AUTHOR=Pignataro Giuseppe 

TITLE=Emerging Role of microRNAs in Stroke Protection Elicited by Remote Postconditioning

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.748709

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.748709

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) represents an innovative and attracting neuroprotective strategy in stroke. This procedure is aimed at triggering the activation of endogenous tolerance mechanism by delivering a subliminal ischemic injury in the limbs, or in another “remote” region, leading to a protective systemic response against ischemic brain injury.  
Among the multiple candidates that have been proposed as putative mediators of the protective effect generated by the subthreshold peripheral ischemic insult, it has been hypothesized that release and transport of microRNAs plays a vital role in the infarct-sparing effect of RIC. 
The effect of miRNAs can be exploited at different levels: (1) as transducers of protective messages to the brain; or (2) as effectors of brain protection. 
The purpose of the present review is to summarize the most recent evidence supporting the involvement of microRNA in brain protection elicited by remote conditioning and highlighting potentiality and pitfalls in their exploitation as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. 
The knowledge of these mechanisms may provide information to bring light on those molecular pathways involved in brain protection for the future development of miRNA-based theranostic agents in stroke.