Research progress for microRNA in the pathological mechanism of brain injury after stroke

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Despite extensive research, treatment for ischemic stroke is limited to thrombolytic therapy and symptom management. Identifying and testing new therapeutic targets is therefore critical for future clinically viable stroke therapies. Noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), are one of many classes of molecules that cause functional changes before, during, and after ischemic stroke. Current research finds that expression levels of many miRNAs are altered in the blood and brain of rodents and humans after stroke. In addition, miRNA can be regulated by external factors to improve functional outcomes after ischemic stroke. In certain studies, induction of ischemic tolerance by preconditioning (PC) also altered the levels of many miRNAs. This review focuses on miRNAs that modulate stroke-related risk factors and pathologic mechanisms of post-stroke brain injury.

Keywords

microRNA (miRNA) / ischemic stroke / modulation / inflammation / oxidative stress / neurogenesis / angiogenesis