Transcriptomic characteristics of plasma from Chinese ethnic minority patients with major depressive disorder

Ethnic and regional disparities have been observed in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Our previous research revealed metabolic heterogeneity in plasma samples from ethnic minority patients with schizophrenia in Qiandongnan, China. In this study, individuals of Han, Miao, and Dong ethnicities with major depressive disorder (MDD) from Qiandongnan, China, were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were collected from both the MDD groups of these ethnicities and their corresponding healthy control (HC) groups for transcriptomic analysis. Ethnicity-specific genes and signaling pathways were identified. Specifically, the genes B3GNTL1, DNASE2, and OAS3 may distinguish individuals of Han ethnicity. The gene ELANE may distinguish individuals of Miao ethnicity. The gene SETSIP may distinguish individuals of Dong ethnicity. Transcriptomic heterogeneity in peripheral blood was observed among Han, Miao, and Dong ethnic groups with MDD from Qiandongnan, China. Furthermore trans-ethnically consistent genes and pathways may uncover the core mechanisms of depression. These findings may provide novel insights into diagnosis and treatment strategies for depression.