Altered microRNAs in cerebrospinal fluid exosomes in paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis: A possible feedback in cancer development.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exosomes from patients with paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis (AE).

Main Methods: Towards this, microRNA profiling in the exosomes which were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of 12 patients with anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis, 12 patients with anti-gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABA) receptor encephalitis, 12 patients with anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) encephalitis, and 12 patients with anti-contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) encephalitis, and 12 control individuals negative of antibodies against neuronal auto-antigens. Selected findings were validated with quantitative RT-PCR.

Using Extracellular Circulating microRNAs to Classify the Etiological Subtypes of Ischemic Stroke.

There is no effective biological method to classify ischemic stroke subtypes. In this study, we first performed a systematical gene array study on serum microRNAs with different ischemic stroke subtypes including 13 normal control subjects (NCs) and 87 ischemic stroke (IS) patients including 23 cardioembolism (CARD), 26 large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), 27 lacunar infarct (LAC), and 11 stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE). Validation was performed by using an independent cohort of 20 NCs and 85 IS patients including 28 CARD, 23 LAA, 18 LAC, and 16 SUE.

NFE2L2 variations reduce antioxidant response in patients with Parkinson disease.

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a risk factor of Parkinson's disease (PD) development. We hypothesized that decreased function of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway might predispose to Parkinsonism. A case-control study was performed between NFE2L2 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and PD in a cohort of 765 unrelated patients with diagnosis of PD and 489 matched normal individuals.

Altered microRNA profiles in cerebrospinal fluid exosome in Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease.

The differential diagnosis of Parkinson's diseases (PD) is challenging, especially in the early stages of the disease. We developed a microRNA profiling strategy for exosomal miRNAs isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in PD and AD. Sixteen exosomal miRNAs were up regulated and 11 miRNAs were under regulated significantly in PD CSF when compared with those in healthy controls (relative fold > 2, p < 0.

Evidence for polymerase gamma, POLG1 variation in reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number in Parkinson's disease.

Background: It remains unclear whether the mtDNA content is related to the clinicopathological prognosis in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods/results: We analyzed the copy number of mtDNA using quantitative real-time PCR in 414 cases with PD and 231 healthy subjects from mainland of China. The level of mtDNA was significantly decreased in PD patients' peripheral blood as compared to that of healthy controls (p < 0.

Association of mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ gene POLG1 polymorphisms with parkinsonism in Chinese populations.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG1) mutations were associated with levodopa-responsive Parkinsonism. POLG1 gene contains a number of common nonsynonymous SNPs and intronic regulatory SNPs which may have functional consequences. It is of great interest to discover polymorphisms variants associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), both in isolation and in combination with specific SNPs.

Cognitive impairment and the associated risk factors among the elderly in the Shanghai urban area: a pilot study from China.

Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment(CI) and the associated risk factors among elderly people in Shanghai urban area, China.

Methods: A population-based survey was conducted among people aged 55 years or older in urban areas of Shanghai. Face-to-face interviews were carried out to collect information including demographic characteristics, medical history, and medication use, etc.

Four novel rare mutations of PLA2G6 in Chinese population with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Mutations in the phospholipase A2 Group 6 (PLA2G6) gene have been identified in autosomal recessive neurodegenerative diseases classified as infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Recently, PLA2G6 was also reported as the causative gene for early-onset PARK14-linked dystonia-parkinsonism.

Methods/results: To address whether PLA2G6 mutations are also an important cause of PD, we screened sequence variants of PLA2G6 in 250 PD patients and 550 controls in a Chinese Han populations.

Glyphosate induced cell death through apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms.

Herbicides have been recognized as the main environmental factor associated with human neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease(PD). Previous studies indicated that the exposure to glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is possibly linked to Parkinsonism, however the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the neurotoxic effects of glyphosate in differentiated PC12 cells and discovered that it inhibited viability of differentiated PC12 cells in dose-and time-dependent manners.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase is involved in alpha-synuclein-induced mitochondrial dynamic disorders by regulating dynamin-like protein 1.

Compounding evidence suggests that alpha-synuclein (SNCA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) by inducing neurotoxicity. Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that undergo fusion and fission processes, the imbalance of which has been viewed as a key trigger for PD. However, the underlying relationship between SNCA and mitochondrial dynamics remains unclear.

Verification of expressions of Kir2 as potential peripheral biomarkers in lymphocytes from patients with Parkinson's disease.

Prior studies have reported gene expression alterations in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) obtained from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) as compared to healthy controls. These alterations can not only be regarded as potential biomarkers, but also enhance understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of PD. In the present study, the gene expression levels of dopamine receptor (D2, D3), inward rectified potassium channels subunits Kir2 (Kir2.