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Non-coding RNAs in Neurodegeneration
Peter T. Nelson led this Webinar from 12:00-1:30 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) on Friday, 26 October 2007.
 View Transcript of Live Discussion — Posted 8 November 2007
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By Peter T. Nelson
Neurodegeneration Related to miRNAs and to Other Novel Aspects of Noncoding RNAs
This forum is based loosely on a review article in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology (1) about how recent research into RNA biology has broadened our understanding of neurological diseases, particularly in regard to our understanding of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). RNA research has made great progress in recent years. A variety of unforeseen complexities have been identified, many with relevance to human brain disease. For example, neurological illnesses may arise due to perturbations in distinct but interrelated tiers of RNA-based genetic regulation: pre-mRNA splicing; non-splicing RNA modifications; and mRNA translational regulation. Furthermore, there is a poor correlation between mRNA levels and protein levels in mammalian cells, due partly to complicated post-transcriptional regulation by hitherto unknown non-coding RNAs. Some non-coding RNAs have been shown to be involved in human brain diseases. Diseases potentially mediated by alterations in RNA processes include tauopathies, myotonic dystrophy, Alzheimer disease (AD), brain cancer, and many others.
One area of research focus, which may entail future breakthroughs in addition to the fascinating recent studies, involves the relevance of microRNAs (miRNAs) to NDs. After all, NDs such as AD are the culmination of many different genetic and environmental influences. Prior studies have shown that RNAs are pathologically altered during the inexorable course of some NDs. Recent evidence suggests that miRNAs may be a contributing factor in neurodegeneration. miRNAs are brain-enriched, small (~22 nucleotides) non-coding RNAs that participate in mRNA translational regulation. Although discovered in the framework of worm development, miRNAs are now appreciated to play a dynamic role in many mammalian brain-related biochemical pathways including neuroplasticity and stress responses. Research about miRNAs in the context of neurodegeneration is accumulating rapidly. Recently published studies point to a possible role of miRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and triplet repeat disorders
Hence the goals of this forum are twofold:
1. To give a broader perspective about the novel research into RNA biology that is relevant to neurological diseases.
2. To describe and contemplate the specifics about the role(s) of miRNAs in NDs.
References
1. Nelson PT, Keller JN. RNA in brain disease: no longer just "the messenger in the middle." J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2007 Jun;66(6):461-8. Abstract
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Webinar: A Webinar is a seminar conducted remotely over the Web. Attendees view the slides through their Web browser and hear the presentations over their own telephones. 
