The Regulatory Role of miRNA 27 and Follistatin Like Protein-1 Gene in the Pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the initiation and progression of several central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including multiple sclerosis. Microglia and astrocytes are essential in neural development, maintenance of synaptic connections, and homeostasis in a healthy brain.

Recent researchers have discovered that microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to the pathophysiology of MS, primarily influencing glial cells and the immune cells in the periphery. In recent years, miRNAs have become more prevalent as inflammation and demyelination process regulators in MS.

miRNAs are naturally occurring, non-coding RNA molecules (21-25 nucleotides). miRNAs play a part in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and silencing of RNA. miRNAs have been discovered to control some physiological processes, as apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and development.

Measurement of circulating miRNAs in MS patients' peripheral blood is one of the promising approaches as it can be a non-invasive tool to explain its pathogenesis. miRNAs are remarkably stable in bodily fluids and are relatively simple to collect and quantify. Moreover, a novel approach to therapy may be based on methods that regulate the activity of miRNAs.

Several miRNAs particularly miR-27 have been reportedly involved in regulating myelination in the central nervous system. However, the role of micro RNAs in generation or progression of MS remains elusive.