Serum?based microRNA biomarkers for major depression: MiR?16, miR?135a, and miR?1202
Abstract
Background: Depression is a common medical condition with a high prevalence leading to emotional abnormality. Despite some drawbacks, depression currently diagnosed using a combination of patient interviews and self?report questionnaires. Recently, there is emerging emphasis to establish biomarkers to diagnosis and clinical management of depression. Tis case–control study was designed to develop microRNA (miRNA)?based serum biomarker for depression. Materials and Methods: In this study,
39 patients with depression and 36 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum miRNAs gene expression was measured using real?time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis; fnally, the data represent as the 2–?Ct followed by further statistical analysis. Results: Te serum level of miR?16 was signifcantly (P < 0.001) down?regulated (mean: 0.9123 and standard deviation [SD]: 0.06) in compared to normal individuals (mean: 1.6848 and SD: 0.09). Te concentration of miR?135a was also catastrophically decreased (P < 0.001) in the patients (mean: 1.160 and SD: 0.07) in compared to control (mean: 1.819 and SD: 0.09). Te relative miR?1202 expression levels were signifcantly lower (P < 0.001) in the patients (mean: 0.1755 and SD: 0.01) than in the healthy individuals (mean: 0.2939 and SD: 0.01). Te receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated the obvious separation between patient and healthy control,
with an AUC of 0.75 (95% confdence interval [CI] = 0.642–0.858, P < 0.001), 0.72 (95% CI = 0.607–0.834, P < 0.001), and 0.74 (95%
CI = 0.630–0.861, P < 0.001) for miR?16, miR?135a, and miR?1202, respectively. Te data suggest that these miRNAs have a potential
to be used as a biomarker of depression with sensitivity 77.8% and specifcity of 61.5% for miR?16, 94.4% and 41.0% for miR?135a as
well as 86.1% and 61.5% for miR?1202, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our fndings showed that these miRNA can be used as
a biomarker of depression diagnosis. MiR?135a and miR?1202 exhibited better sensitivity and specifcity, respectively.
39 patients with depression and 36 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum miRNAs gene expression was measured using real?time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis; fnally, the data represent as the 2–?Ct followed by further statistical analysis. Results: Te serum level of miR?16 was signifcantly (P < 0.001) down?regulated (mean: 0.9123 and standard deviation [SD]: 0.06) in compared to normal individuals (mean: 1.6848 and SD: 0.09). Te concentration of miR?135a was also catastrophically decreased (P < 0.001) in the patients (mean: 1.160 and SD: 0.07) in compared to control (mean: 1.819 and SD: 0.09). Te relative miR?1202 expression levels were signifcantly lower (P < 0.001) in the patients (mean: 0.1755 and SD: 0.01) than in the healthy individuals (mean: 0.2939 and SD: 0.01). Te receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated the obvious separation between patient and healthy control,
with an AUC of 0.75 (95% confdence interval [CI] = 0.642–0.858, P < 0.001), 0.72 (95% CI = 0.607–0.834, P < 0.001), and 0.74 (95%
CI = 0.630–0.861, P < 0.001) for miR?16, miR?135a, and miR?1202, respectively. Te data suggest that these miRNAs have a potential
to be used as a biomarker of depression with sensitivity 77.8% and specifcity of 61.5% for miR?16, 94.4% and 41.0% for miR?135a as
well as 86.1% and 61.5% for miR?1202, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our fndings showed that these miRNA can be used as
a biomarker of depression diagnosis. MiR?135a and miR?1202 exhibited better sensitivity and specifcity, respectively.
Keywords
Depression, microRNAs, sensitivity, serum biomarker, specifcity