Novel microRNA-455-3p mouse models to study Alzheimers disease pathogenesis

MicroRNA-455-3p is one of the highly conserved miRNAs involved in several human diseases but newly explored by our lab in Alzheimers disease (AD). Our past studies unveiled the biomarker and therapeutic potentials of miR-455-3p in AD. Our in vitro study exhibited the protective role of miR-455-3p against AD toxicities in reducing full-length APP and amyloid-{beta} (A{beta}) protein levels, and also reducing defective mitochondrial biogenesis, impaired mitochondrial dynamics and synaptic deficiencies. Next, we sought to determine the essential roles of miR-455-3p in AD using mouse models. Therefore, for the first time we generated both transgenic (TG) and knockout (KO) mouse models of miR-455-3p. We determined the positive and negative effects of miR-455-3p on mice cognitive function, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial number & length, dendritic spine density, synapse numbers and synaptic activity in 12-month-old miR-455-3p TG and KO mice. MiR-455-3p TG mice lived 5 months longer than wild-type (WT) mice, whereas KO mice lived 4 months shorter than their WT counter parts. Morris water maze test showed improved cognitive behavior, spatial learning and memory in miR-455-3p TG mice relative to age-matched WT mice and miR-455-3p KO mice. Further, mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics and synaptic activities were enhanced in miR-455-3p TG mice, while these were reduced in KO mice. Overall, miR-455-3p TG mice displayed protective effects and miR-455-3p KO mice exhibited deleterious effects in relation to AD pathogenesis. Both mouse models could be ideal research tools to understand the molecular mechanism of miR-455-3p in AD and other human diseases.