miRNAs and neural stem cells: A team to treat Parkinson's disease?

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with no proven neuroprotective or neurorestorative therapies. During disease progression, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the central nervous system occurs. Therefore, therapies that either aim on the inhibition of this degeneration or on the replacement of the degenerated neurons are needed. On the one hand, arrest of degeneration might be achievable through specific inhibition of disease associated genes like α-Synuclein or Leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2). On the other hand, based on neural stem cells that bear the ability to generate new dopaminergic neurons, replacement of degenerated cells could be accomplished. Since both approaches can be regulated by micro-RNAs, these molecules have an enormous therapeutic potential. In this review, we will focus on the neurobiological and neurodegenerative implications of miRNAs and highlight their role in stem cell fate decisions. Finally, we will discuss their potential as therapeutic agents and targets for Parkinson's disease.