Applications of cerebrospinal miRNA in the detection and treatment of acute CNS injury

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short-chain 20–24-nucleotide RNAs that are produced and processed from endogenous non-coding RNA (sncRNA). They act as a bridge between DNA, mRNAs, and proteins, induce epigenetic modifications, regulate transcription and translation, and effect gene-level regulation. Acute central nervous system (CNS) injuries include acute cerebrovascular disease and traumatic brain injury, which are high-risk conditions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the body fluid that is most closely associated with the CNS, is present in the ventricles and subarachnoid space, and has many functions such as protection, support, and supply of nutrition to the brain and spinal cord. Free miRNAs in the CSF change after CNS injury. Therefore, elucidating the miRNA expression pattern in CSF could prove useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of such conditions. In this article, we review the progress of research on CSF miRNA expression profiles in acute CNS injury diseases, and discuss the potential value of CSF miRNAs as biomarkers for CNS injury and prognosis.