{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-28T00:27:49.208Z", "family": "Pinheiro", "given": "Paulo S", "initials": "PS", "orcid": "0000-0002-9024-1021", "affiliations": ["CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal. pinheiro@cnc.uc.pt.", "CiBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal. pinheiro@cnc.uc.pt.", "Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal. pinheiro@cnc.uc.pt."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8977124563114a24b9aaad40fec269f8.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8977124563114a24b9aaad40fec269f8"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "a63562f8b79e4f968c797d41e9c307b4", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/a63562f8b79e4f968c797d41e9c307b4.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/a63562f8b79e4f968c797d41e9c307b4"}}, "title": "MiR-186-5p inhibition restores synaptic transmission and neuronal network activity in a model of chronic stress.", "authors": [{"family": "Rodrigues", "given": "Beatriz", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "Leit\u00e3o", "given": "Ricardo A", "initials": "RA"}, {"family": "Santos", "given": "M\u00f3nica", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3229-8270", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/f8968fc0a6f94a20ba50b28fc4bebdf8.json"}}, {"family": "Trofimov", "given": "Alexander", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0001-6745-6035", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/ed1b911a20934ca3a3d89d329d251607.json"}}, {"family": "Silva", "given": "Mariline", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "In\u00e1cio", "given": "\u00c2ngela S", "initials": "\u00c2S"}, {"family": "Abreu", "given": "M\u00f3nica", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Nobre", "given": "Rui J", "initials": "RJ"}, {"family": "Costa", "given": "J\u00e9ssica", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Cardoso", "given": "Ana Lu\u00edsa", "initials": "AL"}, {"family": "Milosevic", "given": "Ira", "initials": "I"}, {"family": "Pe\u00e7a", "given": "Jo\u00e3o", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Oliveiros", "given": "B\u00e1rbara", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "Pereira de Almeida", "given": "Lu\u00eds", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Pinheiro", "given": "Paulo S", "initials": "PS", "orcid": "0000-0002-9024-1021", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8977124563114a24b9aaad40fec269f8.json"}}, {"family": "Carvalho", "given": "Ana Lu\u00edsa", "initials": "AL", "orcid": "0000-0001-8368-6666", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/dc3043661fca4019b591058727edf354.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2025-03-00", "journal": {"title": "Mol. Psychiatry", "issn": "1476-5578", "volume": "30", "issue": "3", "pages": "1034-1046", "issn-l": "1359-4184"}, "abstract": "Chronic stress exerts profound negative effects on cognitive and emotional behaviours and is a major risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the molecular links between chronic stress and its deleterious effects on neuronal and synaptic function remain elusive. Here, using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we demonstrate that the upregulation of miR-186-5p triggered by chronic stress may be a key mediator of such changes, leading to synaptic dysfunction. Our results show that the expression levels of miR-186-5p are increased both in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mice exposed to chronic stress and in cortical neurons chronically exposed to dexamethasone. Additionally, viral overexpression of miR-186-5p in the PFC of na\u00efve mice induces anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours. The upregulation of miR-186-5p through prolonged glucocorticoid receptor activation in vitro, or in a mouse model of chronic stress, differentially affects glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission, causing an imbalance in excitation/inhibition that leads to altered neuronal network activity. At glutamatergic synapses, we observed both a reduction in synaptic AMPARs and synaptic transmission, whereas GABAergic synaptic transmission was strengthened. These changes could be rescued in vitro by a miR-186-5p inhibitor. Overall, our results establish a novel molecular link between chronic glucocorticoid receptor activation, the upregulation of miR-186-5p and the synaptic changes induced by chronic stress, that may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.", "doi": "10.1038/s41380-024-02715-1", "pmid": "39237722", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC11835755"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41380-024-02715-1"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-21T11:47:02.149Z", "modified": "2026-08-21T11:47:02.344Z"}]}