MicroRNAs in the regulation of autophagy and their possible use in age-related macular degeneration therapy

• Published in: Ageing research reviews Vol. 67; p. 101260
• Main Authors: Hyttinen, Juha M.T., Blasiak, Janusz, Felszeghy, Szabolcs, Kaarniranta, Kai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Age-Related macular degeneration; Aged; Autophagy; Exosome; Extracellular vesicle; Humans; Macular Degeneration - genetics; Macular Degeneration - therapy; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; Retinal Pigment Epithelium; ATF2; HMGB; PTEN; ncRNA; Retinal pigment epithelium; SQSTM1/p62; UTR; PI3K; ULK; mTOR; dAMD; DRAM; PDK1; IGFR1; RB11CC1; FRS2; MAPK; SIRT1; MAP1LC3; EV; p27; ROS; FIP200; AMPK; BECN1; lncRNA; RPE; CNV; FOXO3; Autophagy; BCL-2; Sp1; Exosome; miRNA; RICTOR; SHIP-1; MSC; MCL1; PKB-AKT; BNIP3; VEGF; STAT3; Age-Related macular degeneration; MicroRNA; ATG; RHEB; FASN; STX-17; wAMD; Extracellular vesicle
• ISSN: 1568-1637; 1872-9649; 1872-9649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101260

•Autophagy weakening has been suggested to be a mechanism for the pathogenesis of AMD.•Several microRNA, which are dysregulated in AMD subjects, do control autophagy.•Manipulation of the expression of microRNAs could be used in therapy against AMD.•miRNAs could be introduced to the retina by extracellular vesicles. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive sight-impairing disease of the elderly. The pathogenic mechanisms of AMD are not well understood although both genetic and many environmental factors have been associated with the development of AMD. One clinical hallmark of AMD is the detrimental aggregation of damaged proteins. Recently, it has been suggested that the weakening of autophagy clearance is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of AMD. Autophagy is important in the removal of damaged or no longer needed cellular material and its recycling. A considerable number of autophagy-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs), small RNA molecules and epigenetic regulators have been found to be either up- or down-regulated in AMD patients and experimental models. The important role of autophagy-targeting miRNAs is supported by several studies and can open the prospect of the use of these miRNAs in the therapy for AMD.