miR-342-5p Decreases Ankyrin G Levels in Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mouse Models

MicroRNA alterations and axonopathy have been reported in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in AD mouse models. We now report that miR342-5p is upregulated in APP/PS1, PS1DE9, and PS1-M146V transgenic AD mice, and that this upregulation is mechanistically linked to elevated b-catenin, c-Myc, and interferon regulatory factor-9. The increased miR-342-5p downregulates the expression of ankyrin G (AnkG), a protein that is known to play a critical role at the axon initial segment. Thus, a specific miRNA alteration may contribute to AD axonopathy by downregulating AnkG.