Plasma microRNAs Associate Positive, Negative, and Cognitive Symptoms with Inflammation in Schizophrenia
Takuya Miyano1, Masakazu Hirouchi1, Naoki Yoshimura2
1Translational Science Department II, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Schizophrenia patient subgroups identified by plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) are reproducible. These miRNAs link inflammation to positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, suggesting potential biomarkers for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Schizophrenia presents complex positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms.
- Previous research identified three patient subgroups using plasma microRNA (miRNA) profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- Verify the reproducibility of miRNA-based patient stratification in schizophrenia.
- Investigate pathophysiological pathways linked to schizophrenia symptoms via plasma miRNAs.
Main Methods:
- Measured 376 plasma miRNAs in schizophrenia patients.
- Assessed patient symptoms using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) scores.
- Performed multivariate analysis and miRNA set enrichment analysis.
Main Results:
- Confirmed reproducibility of previously identified miRNA-based patient subgroups.
- Identified specific miRNA combinations correlating with PANSS and BACS scores.
- Enriched pathways included 'inflammation' and 'NFκB1', with associated cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα.
Conclusions:
- Plasma miRNA-based stratification is potentially reproducible for schizophrenia.
- Exacerbated schizophrenia symptoms correlate with heightened inflammation.
- miRNAs may serve as biomarkers for schizophrenia subgroups and symptom mechanisms.
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