title: The Big Role of Small RNAs in Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders.
abstract: In the study of complex, heterogeneous disorders, such as anxiety and stress-related disorders, epigenetic factors provide an additional level of heritable complexity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding RNAs that function as epigenetic modulators of gene expression by binding to target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and subsequently blocking translation or accelerating their degradation. In light of their abundance in the central nervous system (CNS) and their involvement in synaptic plasticity and neuronal differentiation, miRNAs represent an exciting frontier to be explored in the etiology and treatment of anxiety and stress-related disorders. This chapter will present a thorough review of miRNAs, their functions, and mRNA targets in the CNS, focusing on their role in anxiety and stress-related disorders as described by studies performed in animals and human subjects.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: smalan@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malan-Müller
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: S M J
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hemmings
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Anxiety and stress-related disorders; Epigenetics; MicroRNAs