The Role of miR-30 Family Dysregulation in Response to Antipsychotic Treatment

The aberrant expression of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) has been described in many human diseases, including schizophrenia (SZ). The previous work has indicated a strong genetic association between the miRNA-30e precursor (pre-miR-30e) and the risk of SZ. However, to date, few reports have focused on the expression level of the miR-30 family (miR-30s) and its networks of co-regulation in SZ, even in response to antipsychotic treatment. Given this, the investigator first constructed a hybrid miRNA-TF (transcription factor)-gene-PPI (protein-protein interactions) network focusing on miR-30s by bioinformatics technology. The investigator then selected several candidate miR-30s and key regulators for further validation. These candidates were then quantified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in an independent cohort of 200 healthy controls and 200 drug-free SZ patients, among which were followed up by 12-week antipsychotic treatment. Furthermore, the investigator evaluated the correlation between the change in gene expression and the improvement of symptoms.