miR-132 and miR-212 are two closely related miRNAs encoded in the same intron of a small non-coding gene, which have been suggested to play roles in both immune and neuronal function. We describe here the generation and initial characterisation of a miR-132/212 double knockout mouse. These mice were viable and fertile with no overt adverse phenotype. Analysis of innate immune responses, includi...

We, along with others, have shown previously that P21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) plays a pivotal role in gastric cancer progression and metastasis. However, whether Pak1 controls gastric cancer metastasis by regulating microRNAs (miRNAs) has never been explored. Here, we report a novel mechanism of Pak1 in tumor metastasis. A detailed examination revealed that Pak1 interacts with and phosphoryla...

The abnormal regulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) metabolism (e.g., production, cleavage, clearance) plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among endogenous factors believed to participate in AD progression are the small regulatory non-coding microRNAs (miRs). In particular, the miR-132/212 cluster is severely reduced in the AD brain. In previous studies we have shown that miR-132/212 defici...

MicroRNA (miR)-132 brain-to-body messages suppress inflammation by targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE), but the target specificity of 3'-AChE splice variants and the signaling pathways involved remain unknown. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), we identified preferential miR-132 targeting of soluble AChE-R over synaptic-bound AChE-S, potentiating miR-132-mediated brain and body cholinergi...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the leading type of brain tumor, exhibiting unlimited proliferation and invasion potential. The present study indicated that a high expression level of miR‑132 was detected in the neural subtype of GBM and predicted an unfavorable prognosis for patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort (n=526). Cox hazard regression analysis demonstrated miR‑132 as an indepen...

The central circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), encodes day length information by mechanisms that are not well understood. Here, we report that genetic ablation of miR-132/212 alters entrainment to different day lengths and non-24 hr day-night cycles, as well as photoperiodic regulation of Period2 expression in the SCN. SCN neurons from miR-132/212-deficient mice have signif...

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide. Early diagnosis increases survival rates in patients but the survival rate has remained relatively poor over the past years. Increasing evidence shows that altered metabolism is a critical hallmark in prostate cancer. There is a strong need to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer metabolism f...