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MicroRNAs in Major Depressive Disorder

Gabriel R Fries1, Wei Zhang1, Deborah Benevenuto1

  • 1Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|February 13, 2019
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show altered expression in major depressive disorder (MDD) and may be influenced by treatment. This review explores their role in MDD pathogenesis and therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, chronic psychiatric condition with limited treatment efficacy.
  • Current understanding of MDD pathophysiology is incomplete, necessitating novel therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current findings on microRNA (miRNA) alterations in MDD patients.
  • To discuss the role of miRNAs in MDD pathogenesis and treatment response.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating miRNA expression in MDD.
  • Analysis of research on miRNA's epigenetic regulatory functions.
  • Examination of treatment-induced changes in miRNA profiles.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests significant alterations in miRNA expression in tissues from MDD patients.
  • miRNAs are implicated in post-transcriptional gene regulation relevant to MDD.
  • Emerging data indicate miRNAs are modulated by antidepressant treatments.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs represent a promising area for understanding MDD.
  • miRNA-based biomarkers and therapeutics warrant further investigation for MDD.
Keywords:
BiomarkersMajor depressive disorderMicroRNAsPathological mechanismsPatientsTreatment-induced effectsmiRNAs

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