Diagnostic Value of miR-26b in Schizophrenia

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of peripheral microRNA (miRNA) expression in schizophrenia (SZ). Methods: By using an Affymetrix array to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in SZ patients; quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify identified microRNA and test major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and mental retardation (MD) related microRNAs for comparison. Results: The expression levels of miR-1972, miR-26b, miR-4485, miR-4498 and miR-4743 were up-regulated significantly in MDD patients, among which the expression levels of miR-26b, miR-4485 and miR-4743 were also upregulated significantly in GAD patients, and miR-4485 and miR-4743 upregulated in MD patients; The ROC curve of miR-26b in SZ patients showed that its sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis were 0.721 and 0.950 respectively with the area under curve (AUC) being 0.868; the ROC of miR-26b for SZ and MD differentiation showed that its sensitivity and specificity were 0.78 and 0.65 respectively with AUC being 0.765; the ROC of miR-26b for SZ and GAD differentiation showed that its sensitivity and specificity were 0.667 and 0.825 respectively with AUC being 0.802; the ROC of miR-26b for SZ and MDD differentiation showed that its sensitivity and specificity were 0.537 and 0.675 respectively with AUC being 0.629. Conclusions: MiR-26b might have significant diagnostic value for SZ, and probably also serve a significant role in MDD.