State of the Art of microRNAs Signatures as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Biomedicines. 2023 Apr 7;11(4):1113. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11041113.

Abstract

Identifying target microRNAs (miRNAs) might serve as a basis for developing advanced therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease. This review aims to identify the main therapeutic targets of miRNAs that can potentially act in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The publication research was conducted from May 2021 to March 2022, selected from Scopus, PubMed, Embase, OVID, Science Direct, LILACS, and EBSCO. A total of 25 studies were selected from 1549 studies evaluated. The total number of miRNAs as therapeutic targets evidenced was 90 for AD and 54 for PD. An average detection accuracy of above 84% for the miRNAs was observed in the selected studies of AD and PD. The major signatures were miR-26b-5p, miR-615-3p, miR-4722-5p, miR23a-3p, and miR-27b-3p for AD and miR-374a-5p for PD. Six miRNAs of intersection were found between AD and PD. This article identified the main microRNAs as selective biomarkers for diagnosing PD and AD and therapeutic targets through a systematic review and meta-analysis. This article can act as a microRNA guideline for laboratory research and pharmaceutical industries for treating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and offers the opportunity to evaluate therapeutic interventions earlier in the disease process.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; biomarkers; diagnosis; exosomes; microRNA; therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—Brazil (Capes), Financial code 001, for grant post-graduate students and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Process: 442585/2020-9 of the Thematic Axis II—Development of Extensively Manipulated Products.