Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;23(1):631. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05136-6.
Recent studies on the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders showed that alternation of immune system components, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and pro-inflammatory compounds, plays a significant role in developing the illness. The study aimed to evaluate serum expression of the miRNA-26a, miRNA-106a, and miRNA-125b as genetic factors and serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α as pro-inflammatory factors in an IranianAzeri population.
Forty patients with recent-onset non-affective psychosis and 40 healthy people as a control group were involved. Expression levels of miRNAs and serum levels of the cytokines were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. T-test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and spearman correlation coefficient were carried out data analysis.
Findings showed higher levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, miR-26a, and miR-106a in the plasma of the patients' group compared with the control. miRNA-26a showed a statistically significant higher level (p < .003) compared to the control group, with AUC = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.93, P < .001) and cut-off point = 0.17 in comparison to other miRNAs as mentioned above; in this regard, it might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Moreover, miRNAs' expression level was not substantially associated with the level of any measured cytokines above.
miR-26a might be a suggestive biomarker for schizophrenia in the early stage of the illness. Given that the relationship between other miRNAs and cytokines is not yet well understood; accordingly, there are encouragement and support for continued research in this fascinating field.
最近对精神分裂症谱系和其他精神病的研究表明，免疫系统成分的改变，特别是 microRNAs（miRNAs）和促炎化合物，在发病中起着重要作用。本研究旨在评估伊朗阿塞拜疆人群中作为遗传因素的 miRNA-26a、miRNA-106a 和 miRNA-125b 的血清表达以及作为促炎因子的血清 IL-6、IL-1β 和 TNF-α 水平。
共纳入 40 例近期发病的非情感性精神病患者和 40 例健康对照者。采用 RT-qPCR 和 ELISA 分别测定 miRNA 的表达水平和细胞因子的血清水平。采用 t 检验、受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线和 Spearman 相关系数进行数据分析。
结果显示，患者组血浆中 IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α、miR-26a 和 miR-106a 水平均高于对照组。miRNA-26a 水平明显高于对照组（p<0.003），AUC=0.84（95%CI：0.77-0.93，P<0.001），与上述其他 miRNA 相比，截断值为 0.17；在这方面，它可能是疾病早期精神分裂症的提示性生物标志物。此外，miRNA 表达水平与上述任何测量的细胞因子水平之间没有显著关联。
miR-26a 可能是疾病早期精神分裂症的提示性生物标志物。鉴于其他 miRNAs 与细胞因子之间的关系尚未完全清楚；因此，鼓励并支持在这一迷人领域继续开展研究。
