miR-449a may prevent neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease by repressing the cell cycle machinery in neurons

Aberrant activation of cell cycle of terminally-differentiated neurons results in their apoptosis and is known to contribute to neuronal loss in various neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease. However, the mechanisms that regulate Cell Cycle Related Neuronal Apoptosis (CRNA) are poorly understood. miRNA being one of the key components in gene regulation, the study was focused to identify the deregulated miRNA in neurodegeneration. Therefore, we utilized small RNA sequencing technology to compare the miRNA profile in cortical neurons from wild type and transgenic mouse model for AD (TgAD). In our quest to understand the regulation of the cell cycle related genes by miRNA, we identified the miRNA that are deregulated in neurons from TgAD mice. miRNA sequencing data revealed several deregulated miRNA that are known or were predicted to target cell cycle related genes. Comparison of the miRNA profile in WT and Transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.