title: Big effects of small RNAs: a review of microRNAs in anxiety.
abstract: Epigenetic and regulatory elements provide an additional layer of complexity to the heterogeneity of anxiety disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding RNAs that have recently drawn interest as epigenetic modulators of gene expression in psychiatric disorders. miRNAs elicit their effects by binding to target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and hindering translation or accelerating degradation. Considering their role in neuronal differentiation and synaptic plasticity, miRNAs have opened up new investigative avenues in the aetiology and treatment of anxiety disorders. In this review, we provide a thorough analysis of miRNAs, their targets and their functions in the central nervous system (CNS), focusing on their role in anxiety disorders. The involvement of miRNAs in CNS functions (such as neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis and synaptic and neural plasticity) and their intricate regulatory role under stressful conditions strongly support their importance in the aetiology of anxiety disorders. Furthermore, miRNAs could provide new avenues for the development of therapeutic targets in anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa. smalan@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malan-Müller
authors.forename: Sîan Megan Joanna
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hemmings
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seedat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000639:trends; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs