Search Results (4)

Increasing evidence demonstrates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial for brain evolution and proper development and function of the central nervous system (CNS), exhibiting specific time-, spatial-, and sex-biassed expression patterns. This study investigated whether region-specific spatial expression patterns of brain-relevant lncRNAs are conserved between the mouse and human CNS. Demonstrating such cross-species conservation informs the translational value of mouse models for lncRNA biology. To test this, the expression of 14 lncRNAs was studied in the adult CNS of mice and humans across three different regions (spinal cord, brainstem, and frontal cortex), and age effects were assessed in mice. The results demonstrated conserved expression patterns between the two species, with region-specific changes. The frontal cortex exhibited high expression of Meg3, Miat, and Pvt1 lncRNAs, while the spinal cord showed high levels of Hotair and Gas5. Additionally, Malat1 displayed lower levels in females compared to males in the spinal cord compared to other regions. Finally, through GO functional enrichment analysis and literature review, this study emphasizes the role of lncRNAs in CNS physiology and disease, suggesting their involvement in neurological processes and conditions such as cortical development, neuronal synapsis, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Overall, this research highlights the importance of further investigating the role of lncRNAs in brain function and their potential as key players in neurological disorders, opening the door to explaining the high region- and sex-specific effects of these disorders. Full article

Combining complex networks analysis methods with machine learning (ML) algorithms have become a very useful strategy for the study of complex systems in applied sciences. Noteworthy, the structure and function of such systems can be studied and represented through the above-mentioned approaches, which range from small chemical compounds, proteins, metabolic pathways, and other molecular systems, to neuronal synapsis in the brain’s cortex, ecosystems, the internet, markets, social networks, program’s development in education, social learning, etc. On the other hand, ML algorithms are useful to study large datasets with characteristic features of complex systems. In this context, we decided to launch one special issue focused on the benefits of using ML and complex network analysis (in combination or separately) to study complex systems in applied sciences. The topic of the issue is: Complex Networks and Machine Learning in Applied Sciences. Contributions to this special issue are highlighted below. The present issue is also linked to conference series, MOL2NET International Conference on Multidisciplinary Sciences, ISSN: 2624-5078, MDPI AG, SciForum, Basel, Switzerland. At the same time, the special issue and the conference are hosts for the works published by students/tutors of the USEDAT: USA–Europe Data Analysis Training Worldwide Program. Full article

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is one of the brain regions with more prominent changes in human aging. The molecular processes related to the cognitive decline and mood changes during aging are not completely understood. To improve our knowledge, we integrated transcriptomic data of four studies of human PFC from elderly people (58–80 years old) compared with younger people (20–40 years old) using a meta-analytic approximation combined with molecular signature analysis. We identified 1817 differentially expressed genes, 561 up-regulated and 1256 down-regulated. Pathway analysis revealed down-regulation of synaptic genes with conservation of gene expression of other neuronal regions. Additionally, we identified up-regulation of markers of astrogliosis with transcriptomic signature compatible with A1 neurotoxic astrocytes and A2 neuroprotective astrocytes. Response to interferon is related to A1 astrocytes and the A2 phenotype is mediated in aging by activation of sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway and up-regulation of metallothioneins I and genes of the family ERM (ezrin, radixin, and moesin). The main conclusions of our study are the confirmation of a global dysfunction of the synapses in the aged PFC and the evidence of opposite phenotypes of astrogliosis in the aging brain, which we report for the first time in the present article. Full article

Sister chromatid cohesion is essential for cell division. During meiosis, it is also required for proper synapsis of pairs of sister chromatids and for chiasma formation and maintenance. Since mammalian oocytes remain arrested in late prophase for a very long period—up to five decades in humans—the preservation of cohesion throughout this period is a formidable challenge. Mouse models with cohesin deficiencies and aging wild-type mice showed that this challenge is not fully met: cohesion weakens and deteriorates with increasing age. These recent findings have highly significant implications for our comprehension of the genesis of aneuploidies. Full article