# Analysis of microRNA-transcript regulatory networks in the hippocampus of the BTBR mouse model of autism

## TL;DR

This study explores how microRNAs regulate gene activity in the hippocampus of a mouse model of autism, revealing potential regulatory networks linked to the condition.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific miRNA-target interactions and non-canonical regulatory mechanisms in an autism mouse model.

## Key findings

- Differentially expressed miRNAs, including miR-200 family members, are linked to autism-related gene regulation.
- Non-canonical miRNA-target interactions suggest novel regulatory pathways in the BTBR mouse model.
- Zeb2, a transcription factor, is experimentally validated as a target of dysregulated miRNAs in autism.

## Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with unknown etiology. Currently, the role of post-transcriptional mechanisms in ASD remains unclear. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that mediate mRNA destabilization and/or translational repression. To investigate the potential role of miRNAs in ASD, we performed miRNA expression profiling in the hippocampus of the BTBR ASD mouse model and age-matched C57BL/6 J mice. Alongside, we analyzed the BTBR hippocampal transcriptomic profile to identify differentially expressed transcripts (DETs). By integrating differentially expressed miRNA (DEmiRNA) and DET lists, we discovered mRNA transcripts that are putative targets of BTBR DEmiRNAs and exhibit an anti-correlated differential expression in the BTBR hippocampus. These interactions suggest potential regulatory networks related to gene transcription regulation, and synaptic structure and function relevant for ASD. These include miR-200 family members, miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-3p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-429, and the experimentally validated target, the transcription factor Zeb2. Moreover, we identified a set of non-canonical interactions characterized by extensive pairing between BTBR DEmiRNAs and DETs, potentially triggering target-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD). Our findings support a role for miRNA dysregulation in the pathophysiology of ASD.