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This research investigates how cerebrospinal fluid from restless legs syndrome patients affects iron uptake in endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier.

April 10, 2026Open Access

Cerebrospinal Fluid from Restless Legs Syndrome Patients Reduces Iron Uptake in Blood–Brain Barrier Endothelial Cells by Disrupting the Regulation of Transferrin Receptors

Key Points

This research investigates how cerebrospinal fluid from restless legs syndrome patients affects iron uptake in endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier.
Treatment of endothelial cells with cerebrospinal fluid from restless legs syndrome patients.
Measurement of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) expression levels.
Analysis of miR-124-3p levels and their effect on mRNA stability.
Endothelial cells exhibit signs of iron deficiency when treated with cerebrospinal fluid from RLS patients.
TfR1 protein expression does not increase as expected, indicating a disruption in regulation.
Increased levels of miR-124-3p contribute to reduced TfR1 mRNA stability.

Abstract

When ECs are treated with CSF from RLS patients, they show a profile of iron deficiency, except that the TfR1 expression does not increase as would be predicted. The decrease in TfR1 protein expression is because of a reduction in TfR1 mRNA stability by the binding of increased miR-124-3p. ANN NEUROL 2026.

Cerebrospinal Fluid from Restless Legs Syndrome Patients Reduces Iron Uptake in Blood–Brain Barrier Endothelial Cells by Disrupting the Regulation of Transferrin Receptors

Key Points

Abstract

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