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.
Abstract:
Schizophrenia is a complex and heterogenous psychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Our previous study identified three subgroups of schizophrenia patients based on plasma microRNA (miRNA) profiles. The present study aims to (1) verify the reproducibility of the miRNA-based patient stratification and (2) explore the pathophysiological pathways linked to the symptoms using plasma miRNAs. We measured levels of 376 miRNAs in plasma samples of schizophrenia patients and obtained their Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) scores. The plasma miRNA profiles identified similar subgroups of patients as in the previous study, suggesting miRNA-based patient stratification is potentially reproducible. Our multivariate analysis identified optimal combinations of miRNAs to estimate the PANSS positive and negative subscales and BACS composite scores. Those miRNAs consistently enriched 'inflammation' and 'NFκB1' according to miRNA set enrichment analysis. Our literature-based text mining and survey confirmed that those miRNAs were associated with IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα, suggesting that exacerbated positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms are associated with high inflammation. In conclusion, miRNAs are a potential biomarker to identify patient subgroups reflecting pathophysiological conditions and to investigate symptom-related molecular mechanisms in schizophrenia.
Insights
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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