MiR-135a-5p is critical for exercise-induced proliferation of adult neurogenesis

Physical exercise stimulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mammals, and is considered a relevant strategy for preventing age-related cognitive decline in aging humans. However, its mechanism is controversial. Here, by investigating microRNAs (miRNAs) and their downstream pathways, we uncover that downregulation of miR-135a-5p mediates exercise-induced proliferation of adult NPCs in adult neurogenesis in the mouse hippocampus, likely by activation of phosphatidylinositol (IP3) signaling. Specifically, while overexpression of miR-135 prevents exercise-induced proliferation in the adult mouse hippocampus in vivo and in NPCs in vitro, its inhibition activates NPCs proliferation in resting and aged mice. Label free proteomics and bioinformatics analysis identifies 11 potential targets of miR-135 in NPCs, several of them involved in phosphatidylinositol signaling. Thus, miR-135a is key in mediating exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and opens intriguing perspectives toward the therapeutic exploitation of miR-135 to delay or prevent pathological brain ageing.Physical exercise stimulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mammals, and is considered a relevant strategy for preventing age-related cognitive decline in aging humans. However, its mechanism is controversial. Here, by investigating microRNAs (miRNAs) and their downstream pathways, we uncover that downregulation of miR-135a-5p mediates exercise-induced proliferation of adult NPCs in adult neurogenesis in the mouse hippocampus, likely by activation of phosphatidylinositol (IP3) signaling. Specifically, while overexpression of miR-135 prevents exercise-induced proliferation in the adult mouse hippocampus in vivo and in NPCs in vitro, its inhibition activates NPCs proliferation in resting and aged mice. Label free proteomics and bioinformatics analysis identifies 11 potential targets of miR-135 in NPCs, several of them involved in phosphatidylinositol signaling. Thus, miR-135a is key in mediating exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and opens intriguing perspectives toward the therapeutic exploitation of miR-135 to delay or prevent pathological brain ageing.