Preliminary examination of microRNA expression profiling in bipolar disorder I patients during antipsychotic treatment.

Abstract

Although major progress has been achieved in research and development of antipsychotic medications for bipolar disorder (BPD), knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying this disorder and the action of atypical antipsychotics remains incomplete. The levels of microRNAs (miRNAs)-small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, including genes involved in neuronal function and plasticity-are frequently altered in psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to examine changes in miRNA expression in bipolar mania patients after treatment with asenapine and risperidone. Using a miRNA microarray, we analyzed miRNA expression in the blood of 10 bipolar mania patients following 12 weeks of treatment with asenapine or risperidone. Selected miRNAs were validated by using real-time PCR. A total of 16 miRNAs were differentially expressed after treatment in the asenapine group, 14 of which were significantly upregulated and the other two significantly downregulated. However, all three differentially expressed miRNAs in the risperidone group were downregulated. MiRNA target gene prediction and gene ontology analysis revealed significant enrichment for pathways associated with immune system response and regulation of programmed cell death and transcription. Our results suggest that candidate miRNAs may be involved in the mechanism of action of both antipsychotics in bipolar mania. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

• Authors: Chor Hong Lim, Nor Zuraida Zainal, Sharmilla Kanagasundram, Shamsul Mohd Zain, Zahurin Mohamed
• Journal: American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics : the official publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics (Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet) Vol. 171 Issue 6 Pg. 867-74 (09 2016) ISSN: 1552-485X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27177356 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Dibenzocycloheptenes
• Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
• MicroRNAs
• asenapine
• Risperidone

Topics

• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (metabolism)
• Bipolar Disorder (genetics, metabolism)
• Dibenzocycloheptenes
• Female
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
• Humans
• Male
• MicroRNAs (genetics, metabolism)
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Risperidone
• Transcriptome (genetics)