Differential Expression and Bioinformatics Analysis of miRNAs in the Sp5C of  Migraine Mouse Models
Background: Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder that affects a significant portion of the global population. Previous studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of migraine. This study aims to explore the potential functions of miRNAs through sequencing analysis of the Sp5C in a migraine mouse model. Method: Migraine mouse models were established through repeated inflammatory soup dural injections. Total RNA was extracted from the Sp5C of both the migraine and control groups. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to analyze the miRNA expression profiles, followed by differential expression analysis using bioinformatics tools. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed based on differential expressed miRNAs, and literature review was conducted to identify target genes for subsequent animal experiments. Results: Compared to the control group, we identified four miRNAs with differential expression (fold change =1.5, P < 0.05), all of which were upregulated in the migraine model group. These miRNAs included miR-12179-5p, miR-23b-5p, miR-214-5p, and miR-6239. We employed online miRNA prediction tools (Targetscan, miRWalk, and miRDB) and obtained 7,909 predicted target genes. Bioinformatics analysis of these target genes identified several enriched signaling pathways, with particular interest in chemotaxis, immune receptor activity, immune system development, and the MAPK signaling pathway. These pathways play important roles in mediating pain and neuroinflammation. Based on a literature review and bioinformatics analysis, we identified Cxcr5 as a potential key gene for further research. Conclusion: Our results indicated that four upregulated miRNAs (miR-12179-5p, miR-23b-5p, miR-214-5p, and miR-6239) were identified in the migraine model compared to the control group. Whether Cxcr5 can serve as a key regulatory gene for migraine treatment requires further experimental validation. Overall design: We obtained Sp5C region brain tissue samples from three mice in the migraine model group and three mice in the control group. .