, their dysregulation is associated with neurodegenerative diseases and myopathies. We investigated circRNA expression in the central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal muscle, the two main tissues affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Based on circRNA sequencing analysis in spinal cord from ALS mice (SOD1G93A) followed by a literature search, 30 circRNAs potentially involved in ALS were tested. All selected circRNAs were downregulated in the SOD1G93A spinal cord, whereas only half of these were quantifiable and were generally upregulated in quadriceps muscle of SOD1G93A mice. Such tissue-dependent expression pattern was observed in both sexes and circRNA abundance in the spinal cord was higher than in the muscle, both in wild type and in SOD1G93A mice. Finally, we assessed the 18 circRNAs with the largest expression differences and the highest degree of interspecies conservation in brain samples from sporadic ALS (sALS) patients and healthy controls. Similar to the mouse model, circRNA levels tended to decrease in the CNS of sALS patients.

Expression of circRNAs may be systematically altered in the two tissues most affected by ALS in a progressive and opposed manner. Although more detailed studies are warranted, circRNAs are potentially related to ALS etiopathogenesis and could possibly serve as future biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or customized therapeutic tools to modulate the pathology.