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miRNAs Profiling in Parkinson's Disease

Completed
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Registration Number
NCT03466723
Lead Sponsor
Neuromed IRCCS
Brief Summary

microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate fundamental cell processes. Dysregulation of miRNA expression and function is reported in various diseases including cancer, metabolic disorders as well as neurological disorders. Circulating miRNAs have been proposed to mirror physiological and pathological conditions suggesting their use as biomarkers for various diseases. The study will focus on a case-control study cohort (N=1000) of subjects recruited at the IRCCS Neuromed for which a deep clinical characterization and genome-wide sequencing data are available. This study will enable to identify novel circulating biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD). Further, the project will give new insights on the involvement of miRNAs in the etiology of PD and in the understanding of the genetics of the disease thus opening avenues for novel therapeutic strategies.

Detailed Description

Hypothesis and Significance:

The project intends to identify novel biomarkers for PD and clinical parameters related to the PD etiology. To do that circulating miRNA profiling through a next-generation sequencing will be performed using a single sample approach in the case-control study cohort and identified miRNAs will be validated by qRT-PCR and functional analyses. In addition, the project will contribute expanding the knowledge of the genetic architecture of PD taking advantage of genetic characterization of the study sample. miRNA genes and target genes will be used to prioritize genetic variants to be tested for association with PD to detect novel genes and functional variants that confer disease risk.

Specific Aim 1:

Profile of circulating miRNAs in the serum of PD patients and controls by next-generation sequencing in individual samples. Correlation between identified miRNAs and PD-related parameters and validation in independent cohorts

Specific Aim 2:

Bioinformatics prediction of target genes and miRNA functional validation

Specific Aim 3:

Identification of genes/genetic variants in miRNA pathways predisposing to PD

Expected outcomes:

The study will allow to discover novel circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease. As the deep phenotype characterization of the study sample, the project expects to find new associations of identified miRNAs with disease-related parameters and define the role of miRNAs in the physiological pathways in which those parameters are involved and in the etiology of PD. Also, the understanding of the genetics of the disease will open avenues for novel therapeutic strategies.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1000
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Identification of novel circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease3 years

The study expects to discover novel circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease. As the deep phenotype characterization of the study sample, the project expects to identify new associations of identified miRNAs with disease-related parameters and define the role of miRNAs in the physiological pathways in which those parameters are involved and in the etiology of PD. Also, the understanding of the genetics of the disease will open avenues for novel therapeutic strategies

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Neuromed IRCCS

🇮🇹

Pozzilli, Molise, Italy

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