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microRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

Diana O Perkins1, Clark D Jeffries, L Fredrik Jarskog

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. diana_perkins@med.unc.edu

Genome Biology
|March 1, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study found altered microRNA (miRNA) profiles in the brain tissue of schizophrenia patients. Many miRNAs were expressed at lower levels, suggesting a role for miRNAs in schizophrenia pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules regulating gene expression.
  • miRNAs are implicated in various complex diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between schizophrenia and altered miRNA expression profiles.
  • To compare miRNA expression in postmortem prefrontal cortex tissue from schizophrenia patients and unaffected individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a custom miRNA microarray to analyze the expression of 264 human miRNAs.
  • Compared miRNA expression in prefrontal cortex tissue from individuals with schizophrenia (n=15) and unaffected individuals (n=21).
  • Validated expression levels of selected miRNAs using quantitative RT-PCR.

Main Results:

  • Identified 16 differentially expressed miRNAs in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients at a 5% false discovery rate.
  • 15 of the differentially expressed miRNAs showed lower expression levels (fold change 0.63-0.89).
  • Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed lower expression for 7 out of 8 validated miRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • This research is the first to report altered miRNA profiles in the postmortem prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients.
  • The findings suggest that dysregulated miRNA expression may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

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