Altered microRNA expression profiles in postmortem brain samples from individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Author(s): Moreau MP, Bruse SE, David-Rus R, Buyske S, Brzustowicz LM

Publication: Biol Psychiatry, 2011, Vol. 69, Page 188-93

PubMed ID: 21183010 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of psychiatric diagnosis, age, gender, brain pH, alcohol or drug use at time of death, postmortem interval, and storage duration on levels of 234 miRNAs in 105 brains specimens.

   Summary of Findings:

   By applying Bayesian model averaging, the authors conclude that psychiatric diagnosis influenced expression of 19% of the 234 miRNAs evaluated, while storage duration, brain pH, alcohol use at the time of death, and PMI affected expression of 25%, 18%, 9%, and 8% of miRNAs, respectively. Ranges in brain pH among specimens were not reported. Conversely, age, gender, and drug use at the time of death had a low probability of influencing miRNA expression in brain. Susceptibility of individual miRNAs to each preanalytical variable is summarized in the second supplemental figure. While magnitude and threshold of effect were not quantifiable given the regression analysis employed, the authors note that patients diagnosed as schizophrenic or bipolar tended to have reduced miRNA expression compared to psychologically normal controls.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Autopsy
   • Schizophrenia
   • Bipolar Disorder
   • Normal

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	Real-time qRT-PCR

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Schizophrenia Bipolar disorder Psychologically normal
   Preaquisition	Other drugs	Drug use at time of death No drug use at time of death Alcohol use at time of death No alcohol use at time of death
   Preaquisition	Patient age	19-64 y
   Preaquisition	Patient gender	Female Male
   Preaquisition	Postmortem interval	9-84 h
   Storage	Storage duration	5.1-12.7 y

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