MiR-502-3p/miR-501-3p as potential synaptic biomarker in Alzheimer’s Disease: Analysis based on cerebrospinal fluid and neuropathology

Abstract

Abstract MiRNAs are currently being studied for their biomarker potential in many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we explored the biomarker potential of miR-502-3p/miR-501-3p in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exosomes in accordance with amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) severity in AD brain. The miR-502-3p/miR-501-3p expression were analyzed in CSF exosomes isolated from AD and unaffected controls (UC) samples. The miR-502-3p/miR-501-3p levels were examined with CSF Aβ1–40, Aβ1–42, Tau, p-Tau levels and with neuropathology of AD brain. The miR-502-3p/miR-501-3p expression levels were upregulated in AD CSF exosomes relative to UC CSF exosomes. MiR-502-3p level was positively correlated with CSF Aβ1–40 level while miR-501-3p was positively correlated with CSF p-Tau levels. Expressions of miR-502-3p/miR-501-3p were significantly associated with severity of amyloid plaques and NFTs in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, middle frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and superior temporal gyrus. Therefore, miR-502-3p/miR-501-3p panels could potentially be useful biomarkers for AD in future.