Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (5): 786-791.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.156978

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MicroRNA-124 slows down the progression of Huntington’s disease by promoting neurogenesis in the striatum

Tian Liu 1, Wooseok Im 2, Inhee Mook-Jung 1, 3, Manho Kim 2, 4   

  1. 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
    2 Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
    3 Department of Biochemistry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
    4 Protein Metabolism Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
  • Received:2015-02-16 Online:2015-05-15 Published:2015-05-15
  • Contact: Manho Kim, M.D., Ph.D., kimmanho@snu.ac.kr
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by a grant (A121911 and HI14C2348) of the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2011-0012728 and 2014R1A2A1A11051520).

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Abstract:

MicroRNA-124 contributes to neurogenesis through regulating its targets, but its expression both in the brain of Huntington’s disease mouse models and patients is decreased. However, the effects of microRNA-124 on the progression of Huntington’s disease have not been reported. Results from this study showed that microRNA-124 increased the latency to fall for each R6/2 Huntington’s disease transgenic mouse in the rotarod test. 5-Bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) staining of the striatum shows an increase in neurogenesis. In addition, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha protein levels in the striatum were increased and SRY-related HMG box transcription factor 9 protein level was decreased. These findings suggest that microRNA-124 slows down the progression of Huntington’s disease possibly through its important role in neuronal differentiation and survival.