Title:MicroRNA: Novel Modulators of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway
VOLUME: 12 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Medha Priyadarshini, N.A. Arivarasu, Aaliya Shah, Shams Tabrez, Shubha Priyamvada and Mohd. Aatif
Affiliation:Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P., India.
Keywords:Acetylcholinestrase, α7 acetylcholine receptor, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, microRNA, miR-132,
vagus nerve.
Abstract:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key gene regulators controlling the expression of many target
mRNAs. The nervous system harbors highest number of miRNAs expressed in a spatially and temporally controlled manner.
Neural miRNAs have been accredited with diverse roles like regulation of neural differentiation, synaptogenesis, inflammation,
memory and cognition. Their aberrant expression and/or function has been linked to various neurodegenerative,
neuroinflammatory and stress related disorders. Recent evidence indicates that miRNAs are essential to the fine tuning
of the immune responses. Besides controlling the maturation, proliferation and differentiation of myeloid and lymphoid
lineages they participate directly by modulating the signaling pathways through the Toll-like receptors and thus the
cytokine response. The miRNAs commuting between the nervous and immune systems and affecting the neuro-immune
dialogue are emerging.
