MicroRNA-22: a Novel and Potent Biological Therapeutics in Neurological Disorders

MicroRNAs (miRs) are regulatory RNAs with 18-25 nucleotides lengths involved in various biological processes. Some miRs, including miR-22, play an essential role in regulating neurological disorders. MiR-22 is a brain-enriched regulatory element involved in angiogenesis, energy supply, adjustment of ionic channels, and suppression of malignant cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. This article discusses the protective and therapeutic effects of miR-22 on neurological diseases and injuries, including cerebral ischemia, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and brain malignancies. We also correlated miR-22 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), panic disorders, schizophrenia, neural tube defect (anencephaly), and traumatic brain injury. This work provides a therapeutic perspective for miR-22 as a new approach in treating neurological disorders.