flowchart TD
A["MicroRNA<br/>Pathway"]
B["MicroRNAs<br/>Small Non-coding RNAs"]
C["miRNAs<br/>Mature Forms"]
D["Gene Expression<br/>Regulation"]
E["ALS<br/>Motor Neuron Disease"]
F["Cancer<br/>Malignancy"]
G["Apoptosis<br/>Programmed Cell Death"]
H["PI3K/AKT<br/>Survival Pathway"]
I["Inflammation<br/>Immune Response"]
J["Therapeutic<br/>Target"]
K["Neurodegeneration<br/>Disease Outcome"]
L["Tumor<br/>Formation"]
M["Cell Death<br/>Pathways"]
B -->|"regulates"| A
C -->|"regulates"| A
B -->|"activates"| A
C -->|"expressed_in"| A
A -->|"controls"| D
D -->|"modulates"| G
D -->|"regulates"| H
H -->|"inhibits"| G
G -->|"leads_to"| M
A -->|"therapeutic_target"| E
A -->|"therapeutic_target"| F
A -->|"therapeutic_target"| I
E -->|"associated_with"| K
F -->|"leads_to"| L
I -->|"contributes_to"| K
A -->|"potential_therapy"| J
G -->|"therapeutic_target"| J
I -->|"therapeutic_target"| J
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style B fill:#4a1a6b,color:#e0e0e0
style C fill:#4a1a6b,color:#e0e0e0
style D fill:#4a1a6b,color:#e0e0e0
style G fill:#ef5350,color:#0d0d1a
style H fill:#1b5e20,color:#e0e0e0
style I fill:#ef5350,color:#0d0d1a
style J fill:#1b5e20,color:#e0e0e0
style E fill:#5d4400,color:#e0e0e0
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style M fill:#ef5350,color:#0d0d1a
Overview
...
MicroRNA Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration
Pathway Diagram
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
Overview
MicroRNA (miRNA) dysfunction plays a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases by disrupting gene expression patterns essential for neuronal survival, synaptic function, and protein homeostasis. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to target mRNAs and inhibiting their translation or promoting degradation. Dysregulated miRNA expression is implicated in [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease), [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis](/diseases/als), and [Huntington's disease](/diseases/huntingtons) [@junn2013].
Biogenesis of miRNAs
Nuclear Processing
Primary miRNA (pri-miRNA): Transcribed by RNA polymerase II as long transcripts [@lee2002]
Drosha: Nuclear RNase III enzyme cleaves pri-miRNA to pre-miRNA [@kim2004]
DGCR8: Essential co-factor for Drosha processing [@han2006]
Cytoplasmic Processing
Exportin-5: Transports pre-miRNA to cytoplasm [@exportin2003]
Dicer: Cytoplasmic RNase III cleaves pre-miRNA to mature miRNA duplex [@bernstein2001]
TRBP: Dicer co-factor for processing [@chendrimada2005]
This section highlights recent publications relevant to this mechanism.
[Exploring Sex-Based Mechanisms of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41744049/) (2026 Apr) - Biological research for nursing
[Brain-derived extracellular vesicles: A promising avenue for Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40313118/) (2026 Apr 1) - Neural regeneration research
[In vitro investigation of miR-206-3p-loaded extracellular vesicles as modulators of Aβ-induced neurodegeneration.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41592400/) (2026 Feb 26) - Biochemical and biophysical research communications
[miR-137-5p-Loaded Milk-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Neuroinflammatory Responses in an In Vitro Alzheimer's Disease Model.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41754992/) (2026 Feb 18) - Pharmaceutics
[Nutrigenomic influence of a curcumin-supplemented high glycemic diet on hippocampal microvasculature in male C57BL/6J mice.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41710590/) (2025) - Frontiers in nutrition