Mitochondria-Associated MicroRNAs: Emerging Roles in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are the most prevalent age-associated disorders, characterized by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive decline. Mitochondrial dysfunction is strictly associated with NDs and represent one of the hallmarks of these disorders, with neurological syndromes frequently representing the primary clinical manifestations of mitochondrial abnormalities. As central regulators of cellular bioenergetics, mitochondria play a pivotal role in both the physiological maintenance and pathogenesis of disease by different regulatory approaches. One of these, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are well-established regulators of gene expression across different biological pathways. These miRNAs were usually investigated within the cytoplasmic context, but recent discoveries have revealed the presence of these miRNAs in different parts of mitochondria, where they contribute to the regulation of gene expression and metabolic activity. These mitochondrial-localized miRNAs, termed mito-MiRNA, may originate from either nuclear or mitochondrial genomes and have been shown to modulate the translational machinery of the cells. Despite extensive research on cytoplasmic miRNAs, the functional roles of mito-MiRNA remain poorly understood, particularly in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. Based on these findings, this review aims to synthesize emerging evidence on the involvement of mito-MiRNA in in one of most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases—Parkinson’s disease (PD).