Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a decisive role in the development of the central nervous system and modulation, differentiation, and function of neurons. Thus, any abnormal pattern of expression of these transcripts might alter normal development leading to neuropsychiatric disorders. In this regard, transcripts of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and four BDNF-associated lncRNAs (BDNF-AS, MIR137HG, MIAT, and PNKY) were evaluated in the peripheral blood of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients as well as normal subjects. The results indicated that the relative expression (RE) of PNKY was higher in SCZ patients as compared with controls (posterior beta of RE = 2.605, P value = 0.006) and in female patients compared with female controls (posterior beta of RE = 2.831, P value < 0.0001). BDNF expression was also higher in SCZ patients when compared with controls (posterior beta of RE = 0.64, P value < 0.036). Finally, a correlation was detected between the disease status and gender in terms of BDNF-AS expression (P value = 0.026). An inverse correlation was also found between levels of PNKY and age in the control group (r = − 0.30, P value < 0.0001). Expressions of BDNF and all lncRNAs were correlated with each other in both patients and controls. PNKY had the best diagnostic power among all assessed genes in the identification of disease status (area under curve = 0.78). BDNF, BDNF-AS, MIR137HG, and MIAT genes could discriminate SCZ patients from normal subjects with diagnostic power of 71%, 72%, 67%, and 68%, respectively. The current investigation suggests the possibility of the application of transcript levels of lncRNAs as an SCZ diagnostic marker. However, it warrants further studies in larger sample sizes.

长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）在中枢神经系统的发育以及神经元的调节、分化和功能中起着决定性作用。因此，这些转录物的任何异常表达模式都可能改变正常发育，导致神经精神疾病。在这方面，我们对精神分裂症（SCZ）患者和正常受试者的外周血中脑源性神经营养因子（ BDNF ）和四种BDNF相关lncRNA（ BDNF-AS 、 MIR137HG 、 MIAT和PNKY ）的转录本进行了评估。结果表明，SCZ 患者中PNKY的相对表达（RE）高于对照组（RE 后β = 2.605， P值 = 0.006），女性患者中与女性对照组相比（RE 后β = 2.831，P 值 = 0.006）较高。 P值 < 0.0001）。与对照组相比，SCZ 患者的BDNF表达也较高（RE 后β = 0.64， P值 < 0.036）。最后，在BDNF-AS表达方面检测到疾病状态与性别之间存在相关性（ P值 = 0.026）。对照组的PNKY水平与年龄之间也存在负相关（ r = − 0.30， P值 < 0.0001）。 BDNF和所有 lncRNA 的表达在患者和对照组中均相互相关。在所有评估的基因中， PNKY在疾病状态识别方面具有最佳的诊断能力（曲线下面积 = 0.78）。 BDNF 、 BDNF-AS 、 MIR137HG和MIAT基因可以区分 SCZ 患者与正常受试者，诊断能力分别为 71%、72%、67% 和 68%。目前的研究表明lncRNA转录水平作为SCZ诊断标志物的应用的可能性。然而，它需要更大样本量的进一步研究。