Title: MicroRNA132 Associated Multimodal Neuroimaging Patterns in Unmedicated Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Qi, SL; Yang, X; Zhao, LS; Calhoun, VD; Perrone-Bizzozero, N; Liu, SF; Jiang, RT; Jiang, TZ; Sui, J; Ma, XH
Author Full Names: Qi, Shile; Yang, Xiao; Zhao, Liansheng; Calhoun, Vince D.; Perrone-Bizzozero, Nora; Liu, Shengfeng; Jiang, Rongtao; Jiang, Tianzi; Sui, Jing; Ma, Xiaohong
Source: BRAIN, 141 916-926; 10.1093/brain/awx366 3 MAR 2018
Language: English
Abstract: There is compelling evidence that epigenetic factors contribute to the manifestation of depression, in which microRNA132 (miR-132) is suggested to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and neuronal mechanisms underlying the symptoms of depression. Additionally, several depression-associated genes [MECP2, ARHGAP32 (p250GAP), CREB, and period genes] were experimentally validated as miR-132 targets. However, most studies regarding miR-132 in major depressive disorder are based on post-mortem, animal models or genetic comparisons. This work will be the first attempt to investigate how miR-132 dysregulation may impact covariation of multimodal brain imaging data in 81 unmedicated major depressive patients and 123 demographically-matched healthy controls, as well as in a medication-naive subset of major depressive patients. MiR-132 values in blood (patients4controls) was used as a prior reference to guide fusion of three MRI features: fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, grey matter volume, and fractional anisotropy. The multimodal components correlated with miR-132 also show significant group difference in loadings. Results indicate that (i) higher miR-132 levels in major depressive disorder are associated with both lower fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations and lower grey matter volume in fronto-limbic network; and (ii) the identified brain regions linked with increased miR-132 levels were also associated with poorer cognitive performance in attention and executive function. Using a data-driven, supervised-learning method, we determined that miR-132 dysregulation in major depressive disorder is associated with multi-facets of brain function and structure in fronto-limbic network (the key network for emotional regulation and memory), which deepens our understanding of how miR-132 dysregulation in major depressive disorders contribute to the loss of specific brain areas and is linked to relevant cognitive impairments.
ISSN: 0006-8950
eISSN: 1460-2156
IDS Number: FY4RP
Unique ID: WOS:000426813600033
PubMed ID: 29408968