Microribonucleic acid dysregulations in children and adolescents with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract

Hasan Kandemir,1 Mehmet Emin Erdal,2 Salih Selek,3 Özlem İzci Ay,2 İbrahim Fatih Karababa,4 Mustafa Ertan Ay,2 Sultan Basmaci Kandemir,5 Şenay Görücü Yılmaz,2 Suat Ekinci,6 Bahar Taşdelen,7 Hüseyin Bayazit41Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey; 2Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey; 3Harris County Psychiatric Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, USA; 4Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey; 5Department of Psychiatry, Balikligöl State Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey; 6Department of Psychiatry, Balikli Rum Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; 7Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, TurkeyAim: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Although disorder etiology and pathogenesis remains unknown, several theories about OCD development have been proposed, and many researchers believe that it is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. In the current study, our aim was to investigate miRNA levels in OCD.Methods: In the current study, we evaluated miR18a-5p, miR22-3p, miR24-3p, miR106b-5p, miR107, miR125b-5p, and miR155a-5p levels in child and adolescent OCD patients. The research sample consisted of a group of 23 OCD patients and 40 healthy volunteer controls.Results: There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups (P>0.05).The levels of miR22-3p, miR24-3p, miR106b-5p, miR125b-5p, and miR155a-5p were significantly increased in the OCD subjects (P≤0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in miR18a-5p or miR107 levels between groups (P≥0.05).Conclusion: There could be a close relationship between levels of circulating miRNAs and OCD. If we could understand how the signaling pathways arranged by miRNAs impact on central nervous system development, function, and pathology, this understanding could improve our knowledge about OCD etiology and treatment.Keywords: OCD, micro RNA, miRNA, psychiatry, child psychiatry