Small RNAs in plasma extracellular vesicles define biomarkers of premanifest changes in Huntington’s disease

Despite the advances in the understanding of Huntington’s disease (HD), there is the need for molecular biomarkers to categorize mutation-carriers during the preclinical stage of the disease preceding the functional decline. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a promising source of biomarkers since their expression levels are highly sensitive to pathobiological processes. Here, using an optimized method for plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) purification and an exhaustive analysis pipeline of sRNA sequencing data, we show that EV-sRNAs are early downregulated in mutation-carriers, and that this deregulation is associated with premanifest cognitive performance. Seven candidate sRNAs (tRF-Glu-CTC, tRF-Gly-GCC, miR-451a, miR-21-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-27a-3p, and let7a-5p) were validated in additional subjects, showing a significant diagnostic accuracy at premanifest stages. Of these, miR – 21-5p was significantly decreased over time in a longitudinal study; and miR-21-5p and miR-26a-5p levels correlated with cognitive changes in the premanifest cohort. In summary, the present results suggest that deregulated plasma EV-sRNAs define an early biosignature in mutation carriers with specific species sensing the progression and cognitive changes occurring at the premanifest stage.