부산대학교 도서관

Objective Micro RNAs are short, non-coding molecules that regulate gene expression. Here, we investigate the role of micro RNAs in depression and electroconvulsive therapy ( ECT). Methods We performed three studies: a deep sequencing discovery-phase study of mi RNA changes in whole blood following ECT ( n = 16), followed by a validation study in a separate cohort of patients pre-/post- ECT ( n = 37) and matched healthy controls ( n = 34). Changes in an experimentally validated gene target ( VEGFA) were then analysed in patients pre-/post- ECT ( n = 97) and in matched healthy controls ( n = 53). Results In the discovery-phase study, we found no statistically significant differences in mi RNA expression from baseline to end of treatment in the group as a whole, but post hoc analysis indicated a difference in patients with psychotic depression ( n = 3). In a follow-up validation study, patients with psychotic depression ( n = 7) had elevated baseline levels of miR-126-3p ( t = 3.015, P = 0.006) and miR-106a-5p ( t = 2.598, P = 0.025) compared to healthy controls. Following ECT, these differences disappeared. Baseline VEGFA levels were significantly higher in depressed patients compared to healthy controls ( F(1,144) = 27.688, P = <0.001). Following ECT, there was a significant change in VEGFA levels in the psychotic group only ( t = 2.915, P = 0.010). Conclusion Molecular differences (mi RNA and VEGFA) may exist between psychotic and non-psychotic depression treated with ECT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]