Exploring circular RNAs as biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease and their expression changes after aerobic exercise rehabilitation

• Published in: Functional & integrative genomics Vol. 24; no. 4; p. 130
• Main Authors: de Abreu, Flávia Maria Campos, de Oliveira, Deborah Almeida, de Araujo Romero Ferrari, Sabrina Simplício, e Silva, Karla Helena Coelho Vilaça, Titze-de-Almeida, Ricardo, Titze-de-Almeida, Simoneide Souza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerobics; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biochemistry; Bioinformatics; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blood-brain barrier; Cell Biology; Circular RNA; Epigenetics; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Gene expression; Humans; Life Sciences; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Motor ability; Motor task performance; Movement disorders; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuromodulation; Neuropathology; Neuroprotection; Parkinson Disease - genetics; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Parkinson Disease - rehabilitation; Parkinson's disease; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Polymerase chain reaction; Rehabilitation; Review; RNA, Circular - genetics; RNA, Circular - metabolism; Single-stranded DNA; Aerobic Exercise; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Exercise; circRNA; Biomarkers; Parkinson’s Disease; Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1438-793X; 1438-7948; 1438-7948
• DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01409-9

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are circularized single-stranded ribonucleic acids that interacts with DNA, RNA, and proteins to play critical roles in cell biology. CircRNAs regulate microRNA content, gene expression, and may code for specific peptides. Indeed, circRNAs are differentially expressed in neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD), playing a potential role in the mechanisms of brain pathology. The RNA molecules with aberrant expression in the brain can cross the blood–brain barrier and reach the bloodstream, which enable their use as non-invasive PD disease biomarker. Promising targets with valuable discriminatory ability in combined circRNA signatures include MAPK9_circ_0001566, SLAIN1_circ_0000497, SLAIN2_circ_0126525, PSEN1_circ_0003848, circ_0004381, and circ_0017204. On the other hand, regular exercises are effective therapy for mitigating PD symptoms, promoting neuroprotective effects with epigenetic modulation. Aerobic exercises slow symptom progression in PD by improving motor control, ameliorating higher functions, and enhancing brain activity and neuropathology. These improvements are accompanied by changes circRNA expression, including hsa_circ_0001535 (circFAM13B) and hsa_circ_0000437 (circCORO1C). The sensitivity of current methods for detecting circulating circRNAs is considered a limitation. While amplification kits already exist for low-abundant microRNAs, similar kits are needed for circRNAs. Alternatively, the use of digital PCR can help overcome this constraint. The current review examines the potential use of circRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers of PD and to assess the effects of rehabilitation. Although circRNAs hold promise as targets for PD diagnosis and therapeutics, further validation is needed before their clinical implementation.