Genome-wide analysis of hippocampal transfer RNA-derived small RNAs identifies new potential therapeutic targets of Bushen Tiansui formula against Alzheimer's disease

Zhe-Yu Zhang; Chun-Hu Zhang; Jing-Jing Yang; Pan-Pan Xu; Peng-Ji Yi; Mu-Li Hu; Wei-Jun Peng

doi:10.1016/j.joim.2020.12.005

Genome-wide analysis of hippocampal transfer RNA-derived small RNAs identifies new potential therapeutic targets of Bushen Tiansui formula against Alzheimer's disease

J Integr Med. 2021 Mar;19(2):135-143. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2020.12.005. Epub 2020 Dec 5.

Authors

Zhe-Yu Zhang¹, Chun-Hu Zhang², Jing-Jing Yang², Pan-Pan Xu¹, Peng-Ji Yi¹, Mu-Li Hu³, Wei-Jun Peng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
² Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
³ Department of Scientific Research, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
⁴ Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China. Electronic address: pengweijun87@csu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33334712
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2020.12.005

Abstract

Objective: Bushen Tiansui formula (BSTSF), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been widely used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain largely unknown. In this study, a rat AD model was used to study the effects of BSTSF on cognitive performance and expression of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in the hippocampus, to determine whether treatment of AD with BSTSF could regulate the expression of tsRNAs, a novel small non-coding RNA.

Methods: To generate a validated AD model, oligomeric amyloid-β_1-42 (Aβ_1-42) was injected intracerebroventricularly into rats. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate rat cognitive performance, and tsRNA-sequencing was conducted to examine tsRNA expression in the rat hippocampus. Potential targets were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to investigate the biological function of candidate tsRNAs.

Results: The learning and memory deficits of Aβ_1-42-induced AD rats, assessed by MWM tests, were clearly ameliorated by BSTSF treatment. A total of 387 tsRNAs were detected in the rat hippocampus. Among them, 13 were significantly dysregulated in AD rats compared with sham control rats, while 57 were markedly altered by BSTSF treatment, relative to untreated AD rats (fold change ≥ 2 and P < 0.05). Moreover, six BSTSF treatment-related tsRNAs were identified and validated by qRT-PCR. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that the six treatment-related tsRNAs had potential therapeutic roles, via multiple signaling pathways and Gene Ontology biological functions, including cyclic adenosine monophosphate and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling.

Conclusion: This study identified a previously uncharacterized mechanism underlying the effects of BSTSF in alleviating the learning and memory deficits in Aβ_1-42-induced AD rats, demonstrating that tsRNAs are potential therapeutic targets of BSTSF in the treatment of AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Endocannabinoids; Hippocampus; Small non-coding RNAs; Traditional Chinese medicine; Transfer RNA.

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease* / drug therapy
Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
Animals
Disease Models, Animal
Hippocampus
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
RNA, Transfer
Rats

Substances

RNA, Transfer