miR-135a-5p mediates memory and synaptic impairments via the Rock2/Adducin1 signaling pathway in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Nat Commun. 2021 Mar 26;12(1):1903. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22196-y.

Abstract

Aberrant regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but most abnormally expressed miRNAs found in AD are not regulated by synaptic activity. Here we report that dysfunction of miR-135a-5p/Rock2/Add1 results in memory/synaptic disorder in a mouse model of AD. miR-135a-5p levels are significantly reduced in excitatory hippocampal neurons of AD model mice. This decrease is tau dependent and mediated by Foxd3. Inhibition of miR-135a-5p leads to synaptic disorder and memory impairments. Furthermore, excess Rock2 levels caused by loss of miR-135a-5p plays an important role in the synaptic disorder of AD via phosphorylation of Ser726 on adducin 1 (Add1). Blocking the phosphorylation of Ser726 on Add1 with a membrane-permeable peptide effectively rescues the memory impairments in AD mice. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that synaptic-related miR-135a-5p mediates synaptic/memory deficits in AD via the Rock2/Add1 signaling pathway, illuminating a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Memory Disorders / genetics*
  • Memory Disorders / metabolism
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Synapses / metabolism*
  • Synapses / physiology
  • rho-Associated Kinases / genetics*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Add1 protein, mouse
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn135 microRNA, mouse
  • tau Proteins
  • Rock2 protein, mouse
  • rho-Associated Kinases