Small Non-coding RNAs: New Class of Biomarkers and Potential Therapeutic Targets in Neurodegenerative Disease

Conclusion The key problem with the ND field is the lack of understanding in the events preceding the development of protein-based markers – such as Tau – currently used to diagnose NDs. By this stage, the diseases become more difficult to treat. SncRNAs play an important regulatory role in the maintenance of the homeostatic brain. Therefore, changes in their concentration levels can be indicative of mechanistic changes that could precede protein-based markers. One single sncRNA biomarker is unlikely to differentiate between diseases. However, a combination of sncRNA biomarkers could be illustrative of the mechanistic development of NDs to enable early diagnosis, enhanced disease monitoring as well as defining subtle differences between NDs. Consequently, novel treatment methods directly related to their mechanistic underpinning of specific NDs, and potentially other brain related pathologies can be envisaged. Novel, less-well studied sncRNAs could be integral to understanding the overall disease progression. So new methodologies may be necessary to quantify these changes and allow for future biomarker development. Author Contributions CW drafted the manuscript. AB and VDP critically revised the manuscript. Funding This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. Conflict of Interest Statement The authors ...
Source: Frontiers in Genetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research