Thinking small: towards microRNA-based therapeutics for anxiety disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric conditions, negatively affecting quality of life and creating a significant economic burden. These complex disorders are extremely difficult to treat, and there is a great need for novel therapeutics with greater efficacy and minimal adverse side effects.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors describe the role that microribonucleic acids (microRNA or miRNA) play in the development of anxiety disorders and their potential to serve as biomarkers of disease as well as targets for pharmacological treatment. Furthermore, the authors discuss the current state of miRNA research, including both preclinical and clinical studies of anxiety disorders.

Expert opinion: There is mounting evidence that circulating miRNA may serve as biomarkers of disease and play a role in the development of disease, including psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders. Great strides have been made in cancer research, with miRNA-based therapies already in use in clinical studies. However, the use of miRNA for the treatment of neurological disorders, and psychiatric disorders in particular, is still in its nascent stage. The development of safe compounds that are able to cross the blood–brain barrier and target specific cell populations, which are relevant to anxiety-related neurocircuitry, is paramount for the emergence of novel, efficacious miRNA-based therapies in clinical settings.

Keywords:

• anxiety disorders
• clinical trials
• drugs
• microRNA
• preclinical models

Declaration of interest

All of the authors are employed by University College, Cork. JF Cryan and TG Dinan were supported in part by Science Foundation Ireland in the form of a Centre Grant (grant nos. 02/CE/B124, 07/CE/B1368 and SFI/12/RC/2273). The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre is a research centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), through the Irish Government’s National Development Plan. JF Cryan, TG Dinan and KA Scott are also supported by HRB Grant HRA_POR/2012/32. G Clarke is supported by a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (Grant Number 20771). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organisation or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Notes

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