Cited by 3MicroRNA in disease regulationNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsPlant Molecular Biology Research

Shared and distinct microRNA profiles between HT22, N2A and SH-SY5Y cell lines and primary mouse hippocampal neurons

Open access
Murphy, Ronan, Villegas-Salmerón, Javier, Sanz-Rodriguez, Amaya, Engel, Tobias, Mooney, Catherine, Henshall, David C., Jimenez-Mateos, Eva M.·2025·PLOS One

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that are key negative regulators of gene expression. Their roles include shaping the gene expression landscape during and after brain development by defining and maintaining levels of proteins that generate the distinct morphological and functional properties of neurons and other brain cell types. HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y are common immortalized neuronal cell lines that offer simple, less expensive, and time-saving options for in vitro modelling to evaluate miRNA functions. The extent to which these lines reflect primary neurons remains, however, unclear. Here, we benchmarked the miRNA profiles of cultured mouse hippocampal neurons against Argonaute-loaded miRNAs in the adult mouse hippocampus and miRNA data from the hippocampus of control human donors. We then compared the miRNA expression landscape in HT22, N2A and SH-SY5Y against mouse hippocampal primary cell cultures. We profiled over 700 miRNAs across the lines and detected 310 miRNAs in all four cell types. This included detection of neuron-enriched miRNAs such as miR-124 and miR-128, although the cell lines typically displayed lower levels of these than in primary neurons and reference adult hippocampal tissue. The miRNA profile in the HT22 cell line showed the highest correlation to the mouse primary neuronal cultures. Together, this study provides a dataset on basal miRNA expression across commonly used cell lines for neuroscience research and evidence for both conserved and distinct profiles that should be used to inform decisions on cell lines for modelling brain and miRNA research.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This study benchmarks basal microRNA profiles of HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y cell lines against primary mouse hippocampal neurons and adult mouse/human hippocampal miRNA data. It finds substantial overlap but generally lower levels of neuron-enriched miRNAs in cell lines, with HT22 showing the highest correlation to primary mouse hippocampal neurons.

Key findings

  • Primary mouse hippocampal neurons (DIV10) shared 78% of expressed miRNAs with Ago2-bound miRNAs from adult mouse hippocampus and 91% with human hippocampus; 119 miRNAs were common across all three, with only 8 exclusively detected in primary hippocampal neurons.
  • Across primary neurons and the three cell lines, 310 miRNAs were detected; 98 (32%) were common to all four cell types. Unique counts were 13 miRNAs in primary neurons, 7 in HT22, 20 in N2A, and 61 in SH-SY5Y.
  • HT22 had the highest correlation with primary mouse hippocampal neurons (r = 0.735, MSE = 8.515), N2A the lowest (r = 0.564, MSE = 13.444), and SH-SY5Y intermediate (r = 0.715, MSE = 8.443). HT22 also had the highest proportion of similarly expressed miRNAs (57%), followed by SH-SY5Y (43%) and N2A (38%).
  • Neuron-enriched miRNAs such as miR-124, miR-128, miR-132, miR-212, and miR-218 were detected but generally lower in cell lines; some were absent (miR-129 not detected in HT22 or N2A, miR-134 not in HT22, miR-135a not in N2A). N2A versus SH-SY5Y detected 200 miRNAs, with 59 lower and 50 higher in N2A.

Methods

  • Primary hippocampal neurons were prepared from embryonic day 18 C57Bl/6J mice and cultured to day in vitro 10; HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y cells were cultured and harvested 48 hours after plating, with triplicate independent cultures after four passages.
  • miRNA profiling used the TaqMan OpenArray rodent microRNA panel (750 mouse/rat miRNAs) and qPCR, with 100 ng RNA input. Analysis in R included filtering (AmpScore ≥ 1.24, Cqconf ≥ 0.8, Ct > 10 and < 35), inclusion if present in at least 2 of 3 samples per group, mean Ct imputation, quantile normalization with qpcrNorm, PCA, Pearson correlation and MSE, limma differential expression (FDR < 0.05), ΔΔCt, ANOVA with Dunnett test, and 1000 bootstrapping iterations.
  • Human control hippocampal RNA-seq from previously available data was analyzed with edgeR (count > 10, ~8 million reads, miRNAs present in all 3 samples), log CPM transformed to the Ct range, then merged and quantile normalized with the qPCR data.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the OpenArray platform has a pre-selected number of miRNAs, so the full repertoire was not captured and isomiRs and editing were missed; human primary neurons (e.g., iPSC-derived) were not included; only basal miRNA expression was assessed, so responses to stressors cannot be inferred; and cell lines were compared to mature hippocampal neurons, not neural progenitors, leaving maturation-state differences unresolved.
  • The authors also note that the cell lines were not differentiated. Evident from the methods, human SH-SY5Y cells were profiled on a rodent miRNA panel, which may underrepresent human-specific miRNAs; the paper notes human-specific brain miRNAs exist but does not list this as a limitation.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0326401

Cites

55 of 55 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

1 of 25 cited sources checked · 1 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    miRNAs such as miR-16, miR-30c, miR-125a have similar expression levels in the four cell types.

    “miRNAs such as miR-16, miR-30c, miR-125a have similar expression levels in the four cell types (Fig 2D).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    7 miRNAs were detected only in HT22.

    “13 miRNAs were detected only in the primary hippocampal neurons, 7 in HT22, 20 in N2A, and 61 in SH-SY5Y (Fig 2C).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Neuron-enriched miRNAs such as miR-124 and miR-128 were detected in the cell lines.

    “This included detection of neuron-enriched miRNAs such as miR-124 and miR-128”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    13 miRNAs were detected only in primary hippocampal neurons.

    “13 miRNAs were detected only in the primary hippocampal neurons, 7 in HT22, 20 in N2A, and 61 in SH-SY5Y (Fig 2C).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    PCA using total miRNA datasets showed separation of primary hippocampal neurons, HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y into four distinctive groups.

    “Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using the total miRNA datasets from each cell type showed separation of primary hippocampal neurons, HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y into four distinctive groups (Fig 2B).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 17
  • May combine two claims. 14
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Previous studies identified a set of miRNAs enriched in neurons, with expression fivefold higher than glial cells, including miR-124, miR-132 and miR-135b, while the same cells display very low expression of miR-21 and miR-146a compared to glial cells.

    “This identified a set of miRNAs that are enriched in neurons, with expression fivefold higher than the glial cells, including miR-124, miR-132 and miR-135b, while the same cells display very low expression of miR-21 and miR-146a compared to glial cells [8].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] A Jovičić, 2013, Comprehensive expression analyses of neural cell-type-specific miRNAs identify new determinants of the specification and maintenance of neuronal phenotypes, J Neurosci source
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Specific miRNA levels varied between lines, with some miRNA absent, and each line varied in terms of aligning to primary neurons.

    “However, specific miRNA levels varied between lines with some miRNA absent while each line varied in terms of aligning to primary neurons.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The study did not find a large effect of species, with most miRNA profiles quite conserved between human and mouse lines.

    “Finally, our study did not find a large effect of species, with most miRNA profiles quite conserved between human and mouse lines.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingcitation

    In mouse and rat hippocampal neurons, miR-22, miR-24, miR-26, miR-29a, miR-124 and miR-129 are within the lowest expressed miRNAs.

    “Furthermore, miR-22, miR-24, miR-26, miR-29a, miR-124 and miR-129, are within the lowest expressed miRNAs”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    While miRNA profiles show substantial overlap with primary mouse neurons, cell lines tend to express lower levels of adult-enriched miRNAs.

    “A key observation in the present study was that while miRNA profiles show substantial overlap with primary mouse neurons, they tend to express lower levels of adult-enriched miRNAs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingcitation

    Similar results to the 79% overlap were found when compared with human tissue.

    “with similar results found when compared with human tissue [46].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [46] JD Mills, 2020, Coding and non-coding transcriptome of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: critical role of small non-coding RNAs, Neurobiol Dis source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The results provide a catalogue of miRNA expression which researchers can use to select the most appropriate cell type for basic and applied miRNA research, including for studies on epilepsy.

    “The results provide a catalogue of miRNA expression which researchers can use to select the most appropriate cell type for basic and applied miRNA research, including for studies on epilepsy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study compared immortalized cell lines to mature hippocampal neurons, not to neural progenitor cells.

    “And last, in the current study, we have compared immortalized cell lines to mature hippocampal neurons, and not to neural progenitor cells.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The OpenArray platform has a pre-selected number of miRNAs, such that the study did not capture the full repertoire of miRNAs.

    “The OpenArray platform has a pre-selected number of miRNAs such that we have not captured the full repertoire of miRNAs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    All procedures were performed in accordance with guidelines and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

    “All procedures were performed in accordance with the guidelines of the European Communities Council Directives (86/609/EU and 2010/63/EU) and were reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (REC #765) under license from the Department of Health, Dublin, Ireland (B100/4524).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The cell lines are a better model for neurodevelopment and may retain tumor-related miRNA profiles.

    “This is not surprising and suggests researchers should be wary that the cell lines are a better model for neurodevelopment and may retain tumor-related miRNA profiles.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    SH-SY5Y are neuroblastoma cells of human origin with a neuroblast-like morphology and expression of immature neuronal markers.

    “SH-SY5Y are neuroblastoma cells of human origin with a neuroblast-like morphology and expression of immature neuronal markers [29].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [29] ZB Kaya, 2024, Optimizing SH-SY5Y cell culture: exploring the beneficial effects of an alternative media supplement on cell proliferation and viability, Sci Rep source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The study supports the general suitability of each cell line as well as identifying profiles which may favour the selection of one cell type over another, depending on the research question.

    “Overall, the study supports the general suitability of each cell line as well as identifying profiles which may favour the selection of one cell type over another, depending on the research question.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Differentiated HT22 cells express higher levels of NMDAR mRNA, making them susceptible to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity.

    “Differentiated HT22 cells express higher levels of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) mRNA [27], making them susceptible to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity [26].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [27] Z Zhao, 2012, Differentiation of HT22 neurons induces expression of NMDA receptor that mediates homocysteine cytotoxicity, Neurol Res source
    • cites [26] M He, 2013, Differentiation renders susceptibility to excitotoxicity in HT22 neurons, Neural Regen Res source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Due to the difference in maturation state, it cannot be certain whether the cell lines are more similar to progenitors or mature neurons.

    “The limitation here, is the difference in maturation state and we cannot be certain whether the cell lines are more similar to progenitors or mature neurons.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Cell lines were tested for mycoplasmas before experiments and results were negative for the three immortalized cell lines.

    “Cell lines were tested for mycoplasmas before experiments started and results were negative for the three immortalized cell lines.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    HT22 cells are immortalized primary mouse hippocampal neuronal cells, derived from parent HT4 cells.

    “HT22 cells are immortalized primary mouse hippocampal neuronal cells, derived from parent HT4 cells [22,24].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [22] BH Morimoto, 1990, Induction and expression of long- and short-term neurosecretory potentiation in a neural cell line, Neuron source
    • cites [24] BH Morimoto, 1990, Excitatory amino acid uptake and N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated secretion in a neural cell line, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The study only evaluated basal levels of miRNA expression and cannot be used to infer how cell line miRNA profiles may respond to stressors.

    “Third, our study only evaluated the basal levels of miRNA expression and cannot be used to infer how the cell line miRNA profiles may respond to stressors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    After differentiation with retinoic acid and neurotrophins, SH-SY5Y cells become morphologically similar to primary neurons and express neuron-specific markers.

    “After differentiation with retinoic acid and neurotrophins, SH-SY5Y cells become morphologically similar to primary neurons and express neuron-specific markers [29].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [29] ZB Kaya, 2024, Optimizing SH-SY5Y cell culture: exploring the beneficial effects of an alternative media supplement on cell proliferation and viability, Sci Rep source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study did not include human primary (e.g. iPSC) neurons, which would provide a useful additional comparator.

    “Second, we did not include human primary (e.g. iPSC) neurons which would provide a useful additional comparator.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Many human-specific miRNAs are expressed uniquely in the brain.

    “There are, however, human-specific miRNAs, many of which are expressed uniquely in the brain [56]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [56] KS Kosik, 2018, Evolution of new miRNAs and cerebro-cortical development, Annu Rev Neurosci source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationnone given

    The findings provide a useful resource for experimental planning including assessing the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for neurologic diseases such as epilepsy.

    “The findings provide a useful resource for experimental planning including assessing the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for neurologic diseases such as epilepsy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    N2A is a mouse neuroblastoma cell line.

    “N2A is a mouse neuroblastoma cell line, commonly used to study neuronal differentiation and used extensively to test novel cancer treatments [28].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [28] D Martín, 2024, Electrical pulse stimulation parameters modulate N2a neuronal differentiation, Cell Death Discov source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    p-values were adjusted for multiple testing by controlling the false discovery rate according to the method of Benjamini and Hochberg.

    “p-values were adjusted for multiple testing by controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) according to the method of Benjamini and Hochberg [44].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [44] Y Benjamini, 2000, On the adaptive control of the false discovery rate in multiple testing with independent statistics, J Educ Behav Stat source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The cellular function of interest should be the primary decision point in choosing the cellular line rather than the species origin.

    “Regardless, these findings suggest that the cellular function of interest should be the primary decision point in choosing the cellular line rather than the species origin.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The results represent a comprehensive mapping of basal miRNA expression profiles in commonly used neuronal cell lines, which may be useful to inform choice of cell line in miRNA research on the brain.

    “Together, the results represent a comprehensive mapping of the basal miRNA expression profiles in commonly used neuronal cell lines which may be useful to inform choice of cell line in miRNA research on the brain.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
26 of 26
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The extent to which HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y cell lines reflect primary neurons is unclear.

    “The extent to which these lines reflect primary neurons remains, however, unclear.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Immortalized cell lines typically have phenotypes and patterns of gene regulation that do not reflect some neuronal characteristics and responses to stimuli.

    “However, immortalized cell lines typically have a tumoral origin or have been modified to be kept cultured indefinitely, which results in phenotypes and patterns of gene regulation that do not reflect some neuronal characteristics and responses to stimuli.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mouse primary hippocampal neurons are a suitable comparator for the miRNA profiles of HT22, N2A, and SH-SY5Y cells.

    “Mouse primary hippocampal neurons were selected as a suitable comparator for the miRNA profiles of HT22, N2A and SH-SY5Y cells (Table 1).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The suitability of cell lines for neuronal miRNA studies has often neglected an assessment of their basal miRNA expression and its relevance to primary neurons or the brain.

    “However, the suitability of cell lines for neuronal miRNA studies has often neglected an assessment of their basal miRNA expression and its relevance to primary neurons or the brain.”
4 of 4

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Abstract calls all 310 miRNAs shared across four cell types

    Major

    The abstract says 310 miRNAs were detected in all four cell types, but the results say only 98 were common to all four; 310 is the total detected across the cell types.

  • Reported correlations differ between text and Fig 4 caption

    Major

    The text gives correlations of 0.735 for HT22 and 0.715 for SH-SY5Y, whereas the caption gives 0.700 and 0.721 for those same comparisons.

  • Text and Fig 5 caption name different miRNAs

    Minor

    The text identifies miR-28 as the miRNA compared alongside miR-106b, while the Fig 5C caption identifies it as miR-26.

  • Mouse hippocampus overlap is reported as both 78% and 79%

    Minor

    The results and discussion give different whole-number percentages for the same comparison of primary-neuron miRNAs with adult mouse hippocampal RISC-loaded miRNAs.

4 of 4

Cites

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Authors
Murphy, R., Villegas-Salmerón, J., Sanz-Rodriguez, A., Engel, T., Mooney, C., Henshall, D. C., & Jimenez-Mateos, E. M.
Affiliations
  • Trinity College Dublin (IE)
  • Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (IE)
  • University College Dublin (IE)
Venue
PLOS One
Published
2025-12-03
Volume
20
Issue
12
Pages
e0326401
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4417035971
Cited by
3
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 3
FWCI
0.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • European Union's ‘Seventh Framework’ Programme (602130)
  • Health Research Board (ILP-POR-2022-029)
  • Wellcome Trust (Ph2IISF-16585)
  • Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland (17/CDA/4708, 22/FFP-P/11333 and 21/RC/10294_P2)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › MicroRNA in disease regulation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Molecular Biology Research
Keywords
microRNA expression profiles, miR-124, miR-128, mouse hippocampus, in vitro neuronal model
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Line, Hippocampus, Humans, Neurons, Gene Expression Profiling, MicroRNAs, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice

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