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Bhuvaneshwar K, Gusev Y. Translational bioinformatics and data science for biomarker discovery in mental health: an analytical review. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae098. [PMID: 38493340 PMCID: PMC10944574 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Translational bioinformatics and data science play a crucial role in biomarker discovery as it enables translational research and helps to bridge the gap between the bench research and the bedside clinical applications. Thanks to newer and faster molecular profiling technologies and reducing costs, there are many opportunities for researchers to explore the molecular and physiological mechanisms of diseases. Biomarker discovery enables researchers to better characterize patients, enables early detection and intervention/prevention and predicts treatment responses. Due to increasing prevalence and rising treatment costs, mental health (MH) disorders have become an important venue for biomarker discovery with the goal of improved patient diagnostics, treatment and care. Exploration of underlying biological mechanisms is the key to the understanding of pathogenesis and pathophysiology of MH disorders. In an effort to better understand the underlying mechanisms of MH disorders, we reviewed the major accomplishments in the MH space from a bioinformatics and data science perspective, summarized existing knowledge derived from molecular and cellular data and described challenges and areas of opportunities in this space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithika Bhuvaneshwar
- Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics (ICBI), Georgetown University, Washington DC, 20007, USA
| | - Yuriy Gusev
- Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics (ICBI), Georgetown University, Washington DC, 20007, USA
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2
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Ryan KM, Smyth P, Blackshields G, Kranaster L, Sartorius A, Sheils O, McLoughlin DM. Electroconvulsive Stimulation in Rats Induces Alterations in the Hippocampal miRNome: Translational Implications for Depression. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1150-1163. [PMID: 36414911 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03131-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to the development of depression and its treatment. Here, we used the hypothesis-neutral approach of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to gain comprehensive understanding of the effects of a course of electroconvulsive stimulation (ECS), the animal model equivalent of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), on rat hippocampal miRNAs. Significant differential expression (p < 0.001) of six hippocampal miRNAs was noted following NGS, after correcting for multiple comparisons. Three of these miRNAs were upregulated (miR-132, miR-212, miR-331) and three downregulated (miR-204, miR-483, miR-301a). qRT-PCR confirmed significant changes in four of the six miRNAs (miR-132, miR-212, miR-204, miR-483). miR-483 was also significantly reduced in frontal cortex, though no other significant alterations were noted in frontal cortex, cerebellum, or whole blood. Assessing the translatability of the results, miR-132 and miR-483 were significantly reduced in whole blood samples from medicated patients with depression (n = 50) compared to healthy controls (n = 45), though ECT had no impact on miRNA levels. Notably, pre-ECT miR-204 levels moderately positively correlated with depression severity at baseline and moderately negatively correlated with mood score reduction post-ECT. miRNAs were also examined in cerebrospinal fluid and serum from a separate cohort of patients (n = 8) treated with ECT; no significant changes were noted post-treatment. However, there was a large positive correlation between changes in miR-212 and mood score post-ECT in serum. Though replication studies using larger sample sizes are required, alterations in miRNA expression may be informative about the mechanism of action of ECS/ECT and in turn might give insight into the neurobiology of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Ryan
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
| | - Paul Smyth
- Department of Histopathology, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gordon Blackshields
- Department of Histopathology, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laura Kranaster
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alexander Sartorius
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Orla Sheils
- Department of Histopathology, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Declan M McLoughlin
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
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3
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Zhang HC, Du Y, Chen L, Yuan ZQ, Cheng Y. MicroRNA schizophrenia: Etiology, biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105064. [PMID: 36707012 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The three sets of symptoms associated with schizophrenia-positive, negative, and cognitive-are burdensome and have serious effects on public health, which affects up to 1% of the population. It is now commonly believed that in addition to the traditional dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway, the etiology of schizophrenia also includes neuronal networks, such as glutamate, GABA, serotonin, BDNF, oxidative stress, inflammation and the immune system. Small noncoding RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) have come to light as possible participants in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in recent years by having an impact on these systems. These small RNAs regulate the stability and translation of hundreds of target transcripts, which has an impact on the entire gene network. There may be improved approaches to treat and diagnose schizophrenia if it is understood how these changes in miRNAs alter the critical related signaling pathways that drive the development and progression of the illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Chang Zhang
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Du
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zeng-Qiang Yuan
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
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4
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Potential of Circulating miRNAs as Molecular Markers in Mood Disorders and Associated Suicidal Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054664. [PMID: 36902096 PMCID: PMC10003208 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mood disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders associated with significant disability, morbidity, and mortality. The risk of suicide is associated with severe or mixed depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders. However, the risk of suicide increases with the severity of depressive episodes and is often presented with higher incidences in bipolar disorder (BD) patients than in patients with major depression (MDD). Biomarker study in neuropsychiatric disorders is critical for developing better treatment plans by facilitating more accurate diagnosis. At the same time, biomarker discovery also provides more objectivity to develop state-of-the-art personalized medicine with increased accuracy through clinical interventions. Recently, colinear changes in miRNA expression between brain and systemic circulation have added great interest in examining their potential as molecular markers in mental disorders, including MDD, BD, and suicidality. A present understanding of circulating miRNAs in body fluids implicates their role in managing neuropsychiatric conditions. Most notably, their use as prognostic and diagnostic markers and their potential role in treatment response have significantly advanced our knowledge base. The present review discusses circulatory miRNAs and their underlying possibilities to be used as a screening tool for assessing major psychiatric conditions, including MDD, BD, and suicidal behavior.
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Micale V, Di Bartolomeo M, Di Martino S, Stark T, Dell'Osso B, Drago F, D'Addario C. Are the epigenetic changes predictive of therapeutic efficacy for psychiatric disorders? A translational approach towards novel drug targets. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108279. [PMID: 36103902 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of mental disorders is not fully understood and accumulating evidence support that clinical symptomatology cannot be assigned to a single gene mutation, but it involves several genetic factors. More specifically, a tight association between genes and environmental risk factors, which could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, may play a role in the development of mental disorders. Several data suggest that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and interference of microRNA (miRNA) or long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) may modify the severity of the disease and the outcome of the therapy. Indeed, the study of these mechanisms may help to identify patients particularly vulnerable to mental disorders and may have potential utility as biomarkers to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. This article summarizes the most relevant preclinical and human data showing how epigenetic modifications can be central to the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant and/or antipsychotic agents, as possible predictor of drugs response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Tibor Stark
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Scientific Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy, Department of Mental Health, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Tekdemir R, Selvi Y, Altınbaş K, Koçak N. Decreased miR-15b-5p/miR-155-5p levels and increased miR-134-5p/miR-652-3p levels among BD patients under lithium treatment. J Affect Disord 2022; 317:6-14. [PMID: 36028011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an increasing interest about the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD). In this study, we aimed to examine the role of miRNAs as potential diagnostic and clinical biomarkers in BD. METHODS Fifteen miRNAs in plasmas obtained from BD patients (n = 66) and from the healthy control group (n = 66) were analyzed by a qPCR test. Clinical variables including lithium treatment response were assessed with various test batteries. The correlation of the miRNA levels with the clinical variables and scale scores was examined. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed using the DIANA-miRPath v.3.0 software to identify the possible target genes. RESULTS The miR-132, miR-134, miR-152, miR-607, miR-633, and miR-652 levels were significantly increased, whereas the miR-15b and miR-155 levels were found to be significantly decreased in the patient group compared to the controls. The miR-15b-5p and miR-155-5p levels and increases in the miR-134-5p and miR-652-3p levels were calculated to have 83.3 % sensitivity and 78.8 % specificity in determining the risk of BD. miR-155-5p was associated with the disease burden and severity. Fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, viral carcinogenesis, the EBV infection, and extracellular matrix and adhesion pathways were highlighted as target pathways. CONCLUSION We can conclude that miRNAs may play a role in the pathophysiology of BD through various biological pathways and that miRNAs may be used as a screening test to distinguish bipolar patients from healthy controls. Our findings will provide a basis for long-term follow-up studies with larger samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukiye Tekdemir
- Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Yavuz Selvi
- Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Konya, Turkey
| | - Kürşat Altınbaş
- Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Konya, Turkey
| | - Nadir Koçak
- Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, Konya, Turkey
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Tsermpini EE, Kalogirou CI, Kyriakopoulos GC, Patrinos GP, Stathopoulos C. miRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers and pharmacogenomic indicators in psychiatric disorders. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2022; 22:211-222. [PMID: 35725816 DOI: 10.1038/s41397-022-00283-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders and the lack of reliable biomarkers for prediction and treatments follow-up pose difficulties towards recognition and understanding of the molecular basis of psychiatric diseases. However, several studies based on NGS approaches have shown that miRNAs could regulate gene expression during onset and disease progression and could serve as potential diagnostic and pharmacogenomics biomarkers during treatment. We provide herein a detailed overview of circulating miRNAs and their expression profiles as biomarkers in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder and their role in response to specific treatments. Bioinformatics analysis of miR-34a, miR-106, miR-134 and miR-132, which are common among SZ, BD and MDD patients, showed brain enrichment and involvement in the modulation of critical signaling pathways, which are often deregulated in psychiatric disorders. We propose that specific miRNAs support accurate diagnosis and effective precision treatment of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia Eirini Tsermpini
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Christina I Kalogirou
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - George P Patrinos
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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Thomas KT, Zakharenko SS. MicroRNAs in the Onset of Schizophrenia. Cells 2021; 10:2679. [PMID: 34685659 PMCID: PMC8534348 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence implicates microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathology of schizophrenia. These small noncoding RNAs bind to mRNAs containing complementary sequences and promote their degradation and/or inhibit protein synthesis. A single miRNA may have hundreds of targets, and miRNA targets are overrepresented among schizophrenia-risk genes. Although schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, symptoms usually do not appear until adolescence, and most patients do not receive a schizophrenia diagnosis until late adolescence or early adulthood. However, few studies have examined miRNAs during this critical period. First, we examine evidence that the miRNA pathway is dynamic throughout adolescence and adulthood and that miRNAs regulate processes critical to late neurodevelopment that are aberrant in patients with schizophrenia. Next, we examine evidence implicating miRNAs in the conversion to psychosis, including a schizophrenia-associated single nucleotide polymorphism in MIR137HG that is among the strongest known predictors of age of onset in patients with schizophrenia. Finally, we examine how hemizygosity for DGCR8, which encodes an obligate component of the complex that synthesizes miRNA precursors, may contribute to the onset of psychosis in patients with 22q11.2 microdeletions and how animal models of this disorder can help us understand the many roles of miRNAs in the onset of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen T. Thomas
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stanislav S. Zakharenko
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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9
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Abdolmaleky HM, Zhou JR, Thiagalingam S. Cataloging recent advances in epigenetic alterations in major mental disorders and autism. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1231-1245. [PMID: 34318684 PMCID: PMC8738978 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last two decades, diverse epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation, histone modifications, RNA editing and miRNA dysregulation have been associated with psychiatric disorders. A few years ago, in a review we outlined the most common epigenetic alterations in major psychiatric disorders (e.g., aberrant DNA methylation of DTNBP1, HTR2A, RELN, MB-COMT and PPP3CC, and increased expression of miR-34a and miR-181b). Recent follow-up studies have uncovered other DNA methylation aberrations affecting several genes in mental disorders, in addition to dysregulation of many miRNAs. Here, we provide an update on new epigenetic findings and highlight potential origin of the diversity and inconsistencies, focusing on drug effects, tissue/cell specificity of epigenetic landscape and discuss shortcomings of the current diagnostic criteria in mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, 02118 MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02215 MA, USA
| | - Jin-Rong Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02215 MA, USA
| | - Sam Thiagalingam
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, 02118 MA, USA
- Genetics & Genomics Graduate Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, 02118 MA, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, 02218 MA, USA
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A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Pathophysiology of Bipolar Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105156. [PMID: 34068138 PMCID: PMC8152970 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Bipolar disorder is a multifactorial disorder being linked with dysregulation of several genes. Among the recently acknowledged factors in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Methods: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases to find studies that assessed the expression profile of miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in bipolar disorder. Results: Dysregulated ncRNAs in bipolar patients have been enriched in several neuron-related pathways such as GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses, morphine addiction pathway and redox modulation. Conclusion: Altered expression of these transcripts in bipolar disorder provides clues for identification of the pathogenesis of this disorder and design of targeted therapies for the treatment of patients.
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11
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Emerging role of microRNAs in major depressive disorder and its implication on diagnosis and therapeutic response. J Affect Disord 2021; 286:80-86. [PMID: 33714174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious and common psychiatric disorder with a high prevalence in the population. Although great advances have been made, its pathogenesis is still unclear and a validated biomarker for diagnosis or therapeutic response remains unidentified. This review aims at summarizing the functional role of miRNAs in MDD pathogenesis and their potential as biomarkers for MDD diagnosis and antidepressant response. METHODS We performed a bibliographic research on the main databases (PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science) using the terms "microRNAs", "major depressive disorder", "synaptic plasticity", "biomarker", "antidepressant treatment", in order to find studies that propose the role of microRNAs in MDD pathogenesis and their potential as biomarkers for MDD diagnosis and antidepressant response. RESULTS microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small noncoding RNAs, act as key regulators of synaptic plasticity in MDD pathogenesis. Growing researches provide the evidence for peripheral miRNAs as potential biomarkers for MDD diagnosis and antidepressant response. These results suggest that targeting miRNAs directly could be therapeutically beneficial for MDD and miRNAs are potential biomarkers of MDD and its treatment. LIMITATIONS The role of miRNAs in MDD pathogenesis needs further investigation. Whether miRNAs in peripheral tissues truly represent brain-derived miRNAs is still unclear at the present time. Moreover, only a few blood miRNAs alterations are consistent across studies. CONCLUSIONS Overall, miRNAs act key regulators of synaptic plasticity in MDD pathogenesis and hold significant promise as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for MDD, but further research is still needed.
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The "missing heritability"-Problem in psychiatry: Is the interaction of genetics, epigenetics and transposable elements a potential solution? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:23-42. [PMID: 33757815 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders exhibit an enormous burden on the health care systems worldwide accounting for around one-third of years lost due to disability among adults. Their etiology is largely unknown and diagnostic classification is based on symptomatology and course of illness and not on objective biomarkers. Most psychiatric disorders are moderately to highly heritable. However, it is still unknown what mechanisms may explain the discrepancy between heritability estimates and the present data from genetic analysis. In addition to genetic differences also epigenetic modifications are considered as potentially relevant in the transfer of susceptibility to psychiatric diseases. Though, whether or not epigenetic alterations can be inherited for many generations is highly controversial. In the present article, we will critically summarize both the genetic findings and the results from epigenetic analyses, including also those of noncoding RNAs. We will argue that one possible solution to the "missing heritability" problem in psychiatry is a potential role of retrotransposons, the exploration of which is presently only in its beginnings.
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13
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Stevens MT, Saunders BM. Targets and regulation of microRNA-652-3p in homoeostasis and disease. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:755-769. [PMID: 33712860 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
microRNA are small non-coding RNA molecules which inhibit gene expression by binding mRNA, preventing its translation. As important regulators of gene expression, there is increasing interest in microRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Studies investigating the role of one of the miRNA-miR-652-3p-detail diverse roles for this miRNA in normal cell homoeostasis and disease states, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, mental health, and central nervous system diseases. Here, we review recent literature surrounding miR-652-3p, discussing its known target genes and their relevance to disease progression. These studies demonstrate that miR-652-3p targets LLGL1 and ZEB1 to modulate cell polarity mechanisms, with impacts on cancer metastasis and asymmetric cell division. Inhibition of the NOTCH ligand JAG1 by miR-652-3p can have diverse effects on angiogenesis and immune cell regulation. Investigation of miR-652-3p and other dysregulated miRNAs identified a number of pathways potentially regulated by miR-652-3p. This review demonstrates that miR-652-3p has great promise as a diagnostic or therapeutic target due to its activity across multiple cellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell T Stevens
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bernadette M Saunders
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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14
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Tabano S, Caldiroli A, Terrasi A, Colapietro P, Grassi S, Carnevali GS, Fontana L, Serati M, Vaira V, Altamura AC, Miozzo M, Buoli M. A miRNome analysis of drug-free manic psychotic bipolar patients versus healthy controls. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 270:893-900. [PMID: 31422452 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-019-01057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The lifetime presence of psychotic symptoms is associated with more clinical severity, poorer outcome and biological changes in patients affected by bipolar disorder (BD). Epigenetic mechanisms have been evoked to explain the onset of psychotic symptoms in BD as well as the associated biological changes. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the expression profiles of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in drug-free manic psychotic bipolar patients versus healthy controls (HC), to identify possible non-invasive molecular markers of the disorder. 15 drug-free manic psychotic bipolar patients and 9 HC were enrolled and 800 miRNAs expression profile was measured by Nanostring nCounter technology on plasma samples and validated through qPCR. Overall, twelve miRNAs showed a significantly altered expression between the two groups (p < 0.05). Functional annotation of predicted miRNAs targets by MultiMIR R tool showed repression in bipolar patients of genes with a role in neurodevelopment and neurogenesis, and upregulation of genes involved in metabolism regulation. We identified a signature of circulating miRNA characteristic of manic psychotic bipolar patients, suggesting a possible role in neurodevelopment and metabolic processes regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Tabano
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Medical Genetics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Caldiroli
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy.
| | - Andrea Terrasi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Medical Genetics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Colapietro
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Medical Genetics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Grassi
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Greta Silvia Carnevali
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Fontana
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Medical Genetics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Serati
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Vaira
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Medical Genetics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Carlo Altamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Miozzo
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Medical Genetics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Buoli
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
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15
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Gibbons A, Sundram S, Dean B. Changes in Non-Coding RNA in Depression and Bipolar Disorder: Can They Be Used as Diagnostic or Theranostic Biomarkers? Noncoding RNA 2020; 6:E33. [PMID: 32846922 PMCID: PMC7549354 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna6030033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The similarities between the depressive symptoms of Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) and Bipolar Disorders (BD) suggest these disorders have some commonality in their molecular pathophysiologies, which is not apparent from the risk genes shared between MDD and BD. This is significant, given the growing literature suggesting that changes in non-coding RNA may be important in both MDD and BD, because they are causing dysfunctions in the control of biochemical pathways that are affected in both disorders. Therefore, understanding the changes in non-coding RNA in MDD and BD will lead to a better understanding of how and why these disorders develop. Furthermore, as a significant number of individuals suffering with MDD and BD do not respond to medication, identifying non-coding RNA that are altered by the drugs used to treat these disorders offer the potential to identify biomarkers that could predict medication response. Such biomarkers offer the potential to quickly identify patients who are unlikely to respond to traditional medications so clinicians can refocus treatment strategies to ensure more effective outcomes for the patient. This review will focus on the evidence supporting the involvement of non-coding RNA in MDD and BD and their potential use as biomarkers for treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Gibbons
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; (S.S.); (B.D.)
- The Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; (S.S.); (B.D.)
- The Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Brian Dean
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; (S.S.); (B.D.)
- The Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
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16
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Steardo L, Manchia M, Carpiniello B, Pisanu C, Steardo L, Squassina A. Clinical, genetic, and brain imaging predictors of risk for bipolar disorder in high-risk individuals. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2020; 20:327-333. [PMID: 32054361 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2020.1727743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Early detection and intervention in bipolar disorder (BD) might reduce illness severity, slow its progression, and, in specific cases, even ward off the full-blown disorder. Therefore, identifying at-risk individuals and targeting them promptly before the illness onset is of the utmost importance. In the last decades, there has been a significant effort aimed at identifying genetic and molecular factors able to modulate risk and pharmacological outcomes.Areas covered: We performed a narrative review of articles aimed at identifying clinical, genetics, molecular, and brain imaging markers of BD specifically focusing on samples of individuals at high-risk for BD. Special emphasis was put on studies applying an integrative design, e.g. studies combining different markers such as genetic and brain imaging.Expert opinion: Findings from studies in risk individuals are still too sparse to allow drawing definite conclusions. However, the high potentiality of longitudinal studies in individuals considered at risk to develop BD supports the need for more efforts. Future investigations should focus on more homogeneous subpopulations and evaluate the cross-linking between clinical, genetic, and brain morphostructural/functional neuroimaging characteristics as predictors of risk for BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Steardo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Mirko Manchia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Bernardo Carpiniello
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Claudia Pisanu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Steardo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Squassina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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17
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Ceylan D, Tufekci KU, Keskinoglu P, Genc S, Özerdem A. Circulating exosomal microRNAs in bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2020; 262:99-107. [PMID: 31726266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emerging evidence suggests central roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD). Exosomes are membrane-bound vesicles acting as "biological cargo carriers" of various types of molecules including microRNAs. In this study, we aimed to investigate circulating exosomal microRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers for BD. METHODS The exosomes were precipitated from plasma samples of patients with BD (n = 69; 15 depressed, 27 manic, 27 euthymic) and healthy controls (n = 41). Total RNA was extracted from the exosomes and the levels of miRNAs were assayed by qPCR. Dysregulated miRNAs were subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes" (KEGG) pathway analysis by DIANA-miRPath v3.0 to identify the predicted targets and the related pathways. RESULTS Thirteen miRNAs showed significant differences between patients with BD and healthy individuals; among these, MiR-484, -652-3p, -142-3p remained significantly downregulated and miR-185-5p remained significantly upregulated after accounting for multiple comparisons and adjustments for potential confounders. There were no significant alterations among different states of BD. The KEEG analysis of four dysregulated miRNAs highlighted several target pathways including PI3K/Akt signaling, fatty acid biosynthesis/metabolism, extracellular matrix and adhesion pathways. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that dysregulation of miRNAs might be involved in the underlying pathophysiology of BD through several biological pathways; and highlight the importance of the exosomal miRNAs for biomarker research in BD. Further longitudinal studies may clarify the roles of exosomal miRNAs and their targets in the neurobiology of BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Ceylan
- Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Kemal Ugur Tufekci
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Pembe Keskinoglu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sermin Genc
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ayşegül Özerdem
- Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
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18
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MicroRNA dysregulation in manic and euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2020; 261:84-90. [PMID: 31605836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a major psychiatric disorder with an unclear pathophysiology. Peripheral blood samples are easily drawn, making them are good candidates for diagnosing diseases. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3'- UTR of mRNAs and directing their degradation. The aim of this study was to use blood plasma to investigate microRNA dysregulations in bipolar manic and euthymic patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Blood samples were collected from 58 patients with bipolar I disorder (19 manic, 39 euthymic) and 51 healthy controls. RESULTS Four microRNAs (miR-29a-3p, p = 0.035; miR-106b-5p, p = 0.014; miR-107, p = 0.011; and miR-125a-3p, p = 0.014) were upregulated in the entire bipolar group, compared to the healthy controls. Seven microRNAs (miR-9-5p, p = 0.032; miR-29a-3p, p = 0.001; miR-106a-5p, p = 0.034; miR-106b-5p, p = 0.003; miR-107, p < 0.001; miR-125a-3p, p = 0.016; and miR-125b-5p, p = 0.004) were more upregulated in bipolar manic patients compared to the healthy controls, and two microRNAs (miR-106a-5p, p = 0.013, and miR-107, p = 0.021) showed statistically significant upregulation in the manic patients compared to the euthymic patients. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed greater miRNA dysregulation in the manic patients than in the euthymic patients. Two microRNAs could be more selective for bipolar manic episodes. Future studies should include depressive patients along with euthymic and manic patients.
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19
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Chen Y, Shi J, Liu H, Wang Q, Chen X, Tang H, Yan R, Yao Z, Lu Q. Plasma microRNA Array Analysis Identifies Overexpressed miR-19b-3p as a Biomarker of Bipolar Depression Distinguishing From Unipolar Depression. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:757. [PMID: 33192625 PMCID: PMC7432143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder (current major depressive episode) (BD) overlap with unipolar depressive disorder (UD), which makes it difficult to perform an accurate diagnosis. We identified plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) that distinguished BD from UD and explored the relationship between miRNA expression levels and clinical characteristics. METHODS Total miRNAs from blood plasma from seven UD patients, seven BD patients, and six controls were analyzed. The identified miRNAs were validated in a separate population group. Depression severity and early life adversities were assessed. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted to investigate the target genes that were identified and the pathways associated with the altered miRNAs. RESULTS Compared to controls, 42 miRNAs were differentially expressed in patients. miR-19b-3p, miR-3921, and miR-1180-3p were selected to validate the microarray results. Only miR-19b-3p was validated as down-regulated in patients. The primary predicted genes associated with miR-19b-3p were MAPK1, PTEN, and PRKAA1. The most relevant KEGG pathways included mTOR, FoxO, and the PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway. BD patients were more likely to have higher expression levels of miR-19b-3p and more severe childhood trauma experience compared to UD patients. CONCLUSIONS Plasma miR-19b-3p is a potential non-invasive biomarker that might be useful in distinguishing UD from BD. miR-19b3p was predicted to be involved in the pathway of inflammatory dysregulation associated with experiencing early childhood trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiabo Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Medical Psychology; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangxiang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhijian Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affifiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Lu
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
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20
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Gruzdev SK, Yakovlev AA, Druzhkova TA, Guekht AB, Gulyaeva NV. The Missing Link: How Exosomes and miRNAs can Help in Bridging Psychiatry and Molecular Biology in the Context of Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2019; 39:729-750. [PMID: 31089834 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-019-00684-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) only recently have been recognized as promising molecules for both fundamental and clinical neuroscience. We provide a literature review of miRNA biomarker studies in three most prominent psychiatric disorders (depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia) with the particular focus on depression due to its social and healthcare importance. Our search resulted in 191 unique miRNAs across 35 human studies measuring miRNA levels in blood, serum or plasma. 30 miRNAs replicated in more than one study. Most miRNAs targeted neuroplasticity and neurodevelopment pathways. Various limitations do not allow us to make firm conclusions on clinical potential of studied miRNAs. Based on our results we discuss the rationale for future research investigations of exosomal mechanisms to overcome methodological caveats both in studying etiology and pathogenesis, and providing an objective back-up for clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Gruzdev
- Institute of Medicine, RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 6, Moscow, Russia, 117198.
| | - A A Yakovlev
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Butlerova Str., 5A, Moscow, Russia, 117485.,Moscow Research & Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow Healthcare Department, Donskaya Str., 43, Moscow, Russia, 115419
| | - T A Druzhkova
- Moscow Research & Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow Healthcare Department, Donskaya Str., 43, Moscow, Russia, 115419
| | - A B Guekht
- Moscow Research & Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow Healthcare Department, Donskaya Str., 43, Moscow, Russia, 115419.,Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov Str. 1, Moscow, Russia, 117997
| | - N V Gulyaeva
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Butlerova Str., 5A, Moscow, Russia, 117485.,Moscow Research & Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow Healthcare Department, Donskaya Str., 43, Moscow, Russia, 115419
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21
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Fries GR, Zhang W, Benevenuto D, Quevedo J. MicroRNAs in Major Depressive Disorder. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1118:175-190. [PMID: 30747423 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-05542-4_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe and chronic psychiatric disorder with a high prevalence in the population. Although our understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms has significantly increased over the years, available treatments still present several limitations and are not effective to all MDD patients. Epigenetic mechanisms have recently been suggested to play key roles in MDD pathogenesis and treatment, including the effects of small noncoding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs can modulate gene expression posttranscriptionally by interfering with the stability and translation of messenger RNA molecules and are also known to cross-talk with other epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we will summarize and discuss recent findings of alterations in miRNAs in tissues of patients with MDD and evidence of treatment-induced effects in these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel R Fries
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deborah Benevenuto
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joao Quevedo
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.
- Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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22
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Naghavi-Gargari B, Zahirodin A, Ghaderian SMH, Shirvani-Farsani Z. Significant increasing of DISC2 long non-coding RNA expression as a potential biomarker in bipolar disorder. Neurosci Lett 2018; 696:206-211. [PMID: 30599263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mental disorder that is often misdiagnosed with ineffective treatment. It has strong genetic component but unknown pathophysiology. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently recognized as one of the important genetic factors and are considered as one of the regulatory mechanisms of nervous system. Given that lncRNAs may be diagnostic biomarkers for BD, we aimed to quantify the levels of DISC1 and DISC2 lncRNA transcripts. The levels of DISC1 and DISC2 lncRNA were tested in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 50 BD and 50 controls by real-time PCR. In addition, we performed ROC curve analysis as well as correlation analysis between the gene expression and some clinical features of BD cases. Computational analysis of miRNAs binding sites and CpG Islands on DISC1 and DISC2 lncRNA was performed as well. Significant down-regulation of DISC1 and up-regulation of DISC2 were observed in BD cases compared with controls. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for DISC1 and DISC2 lncRNA were 0.76 and 0.68 respectively. There was no significant correlation between the levels of mRNA expression in PBMCs of BD patients and clinical features. These data demonstrated that DISC1 and DISC2 lncRNA expression was potentially associated with an increased risk of bipolar disorder and might involve several molecular mechanisms. Our results revealed that the transcript levels of DISC1 and DISC2 lncRNA could be considered as a good putative biomarker for individuals with bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Naghavi-Gargari
- Department of Basic Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Alireza Zahirodin
- Behavioral Science Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | | | - Zeinab Shirvani-Farsani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G.C., Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
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23
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Fries GR, Carvalho AF, Quevedo J. The miRNome of bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2018; 233:110-116. [PMID: 28969861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic mechanisms have been suggested to play a key role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD), among which microRNAs (miRNAs) may be of particular significance according to recent studies. We aimed to summarize miRNA studies in BD to identify consistent findings, limitations, and future directions of this emerging field. METHODS We performed a comprehensive search on PUBMED and Medline for studies investigating an association between BD and miRNAs. The included studies report miRNA alterations in postmortem brain tissues and in the periphery, cell culture and preclinical findings, genetic associations, and the effects of medications. RESULTS Several studies report changes in miRNA expression levels in postmortem brain and in the periphery of patients, although most of the results so far have not been replicated and are not concordant between different populations. Genetic studies also suggest that miRNA genes are located within susceptibility loci of BD, and also a putative role of miRNAs in modulating genes previously shown to confer risk of BD. LIMITATIONS We did not perform a systematic review of the literature, and miRNAs represent only one facet of the plethora of epigenetic mechanisms that might be involved in BD's pathophysiology. CONCLUSIONS miRNA findings in BD significantly vary between studies, but are consistent to suggest a key role for these molecules in BD's pathophysiology and treatment, particularly miR-34a and miR-137. Accordingly, miRNA might represent important biomarkers of illness to be used in the clinical settings, and potentially also for the development of novel therapeutics for BD in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel R Fries
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, USA.
| | - Andre F Carvalho
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Joao Quevedo
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, USA; Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
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24
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Wiegand C, Savelsbergh A, Heusser P. MicroRNAs in Psychological Stress Reactions and Their Use as Stress-Associated Biomarkers, Especially in Human Saliva. Biomed Hub 2017; 2:1-15. [PMID: 31988918 PMCID: PMC6945927 DOI: 10.1159/000481126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a central role in the regulation of many cellular processes including physiological and psychological stress reaction pathways. Psychological stress is an important factor for the genesis and maintenance of many diseases. Several miRNAs have already been described to be involved in its regulation. The presence of miRNAs in all body fluids implies a widespread role in communication throughout the whole organism and together with their stability makes them formidable candidates as biomarkers. Alterations of stress-associated miRNA expression levels have been found in the brain and whole blood of humans and animals. In this paper, we review the participation of miRNAs in stress-reactive processes as well as their usability as salivary biomarkers of such processes. In conclusion, we suggest that salivary miRNAs may be useful as noninvasive biomarkers to assess epigenetic regulation processes of chronic or acute psychological stress reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad Wiegand
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Andreas Savelsbergh
- Chair for Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Division of Functional Genomics, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| | - Peter Heusser
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Herdecke, Germany
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25
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Hara Y, Ago Y, Takano E, Hasebe S, Nakazawa T, Hashimoto H, Matsuda T, Takuma K. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid increases miR-132 levels in the mouse embryonic brain. Mol Autism 2017; 8:33. [PMID: 28670439 PMCID: PMC5490164 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0149-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNAs, are highly expressed in the mammalian brain, and the dysregulation of microRNA levels may be involved in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the present study, we examined whether prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure affects levels of microRNAs, especially the brain specific and enriched microRNAs, in the mouse embryonic brain. Results Prenatal exposure to VPA at E12.5 immediately increased miR-132 levels, but not miR-9 or miR-124 levels, in the male embryonic brain. Prenatal exposure to VPA at E12.5 also increased miR-132 levels in the female embryonic brain. We further found that the prenatal exposure to VPA at E12.5 increased mRNA levels of Arc, c-Fos and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in both male and female embryonic brains, prior to miR-132 expression. In contrast, prenatal exposure to VPA at E14.5 did not affect miR-132 levels in either male or female embryonic brain. The prenatal VPA exposure at E12.5 also decreased mRNA levels of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 and Rho GTPase-activating protein p250GAP, both of which are molecular targets of miR-132. Furthermore, RNA sequence analysis revealed that prenatal VPA exposure caused changes in several microRNA levels other than miR-132 in the embryonic whole brain. Conclusions These findings suggest that the alterations in neuronal activity-dependent microRNAs levels, including an increased level of miR-132, in the embryonic period, at least in part, underlie the ASD-like behaviors and cortical pathology produced by prenatal VPA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Hara
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan.,Laboratory of Medicinal Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Yukio Ago
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan.,Laboratory of Medicinal Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Erika Takano
- Laboratory of Medicinal Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Shigeru Hasebe
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Takanobu Nakazawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Hitoshi Hashimoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan.,United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan.,Division of Bioscience, Institute for Datability Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Toshio Matsuda
- Laboratory of Medicinal Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Takuma
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan.,United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
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Identification of MicroRNA-124-3p as a Putative Epigenetic Signature of Major Depressive Disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017; 42:864-875. [PMID: 27577603 PMCID: PMC5312059 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is predicted to be the second leading cause of global disease burden by 2030. A large number of MDD patients do not respond to the currently available medication because of its poorly understood etiology. Recently, studies of microRNAs (miRNAs), which act as a molecular switch of gene expression, have shown promise in identifying a molecular network that could provide significant clues to various psychiatric illnesses. Using an in vitro system, a rodent depression model, and a human postmortem brain, we investigated the role of a brain-enriched, neuron-specific miRNA, miR-124-3p, whose expression is highly dysregulated in stressed rodents, and identified a set of target genes involved in stress response and neural plasticity. We also found that miR-124-3p is epigenetically regulated and its interaction with the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) is compromised in MDD. Using blood serum, we found similar dysregulation of miR-124-3p in antidepressant-free MDD subjects. Altogether, our study demonstrates potential contribution of miR-124-3p in the pathophysiology of MDD and suggests that this miRNA may serve as a novel target for drug development and a biomarker for MDD pathogenesis.
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Alural B, Genc S, Haggarty SJ. Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of microRNAs in neuropsychiatric disorders: Past, present, and future. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 73:87-103. [PMID: 27072377 PMCID: PMC5292013 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders are common health problems affecting approximately 1% of the population. Twin, adoption, and family studies have displayed a strong genetic component for many of these disorders; however, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and neural substrates remain largely unknown. Given the critical need for new diagnostic markers and disease-modifying treatments, expanding the focus of genomic studies of neuropsychiatric disorders to include the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is of growing interest. Of known types of ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are 20-25-nucleotide, single-stranded, molecules that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms and have the potential to coordinately regulate complex regulatory networks. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on miRNA alteration/dysregulation in neuropsychiatric disorders, with a special emphasis on schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). With an eye toward the future, we also discuss the diagnostic and prognostic potential of miRNAs for neuropsychiatric disorders in the context of personalized treatments and network medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begum Alural
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey; Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sermin Genc
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey; Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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28
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Azevedo JA, Carter BS, Meng F, Turner DL, Dai M, Schatzberg AF, Barchas JD, Jones EG, Bunney WE, Myers RM, Akil H, Watson SJ, Thompson RC. The microRNA network is altered in anterior cingulate cortex of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. J Psychiatr Res 2016; 82:58-67. [PMID: 27468165 PMCID: PMC5026930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs acting as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Though implicated in multiple CNS disorders, miRNAs have not been examined in any psychiatric disease state in anterior cingulate cortex (AnCg), a brain region centrally involved in regulating mood. We performed qPCR analyses of 29 miRNAs previously implicated in psychiatric illness (major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BP) and/or schizophrenia (SZ)) in AnCg of patients with MDD and BP versus controls. miR-132, miR-133a and miR-212 were initially identified as differentially expressed in BP, miR-184 in MDD and miR-34a in both MDD and BP (although none survived multiple correction testing and must be considered preliminary). In silico target prediction algorithms identified putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs. Nuclear Co-Activator 1 (NCOA1), Nuclear Co-Repressor 2 (NCOR2) and Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) were selected based upon predicted targeting by miR-34a (with NCOR2 and PDE4B both targeted by miR-184) and published relevance to psychiatric illness. Luciferase assays identified PDE4B as a target of miR-34a and miR-184, while NCOA1 and NCOR2 were targeted by miR-34a and 184, respectively. qPCR analyses were performed to determine whether changes in miRNA levels correlated with mRNA levels of validated targets. NCOA1 showed an inverse correlation with miR-34a in BP, while NCOR2 demonstrated a positive correlation. In sum, this is the first study to demonstrate miRNA changes in AnCg in psychiatric illness and validate miR-34a as differentially expressed in CNS in MDD. These findings support a mechanistic role for miRNAs in the regulation of stress-responsive genes disrupted in psychiatric illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Azevedo
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Bradley S Carter
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Program, Oberlin College, Science Center A261, 119 Woodland St., Oberlin, OH, 44074, USA
| | - Fan Meng
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - David L Turner
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, 5301 MSRB III, 1150 W. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Manhong Dai
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alan F Schatzberg
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Rd, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jack D Barchas
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Edward G Jones
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of California - Davis, 1544 Newton Court, Davis, CA, 95618, USA
| | - William E Bunney
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California - Irvine, 101 The City Dr S, Orange, CA, 92868, USA
| | - Richard M Myers
- Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, 601 Genome Way Northwest, Huntsville, AL, 35806, USA
| | - Huda Akil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Stanley J Watson
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Robert C Thompson
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Pl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Science Building (USB), 204 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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29
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The human BDNF gene: peripheral gene expression and protein levels as biomarkers for psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e958. [PMID: 27874848 PMCID: PMC5314126 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates the survival and growth of neurons, and influences synaptic efficiency and plasticity. The human BDNF gene consists of 11 exons, and distinct BDNF transcripts are produced through the use of alternative promoters and splicing events. The majority of the BDNF transcripts can be detected not only in the brain but also in the blood cells, although no study has yet investigated the differential expression of BDNF transcripts at the peripheral level. This review provides a description of the human BDNF gene structure as well as a summary of clinical and preclinical evidence supporting the role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. We will discuss several mechanisms as possibly underlying BDNF modulation, including epigenetic mechanisms. We will also discuss the potential use of peripheral BDNF as a biomarker for psychiatric disorders, focusing on the factors that can influence BDNF gene expression and protein levels. Within this context, we have also characterized, for we believe the first time, the expression of BDNF transcripts in the blood, with the aim to provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms and signaling that may regulate peripheral BDNF gene expression levels.
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Teixeira AL, Salem H, Frey BN, Barbosa IG, Machado-Vieira R. Update on bipolar disorder biomarker candidates. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2016; 16:1209-1220. [PMID: 27737600 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2016.1248413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bipolar disorder is a chronic and disabling mood disorder with a complex pathophysiological basis. A significant percentage of patients do not receive correct diagnosis which directly influences therapeutic response, rendering recovery troublesome. There is a long-standing need for proper non-clinically based tools for diagnosis, treatment selection and follow-up of such patients. Areas covered: In the past decade, the scientific community has shown a great interest in biomarker development. Here, we highlight the different potential biomarkers and we discuss their feasibility and their possible clinical relevance. Expert commentary: To date, despite the major ongoing trials and consortia with promising future perspectives, no reliable biomarker of bipolar disorder has been fully defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio L Teixeira
- a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School , The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Haitham Salem
- a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School , The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Benicio N Frey
- b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences , McMaster University , Hamilton , ON , Canada.,c Mood Disorders Program and Women's Health Concerns Clinic , St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton , ON , Canada
| | - Izabela G Barbosa
- d Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine , Federal University of Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , MG , Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Machado-Vieira
- e Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, Intramural Research Program , National Institute of Mental Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
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31
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Lim CH, Zainal NZ, Kanagasundram S, Zain SM, Mohamed Z. Preliminary examination of microRNA expression profiling in bipolar disorder I patients during antipsychotic treatment. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2016; 171:867-74. [PMID: 27177356 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Although major progress has been achieved in research and development of antipsychotic medications for bipolar disorder (BPD), knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying this disorder and the action of atypical antipsychotics remains incomplete. The levels of microRNAs (miRNAs)-small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, including genes involved in neuronal function and plasticity-are frequently altered in psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to examine changes in miRNA expression in bipolar mania patients after treatment with asenapine and risperidone. Using a miRNA microarray, we analyzed miRNA expression in the blood of 10 bipolar mania patients following 12 weeks of treatment with asenapine or risperidone. Selected miRNAs were validated by using real-time PCR. A total of 16 miRNAs were differentially expressed after treatment in the asenapine group, 14 of which were significantly upregulated and the other two significantly downregulated. However, all three differentially expressed miRNAs in the risperidone group were downregulated. MiRNA target gene prediction and gene ontology analysis revealed significant enrichment for pathways associated with immune system response and regulation of programmed cell death and transcription. Our results suggest that candidate miRNAs may be involved in the mechanism of action of both antipsychotics in bipolar mania. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chor Hong Lim
- The Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nor Zuraida Zainal
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sharmilla Kanagasundram
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shamsul Mohd Zain
- The Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Zahurin Mohamed
- The Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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32
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Walker RM, Sussmann JE, Whalley HC, Ryan NM, Porteous DJ, McIntosh AM, Evans KL. Preliminary assessment of pre-morbid DNA methylation in individuals at high genetic risk of mood disorders. Bipolar Disord 2016; 18:410-22. [PMID: 27440233 PMCID: PMC5006843 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Accumulating evidence implicates altered DNA methylation in psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). It is not clear, however, whether these changes are causative or result from illness progression or treatment. To disentangle these possibilities we profiled genome-wide DNA methylation in well, unrelated individuals at high familial risk of mood disorder. DNA methylation was compared between individuals who subsequently developed BD or MDD [ill later (IL)] and those who remained well [well later (WL)]. METHODS DNA methylation profiles were obtained from whole-blood samples from 22 IL and 23 WL individuals using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Differential methylation was assessed on a single-locus and regional basis. Pathway analysis was performed to assess enrichment for particular biological processes amongst nominally significantly differentially methylated loci. RESULTS Although no locus withstood correction for multiple testing, uncorrected P-values provided suggestive evidence for altered methylation at sites within genes previously implicated in neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) and Interleukin 1 Receptor Accessory Protein-Like 1 ([IL1RAPL1]; P≤3.11×10(-5) ). Pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment for several neurologically relevant pathways and functions, including Nervous System Development and Function and Behavior; these findings withstood multiple testing correction (q≤0.05). Analysis of differentially methylated regions identified several within the major histocompatibility complex (P≤.000 479), a region previously implicated in schizophrenia and BD. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide provisional evidence for the involvement of altered whole-blood DNA methylation in neurologically relevant genes in the aetiology of mood disorders. These findings are convergent with the findings of genome-wide association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie May Walker
- Medical Genetics SectionCentre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineThe University of EdinburghWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - Jessika Elizabeth Sussmann
- Division of PsychiatryThe University of EdinburghRoyal Edinburgh HospitalUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Heather Clare Whalley
- Division of PsychiatryThe University of EdinburghRoyal Edinburgh HospitalUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Niamh Margaret Ryan
- Medical Genetics SectionCentre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineThe University of EdinburghWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - David John Porteous
- Medical Genetics SectionCentre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineThe University of EdinburghWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive EpidemiologyThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Andrew Mark McIntosh
- Division of PsychiatryThe University of EdinburghRoyal Edinburgh HospitalUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive EpidemiologyThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Kathryn Louise Evans
- Medical Genetics SectionCentre for Genomic and Experimental MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineThe University of EdinburghWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive EpidemiologyThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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O'Shea KS, McInnis MG. Neurodevelopmental origins of bipolar disorder: iPSC models. Mol Cell Neurosci 2015; 73:63-83. [PMID: 26608002 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BP) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition characterized by pathological fluctuations in mood from mania to depression. Adoption, twin and family studies have consistently identified a significant hereditary component to BP, yet there is no clear genetic event or consistent neuropathology. BP has been suggested to have a developmental origin, although this hypothesis has been difficult to test since there are no viable neurons or glial cells to analyze, and research has relied largely on postmortem brain, behavioral and imaging studies, or has examined proxy tissues including saliva, olfactory epithelium and blood cells. Neurodevelopmental factors, particularly pathways related to nervous system development, cell migration, extracellular matrix, H3K4 methylation, and calcium signaling have been identified in large gene expression and GWAS studies as altered in BP. Recent advances in stem cell biology, particularly the ability to reprogram adult somatic tissues to a pluripotent state, now make it possible to interrogate these pathways in viable cell models. A number of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from BP patient and healthy control (C) individuals have been derived in several laboratories, and their ability to form cortical neurons examined. Early studies suggest differences in activity, calcium signaling, blocks to neuronal differentiation, and changes in neuronal, and possibly glial, lineage specification. Initial observations suggest that differentiation of BP patient-derived neurons to dorsal telencephalic derivatives may be impaired, possibly due to alterations in WNT, Hedgehog or Nodal pathway signaling. These investigations strongly support a developmental contribution to BP and identify novel pathways, mechanisms and opportunities for improved treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sue O'Shea
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 3051 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher PL, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5765, United States.
| | - Melvin G McInnis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5765, United States
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