Serum exosomal hsa-miR-142–5p, hsa-miR-1908–5p, and hsa-miR-450b–5p as candidate biomarkers for recurrent depressive disorder diagnosis and ECT treatment response: A preliminary investigation

Purpose

This study investigated the differential expression of serum exosomal miRNAs in female patients with recurrent depressive disorder (RDD) before and after non-convulsive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), aiming to explore potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

Method

Serum samples were collected from three groups: healthy female volunteers aged 30–50, female patients with RDD prior to ECT, and female patients post-ECT who had achieved remission. Exosomes were isolated from serum, identified through transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blot analysis of exosomal markers. Total RNA was extracted from exosomes, and miRNA sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Gene target prediction, Gene Ontology, and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were also performed.

Results

miRNA sequencing revealed significant differences in exosomal miRNA profiles among the three groups. Compared to controls, 69 miRNAs were upregulated and 98 downregulated in the model group, while the recovery group showed 41 upregulated and 51 downregulated miRNAs compared to the model group. Furthermore, the recovery group exhibited 35 upregulated and 59 downregulated miRNAs compared to controls. Analysis identified hsa-miR-142–5p, hsa-miR-1908–5p, and hsa-miR-450b-5p as potential biomarkers for RDD diagnosis and ECT treatment response, with functional roles likely related to inflammation, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity.

Conclusion

Serum exosomal miRNAs, particularly hsa-miR-142–5p, hsa-miR-1908–5p, and hsa-miR-450b-5p, emerged as promising candidates for further investigation as biomarkers for RDD diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Larger, multi-center studies are warranted to validate these findings.