Multifunctional roles of MicroRNAs in regulating cell death during cerebral ischemic injury

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is characterized by cerebral ischemic injury, in which multiple forms of cell death-including apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, and ferroptosis- contribute significantly to severe pathological outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, play a pivotal role in modulating cell death mechanisms induced by cerebral ischemic injury. Using ‘cerebral ischemia’ and ‘microRNA’ as keywords, we conducted a literature search on the PubMed database. This review systematically summarizes research from the past five years on the multifunctional roles, clinical significance, and therapeutic applications of miRNAs in cell death associated with cerebral ischemic injury. Moreover, this review briefly discusses alterations in miRNA expression in clinical settings and their implications, as well as summarizes pharmacological interventions that mitigate cerebral ischemic injury through miRNA regulation.