MICRORNA-REGULATED MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA

Abstract

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of ischemic stroke is still incomplete. Circulating miRNAs, previously shown to be dysregulated during ischemic stroke, was used as surrogate marker for studying molecular mechanisms in ischemic stroke patients. miRNA profiles were analysed to identify biological pathways associated with ischemic stroke pathophysiology and pathogenesis.Complement and coagulation cascades were identified to be specific for cardioembolic stroke, a stroke subtype with high mortality rate. microRNAs targeting CD46, an inhibitor of complement activation have been identified and showed differential expression in cardioembolic stroke as compared as other stroke subtypes. Chemokine CCL2 previously reported to be dysregulated in stroke was studied. mRNA expression in rat correlated with infarct volume, and protein expression in human patients showed positive correlation with outcome.