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Plants possess an arsenal of different classes of small RNAs (sRNAs) of variable size, which play a regulatory role in a multitude of physiological and pathological processes via transcriptional or post-transcriptional gene silencing. The hard challenges that agriculture will face in the next few decades, such as an increasing demand for agrifood production related to the global increase in population, have stimulated the development of innovative biotechnological approaches in agriculture. In this regard, the use of artificial sRNAs has already been exploited successfully for many purposes, including control of severe plant diseases, improvement of genetic and agronomic traits of cultivated species, and increasing the nutritional value of plant foodstuffs. This strategy relies on the application of synthetic sRNA molecules to induce specific physiological responses by triggering appropriate RNA silencing pathways. This review contextualizes the use of artificial sRNAs in consideration of the huge diversity of RNA silencing mechanisms in plants. Additionally, the discussion also examines microRNAs from edible plants and exosome-like vesicles, also known as plant-derived edible nanoparticles (ENPs), which themselves can act as micronutrients., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

It is now well established that lifestyle, particularly eating habits, modulates the synthesis and action of microRNAs (miRNAs). In particular, several nutritional schemes have proven effective in improving body composition, but molecular mechanisms still need to be fully understood. Within the complex physiological network of food intake regulation, it is essential to understand the changes in endocrine activity after the reduction of adipose tissue during a weight loss program. This could be the key to identifying the optimal endocrine profile in high responders, the assessment of musculoskeletal status, and long-term management. In this review, we summarize the state of the art regarding miRNAs as a function of weight loss and as a mechanistic regulator of the effectiveness of the nutritional program., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: The Ketogenic Diet (KD) promotes metabolic changes and optimizes energy metabolism. It is unknown if microRNAs (miRs) are influenced by KD in obese subjects. The screening of circulating miRs was performed with the FDA approved platform n-counter flex and blood biochemical parameters were dosed by ADVIA 1800., Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate mir profile under 6 weeks of biphasic KD in obese subjects. We enrolled 36 obese subjects (18 females and 18 males) in stage 1 of Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) parameter., Result: Any correlation was found between biochemical parameter and three miRs, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-143-3p and hsa-miR-504-5p influenced in an equal manner in both sexes. The KD resulted safe and ameliorate both biochemical and anthropometric factors in obese subjects re-collocating them into stage 0 of EOSS parameters., Conclusion: The miRs herein identified under KD might be a useful tool to monitor low carbohydrate nutritional regimens which reflect indirectly the regulatory biochemical mechanisms and cell signaling that orchestrate metabolic and signaling pathways., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Human Milk (HM) is a biological fluid representing the first nutrient for newborns. It directly impacts the development of the infant's immune system. In this concern, specific microRNAs (miRNAs) such as hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-181a, hsa-miR-150 and hsa-miR-223 are known to be involved in the innate and acquired immune response., Objective: Herein, these miRNAs were evaluated in frozen and pasteurized samples of human colostrum and HM in order to elucidate the distribution and the expression profile of these biological mediators in both biological fluids., Methods: Using quantitative approach qRT-PCR, we analyzed immune-related microRNAs in both, colostrum and HM., Results: Our study provided evidence of a comparable profile of immune specific miRNAs in colostrum and HM. Although we detected all the four miRNAs tested, we point out the prevalence of hsamiR- 181a and hsa-miR-223 indicative to act on T and granulocytes cell populations as selective targets. Therefore, these biomolecules could affect newborn's immune homeostasis at early stages of life. While, variation in immune-related miRNAs was found in HM amongst lactating women, it was not evidenced in colostrum. Of interest, pasteurization procedure did not alter the distribution or the expression profile of the miRNAs tested in both colostrum and HM. Herein, we also proposed a simple method to determine the quantity of these biomolecules in biological fluids., Conclusion: Considering, this evidence the variation in immune-related miRNAs should be take into account and could be relevant for preterm and hospitalized infants who usually received pasteurized HM from donors., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

Background: Migraine is a prevalent neurovascular disorders with a complex pathophysiology and therapeutic options characterized by important side effects or problems related to drug abuse. No specific biomarkers are recognized to be univocal for this subclinical condition, yet. In this concern microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as potentially useful screening/diagnostic tool, and research is underway to recognize the most effective candidate(s). In this concern in the present review we Herein we highlighted miRs involvement in pain and migraine, as well as drug response and efficacy focusing also on miRs panel results from mice model with multiple induced pain conditions, and human patients with migraine in order to understand if there are similar miRs expression pattern may useful into human translational studies., Results: During human migraine attack specific miRs were found dysregulated, as well as in mouse models with different pain conditions. Amongst all the miRs screened in mice/human suffering of pain the miR-590-5p was found alterated. This latter miR, in mice is modulated by celecoxib, while in human is dysregulated in the complex regional pain syndrome, condition where migraine assume a risk factor for its development. Recently has been reported that pharmacological treatments, indirectly can pertubate miRNA expression results. Therefore, miR-590-5p could assume an interesting double meaning for a clinical point of view. It can be considered biomarker of general pain, including migraine and also biomarker to evaluate the efficacy of the drug treatment. This could be of great importance in infant-juvenile segment, where the diagnosis of migraine is very challenging. In this view, since therapy is often started with NSAIDs herein we discuss also how the discovery of the new role of miRNAs in determining drug efficacy open a new scenario in the pain-migraine tailored therapy and pharmacogenomics concept., Conclusion: miRNAs could have a pleiotropic meaning in the clinical management of migraine and could represent biomarkers of pathology, of drug efficacy as well as drug adherence to the treatment., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

Among the clinical spectrum of neurological diseases, migraine is often associated with cerebro-vasculopathy. Impairment of neuroimmune mediators in the central nervous system has been recognized in the pathophysiology of migraine-related stroke. Although genetic correlation was found in patients with migraine-related stroke, the epidemiology of this disease indicates a need in biomarker searching discovery and validation. In this view, small molecule, called microRNAs (miRNAs), able to regulate immune and neuronal processes has been reported in patients with migraine and ischemic stroke and unambiguous miRNAs related to these diseases could be established as new molecular indicator of precocity for clinical and/or pharmacological intervention. Therefore, further exploration of this area is necessary, as greater understanding of these biomarkers could reveal the common mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of migraine in patients with cerebral infarct., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)