Study of Alpha-Synuclein-Related MicroRNA Mimics on Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation in Parkinson-Like Neuronal Cells
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nearly 90,000 individuals in U.S. yearly. The hallmark of PD is the aggregation of alpha-synuclein (a-syn) protein in the neuronal cells. Since there is no cure, it is important to develop treatment to slow or stop PD progression. Short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate gene and protein expression. In this study, we hypothesized that miRNA mimics, means synthetic RNA fragments that match specific miRNA sequences, that are related to a-syn, may reduce a-syn protein expression. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We cultured SY-SY5Y cells that were induced to Parkinson-like cells and transfected them with miR-7, miR-153, miR-34b, miR-34c, and miR-214 mimics. Immunofluorescence staining with a-syn antibody were performed to detect a-syn protein under a fluorescence microscope. ANALYSES: Intensities of protein expression were evaluated with the ImageJ software. Intensities were calculation of mean corrected total cell fluorescence (formula = integrated density – (area of selected cell x mean fluorescence of background)) of 10 cells. RESULTS: Our results showed that all mimic transfections have lower a-syn intensities compared to the controls, suggesting these mimics could reduce a-syn protein expression in the SH-SY5Y cells. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study provides new knowledge for using miRNA mimics as potential alternative treatment for PD to benefit its patients.
Study of Alpha-Synuclein-Related MicroRNA Mimics on Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation in Parkinson-Like Neuronal Cells
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nearly 90,000 individuals in U.S. yearly. The hallmark of PD is the aggregation of alpha-synuclein (a-syn) protein in the neuronal cells. Since there is no cure, it is important to develop treatment to slow or stop PD progression. Short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate gene and protein expression. In this study, we hypothesized that miRNA mimics, means synthetic RNA fragments that match specific miRNA sequences, that are related to a-syn, may reduce a-syn protein expression. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We cultured SY-SY5Y cells that were induced to Parkinson-like cells and transfected them with miR-7, miR-153, miR-34b, miR-34c, and miR-214 mimics. Immunofluorescence staining with a-syn antibody were performed to detect a-syn protein under a fluorescence microscope. ANALYSES: Intensities of protein expression were evaluated with the ImageJ software. Intensities were calculation of mean corrected total cell fluorescence (formula = integrated density – (area of selected cell x mean fluorescence of background)) of 10 cells. RESULTS: Our results showed that all mimic transfections have lower a-syn intensities compared to the controls, suggesting these mimics could reduce a-syn protein expression in the SH-SY5Y cells. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study provides new knowledge for using miRNA mimics as potential alternative treatment for PD to benefit its patients.