MiR-218 targets MeCP2 and inhibits heroin seeking behavior.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of evolutionarily conserved, 18-25 nucleotide non-coding sequences that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Recent studies implicated their roles in the regulation of neuronal functions, such as learning, cognition and memory formation. Here we report that miR-218 inhibits heroin-induced behavioral plasticity. First, network propagation-based method was used to predict candidate miRNAs that played potential key roles in regulating drug addiction-related genes. Microarray screening was also carried out to identify miRNAs responding to chronic heroin administration in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Among the collapsed miRNAs, top-ranked miR-218 was decreased after chronic exposure to heroin. Lentiviral overexpression of miR-218 in NAc could inhibit h

SUBMITTER: Yan B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5225456 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature