The evolutionarily conserved miRNA-137 targets the neuropeptide hypocretin/orexin and modulates the wake to sleep ratio.

SignificanceThe hypocretin (Hcrt, also known as orexin) neuropeptides regulate sleep and wake stability, and disturbances of Hcrt can lead to sleep disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that fine-tune protein expression levels, and miRNA-based therapeutics are emerging. We report a functional interaction between miRNA (miR-137) and Hcrt. We demonstrate that intracellular miR-137 levels in Hcrt neurons regulate Hcrt expression with downstream effects on wakefulness. Specifically, lowering of miR-137 levels increased wakefulness in mice. We further show that the miR-137:Hcrt interaction is conserved across mice and humans, that miR-137 also regulates sleep-wake balance in zebrafish, and that the MIR137 locus is genetically associated with sleep duration in humans. Together, our findings reveal an evolutionarily conserved sleep-wake regulatory role of miR-137.