Our results showed that miR-26a-5p is upregulated and miR-15a-5p is downregulated. The first was correlated with age at onset, cerebellum volume, spinal cord cross-sectional area (C2-CSA) and the left ventricle mass (LV_Mass). For the miR-15a-5p, significant correlations were found with cerebellum volume, spinal cord eccentricity and LV_Mass. It has been previously hypothesized that these miRs target BDNF, modulating its expression and, when this gene is downregulated, it leads to neuronal loss, explaining the ataxic phenotype and our results reinforce this hypothesis. The miR-26a-5p was already associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the increased NLRP3 inflammasome activity, which is indirectly linked with cardiac hypertrophy. Considering that, we propose these miRNAs as possible prognostic biomarkers for FRDA. However, longitudinal studies are still needed to validate their clinical use.
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Plasma miRNAs Correlate with Structural Brain and Cardiac Damage in Friedreich’s Ataxia
Peluzzo, T.M., Vieira, A.S., Matos, A.H.B. et al. Plasma miRNAs Correlate with Structural Brain and Cardiac Damage in Friedreich’s Ataxia. Cerebellum 24, 15 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-024-01766-y
