Targeting the RUNX3–miR-186-3p–DAT–IGF1R axis as a therapeutic strategy in a Parkinson’s disease model

With the increasing age of the population worldwide, the incidence rate of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing annually. Currently, the treatment strategy for PD only improves clinical symptoms. No effective treatment strategy can slow down the progression of the disease. In the present study, whole transcriptome sequencing was used to obtain the mRNA and miRNA expression profiles in a PD mouse model, which revealed the pathogenesis of PD. The transcription factor RUNX3 upregulated the miR-186-3p expression in the PD model. Furthermore, the high miR-186-3p expression in PD can be targeted to inhibit the DAT expression, resulting in a decrease in the dopamine content of dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, miR-186-3p can be targeted to inhibit the IGF1R expression and prevent the activation of the IGF1R–P-PI3K–P-AKT pathway, thus increasing the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons by regulating the cytochrome c–Bax–cleaved caspase-3 pathway. Our research showed that the RUNX3–miR-186-3p–DAT–IGF1R axis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of PD, and miR-186-3p is a potential target for the treatment of PD.