MicroRNA 4639 (miR-4639)

MicroRNA 4639 (miR-4639, hsa-miR-4639, hsa-miR-4639-5p) is a small, non-coding RNA molecule that regulates gene expression post-transcriptionally, primarily by binding to complementary sequences in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to their degradation or translational repression. It has been shown to directly target the DJ-1 (PARK7) gene, a crucial antioxidant and neuroprotective protein. In Parkinson’s disease, elevated levels of miR-4639-5p in plasma are associated with reduced DJ-1 protein expression, contributing to increased neuronal oxidative stress and cell death. This has led to proposals for miR-4639-5p as a sensitive, non-invasive molecular biomarker for early Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and as a potential therapeutic target, although clinical translation requires further validation and safety testing.

Other names

hsa-miR-4639hsa-miR-4639-5pMIR4639

Inhibition or modulation of the microRNA itself to restore DJ-1 (PARK7) expression and potentially reduce oxidative stress and neuronal death