A Comprehensive MicroRNA-seq Transcriptomic Analysis of Tay-Sachs Disease Mice Revealed Distinct miRNA Profiles in Neuroglial Cells

Abstract

Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder marked by the progressive buildup of GM2 in the central nervous system (CNS). This condition arises from mutations in the HEXA gene, which encodes the alpha subunit of the enzyme beta-hexosaminidase A. A newly developed mouse model for early-onset TSD (Hexa-/-Neu3-/-) exhibited signs of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, evidenced by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as significant astrogliosis and microgliosis. Identifying disease-specific MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may aid the development of targeted therapies. Although previous small-scale studies have investigated miRNA expression in some regions of GM2 gangliosidosis mouse models, thorough profiling of miRNAs in this innovative TSD model remains to be done. In this study, we employed next-generation sequencing to analyze the complete miRNA profile of neuroglial cells from Hexa-/-Neu3-/- mice. By comparing KEGG and Reactome pathways associated with neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and sphingolipid metabolism in Hexa-/-Neu3-/- neuroglial cells, we discovered new MicroRNAs and their targets related to the pathophysiology of GM2 gangliosidosis. For the first time, our findings showed that miR-708-5p, miR-672-5p, miR-204-5p, miR-335-5p, and miR-296-3p were upregulated, while miR-10 b-5p, miR-615-3p, miR-196a-5p, miR-214-5p, and miR-199a-5p were downregulated in Hexa-/-Neu3-/- neuroglial cells in comparison to age-matched wild-type (WT). These specific changes in miRNA expression deepen our understanding of the disease's neuropathological characteristics in Hexa-/-Neu3-/- mice. Our study suggests that miRNA-based therapeutic strategies may improve clinical outcomes for TSD patients.