Microglial microRNAs mediate sex-specific responses to tau pathology

Sex is a key modifier of neurological disease outcomes. Microglia are implicated in neurological diseases and modulated by miRNAs, but it is unknown whether microglial miRNAs have sex-specific influences on disease. We show that microglial miRNA expression differs in males and females, and loss of miRNAs leads to sex-specific changes in the microglial transcriptome and to tau pathology. These findings suggest microglial miRNAs influence tau pathogenesis in a sex-specific manner. Overall design: Examination of microRNA expression in microglia isolated from female and male control and P301S tauopathy mouse samples. Examination of mRNA expression in microglia isolated from female and male Dicer WT, Dicer KO, and P301S Dicer KO mouse samples.