Think of rehabilitation as a trusty sidekick in the battle against Parkinson’s disease (PD). Just like Batman and Robin, they make a dynamic duo! But how does rehab actually work? It turns out, exosomal mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles may hold the key. These tiny molecules, found in blood samples, have different levels of activity in PD patients compared to healthy controls. After a 2-week rehabilitation treatment, improvements were seen in both motor and non-motor functions of PD patients. Through next-generation sequencing, researchers discovered various genes that were significantly upregulated or downregulated after rehabilitation. Notably, one gene related to mitochondrial respiration called NDUFB7 showed changes in expression levels before and after rehab. In fact, the mitochondrial pathway seems to be involved in the development of PD. This exciting study suggests that the association between mitochondrial function and PD rehabilitation warrants further investigation.
Rehabilitation has been proposed as a valid measure complementary to the management of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the mechanism underlying is not clear yet. The differential expressions of exosomal messenger RNA (mRNA) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play a critical role in PD progression and rehabilitation. To compare the differential expressions of exosomal mRNAs and lncRNAs, patients with PD (PWPs, Hoehn and Yahr stages 1.5-2.5, n = 6) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs, n = 6) were included in this study. All PWPs received a 2-week rehabilitation treatment in the hospital, which seemingly led to improvement in both the motor and non-motor functions. A set of differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) extracted from exosomes in blood samples via next-generation sequencing (NGS) was screened out. Compared to HCs, 2,337 vs. 701 mRNAs and 1,278 vs. 445 lncRNAs were significantly upregulated and significantly downregulated, respectively, in pre-rehabilitation (pre-rehab) PWPs; 2,490 vs. 629 mRNAs and 1,561 vs. 370 lncRNAs were significantly upregulated and significantly downregulated, respectively, in post-rehabilitation (post-rehab) PWPs. Compared to pre-rehab PWPs, 606 vs. 1,056 mRNAs and 593 vs. 1,136 lncRNAs were significantly upregulated and significantly downregulated, respectively, in post-rehab PWPs. Overall, 14 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and 73 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were expressed in the blood exosomes of HCs, pre- and post-rehab PWPs, simultaneously. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses identified 243 significantly co-expressed lncRNA-mRNA pairs. One DEmRNA of interest (ENSG00000099795, NDUFB7) and three corresponding DElncRNAs (ENST00000564683, ENST00000570408, and ENST00000628340) were positively related. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validated that the expression levels of NDUFB7 mRNA and the 3 DElncRNAs increased significantly in pre-rehab PWPs, but decreased significantly in post-rehab PWPs compared to HCs. NDUFB7 mRNA is a marker related to mitochondrial respiration. It is reasonably believed that mitochondrial function is associated with PD rehabilitation, and the mitochondrial pathway may involve in the pathogenesis of PD.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.