UI research is promising in the search for simple and early tests for Alzheimer's disease | Lifestyle

BLOOMINGTON – Researchers at the University of Indiana discovered that tiny fragments of genetic material called microRNAs could aid in the early detection of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease

. in microRNAs are detectable in mice long before they start to show symptoms of neurodegeneration. These microRNA changes may represent a sign of early warning, or "biomarker," of the disease.

"Identifying biomarkers early in a disease is important for diagnosing the disease and tracking its progression and response to treatment," said Hui-Chen. Lu, a professor at the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Science and the Department of Psychological and Cerebral Sciences, part of the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences, who led the study. "You need something that can predict your future."

There is currently no treatment to stop or reverse the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS or Huntington's. It is also estimated that Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common, will affect 14 million Americans and will cost taxpayers $ 1.1 trillion by 2050.

Unlike "NRAs "regular" messengers, which direct cells to produce specific proteins, microRNAs play a regulatory role, increasing or decreasing the number of proteins encoded by messenger RNAs. A single microRNA fragment can affect the function of tens or hundreds of proteins in the body.

Due to their stability in urine and blood, the use of microRNA as a biomarker for the prediction and diagnosis of diseases is attracting increasing interest. To investigate this issue, Lu and his colleagues analyzed microRNA and messenger RNA in two groups: a healthy group and a genetically modified group to develop the symptoms of the disease. dementia. The team found the highest level of "dysregulation" – or deviation from normal levels – in the microRNA of the dementia group before their physical symptoms developed.

"Higher levels of pre-symptomatic dysregulation of microRNAs are significant because it strongly suggests that it" The team then compared the microRNA changes to the changes in the microRNAs. Messenger RNA to identify the biological pathways affected by microRNA dysregulation.Their analysis suggested that changes in microRNAs affected immunity-related pathways in the dementia model.

In response, l & # 39; team then performed additional tests to study a specific type of microRNA that was high in the dementia model.The microRNA – called microRNA 142 – is known to play a major role in inflammation, part of the immune response

They discovered that the introduction of this microRNA into the brain causes significant neuroinflammation, which is important because many other studies have shown that "Chronic inflammation contributes to many types of diseases, including neurodegeneration," says Lu.

She added that the next step will be whether the microRNA 142 is easily detectable by a blood test, a quality key for a truly non-invasive biomarker.

Salil Sharma, a postdoctoral fellow, was the first author, working with Adam Williamson Corya, an undergraduate student at IU Bloomington, at the time of the study, and Ines Khadimallah, visiting the university. University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Yunlong Liu, associate professor, and Xi Rao, scientific assistant at the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics of the IU School of Medicine have contributed to the genetic analysis.

This study was funded in part by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Alzheimer's Association and the Johnson IU Center for Innovation and Disease. translational research.