Fentanyl-Induced Rapid Cortical Damage and Cardiopulmonary Arrest Linked to Atypical Dynamics of Apoptosis and Immune Response in a Mouse Model [miRNA]

To understand its tissue-specific molecular effects, we administered three escalating doses of fentanyl (HNLD, LD10, and LD50) to SKH-1 mice and collected cortex, heart, and lung samples at 0h, 6h, 24h, and 7d post-injection. This study employed miRNA-seq to uncover conserved regulatory signatures underlying apoptosis and immune response networks.

Using a machine-learning pipeline, we identified phylogenetically conserved miRNA-mRNA axes with translational potential, such as miR-877-3p in cortex and miR-146b-5p in lungs, providing early leads for therapeutic intervention in fentanyl overdose.