Dan-Dan Cao, Lu Li and Wai-Yee Chan *
Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong—Chinese Academy
of Sciences Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health Joint Laboratory on Stem Cell and
Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 999077, SAR, China;
caodandan@link.cuhk.edu.hk (D.-D.C.); greenpear0804@hotmail.com (L.L.)
- Correspondence: chanwy@cuhk.edu.hk; Tel.: +852-3943-1383; Fax: +852-2603-7902
Academic Editor: Y-h. Taguchi
Received: 2 April 2016; Accepted: 23 May 2016; Published: 28 May 2016
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, well-conserved noncoding RNAs that regulate
gene expression post-transcriptionally. They have been demonstrated to regulate a lot of biological
pathways and cellular functions. Many miRNAs are dynamically regulated during central nervous
system (CNS) development and are spatially expressed in adult brain indicating their essential roles
in neural development and function. In addition, accumulating evidence strongly suggests that
dysfunction of miRNAs contributes to neurological diseases. These observations, together with
their gene regulation property, implicated miRNAs to be the key regulators in the complex genetic
network of the CNS. In this review, we first focus on the ways through which miRNAs exert the
regulatory function and how miRNAs are regulated in the CNS. We then summarize recent findings
that highlight the versatile roles of miRNAs in normal CNS physiology and their association with
several types of neurological diseases. Subsequently we discuss the limitations of miRNAs research
based on current studies as well as the potential therapeutic applications and challenges of miRNAs
in neurological disorders. We endeavor to provide an updated description of the regulatory roles of
miRNAs in normal CNS functions and pathogenesis of neurological diseases.