title: Abnormal Changes of Brain Cortical Anatomy and the Association with Plasma MicroRNA107 Level in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.
abstract: MicroRNA107 (Mir107) has been thought to relate to the brain structure phenotype of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we evaluated the cortical anatomy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and the relation between cortical anatomy and plasma levels of Mir107 and beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Twenty aMCI (20 aMCI) and 24 cognitively normal control (NC) subjects were recruited, and T1-weighted MR images were acquired. Cortical anatomical measurements, including cortical thickness (CT), surface area (SA), and local gyrification index (LGI), were assessed. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine plasma expression of Mir107, BACE1 mRNA. Thinner cortex was found in aMCI in areas associated with episodic memory and language, but with thicker cortex in other areas. SA decreased in aMCI in the areas associated with working memory and emotion. LGI showed a significant reduction in aMCI in the areas involved in language function. Changes in Mir107 and BACE1 messenger RNA plasma expression were correlated with changes in CT and SA. We found alterations in key left brain regions associated with memory, language, and emotion in aMCI that were significantly correlated with plasma expression of Mir107 and BACE1 mRNA. This combination study of brain anatomical alterations and gene information may shed lights on our understanding of the pathology of AD.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01819545.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai, China; Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, China; IDEA Lab, Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: IDEA Lab, Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: IDEA Lab, Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Weixiong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: IDEA Lab, Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea UniversitySeoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dinggang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai, China; Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shifu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; amnestic mild cognitive impairment; biological markers; genetics; surface-based morphometry