Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
08:22
Tissue-specific miRNA Expression Profiling in Mouse Heart Sections Using In Situ Hybridization
Published on: September 15, 2018
8.7K
Insights into psychosis risk from leukocyte microRNA expression
C D Jeffries1, D O Perkins2, S D Chandler3
1Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Translational Psychiatry
|December 14, 2016
Summary
Researchers identified five microRNAs (miRNAs) in immune cells that can predict psychosis risk. Lower levels of certain miRNAs in individuals at high risk indicate a greater likelihood of developing psychosis, aiding early intervention for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Immune system dysregulation is linked to schizophrenia.
- Immune cells may play a role in schizophrenia development.
- Biomarker assays are needed for psychosis risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for psychosis risk.
- To develop a biomarker assay for early psychosis detection.
- To investigate miRNA expression in circulating immune cells.
Main Methods:
- Small RNA sequencing of RNA from circulating immune cells.
- Comparison of miRNA expression in unaffected, high-risk non-progressed, and high-risk progressed groups.
- Utilized a greedy algorithm to select predictive miRNAs.
Main Results:
- Five miRNAs distinguished progressed from non-progressed subjects with 0.86 AUC.
- Three key miRNAs were downregulated in progressed subjects.
- Progressed subjects showed weaker miRNA-miRNA correlations.
Conclusions:
- A five-miRNA biomarker assay may improve psychosis risk assessment accuracy.
- Findings suggest potential for early intervention in schizophrenia.
- Further verification of the leukocytic miRNA biomarker assay is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:22MicroRNAs
4.2K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.2K
01:22MicroRNAs
24.5K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.5K