MiRNA-dependent target regulation: functional characterization of single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified in genome-wide association studies of Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A growing body of evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and that some disease-associated genetic variants are located within miRNA binding sites. In the present study, we sought to characterize functional polymorphisms in miRNA target sites within the loci defined in earlier genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The main objectives of this study were to (1) facilitate the identification of the gene or genes responsible for the GWAS signal within a locus of interest and (2) determine how functional polymorphisms might be involved in the AD process (e.g., by affecting miRNA-mediated variations in gene expression).

Methods

Stringent in silico analyses were developed to select potential polymorphisms susceptible to impair

SUBMITTER: Delay C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4878064 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature