Compelling recent evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate specific mRNA transcripts at the transcriptomic level and coordinately influence complex regulatory networks, which may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and the treatment effects of antidepressants. To evaluate the possible involvement of miRNAs in the pathophysiology and therapeutic response of MDD, we conducted a miRNA expression array analysis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 5 depressed patients and 5 healthy controls (HCs). Subsequently, we chose 2 miRNAs for validation with real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis pre- and post-treatment in another group of 25 MDD patients and 25 HCs. In the array, 5 miRNAs were differentially expressed in medication-naïve MDD patients compared to HCs, of which 2 miRNAs were upregulated and 3 were downregulated. Furthermore, in comparison with HCs, MDD patients showed significantly lower expression levels of miR-374b and miR-10a before treatment. After 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment, both miR-374b and the miR-10a expression levels in MDD patients were significantly elevated only in responders. In conclusion, these results indicate the involvement of miR-374b and miR-10a in the biological mechanisms and therapeutic response of MDD, and provide new insights for exploring miRNAs as potential biomarkers for MDD.

最近令人信服的证据表明，microRNAs (miRNAs) 在转录组水平上调节特定的 mRNA 转录物，并协同影响复杂的调节网络，这可能在重度抑郁症 (MDD) 的发病机制和抗抑郁药的治疗效果中起关键作用。为了评估 miRNA 可能参与 MDD 的病理生理学和治疗反应，我们对 5 名抑郁症患者和 5 名健康对照 (HC) 的外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC) 进行了 miRNA 表达阵列分析。随后，我们在另一组 25 名 MDD 患者和 25 名 HC 中选择了 2 种 miRNA 在治疗前和治疗后进行实时 PCR (RT-PCR) 分析验证。在阵列中，与 HC 相比，5 种 miRNA 在未用药的 MDD 患者中差异表达，其中2个miRNA上调，3个下调。此外，与 HCs 相比，MDD 患者在治疗前表现出 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 的表达水平显着降低。抗抑郁药治疗 8 周后，MDD 患者的 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 表达水平仅在应答者中显着升高。总之，这些结果表明 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 参与了 MDD 的生物学机制和治疗反应，并为探索 miRNA 作为 MDD 的潜在生物标志物提供了新的见解。MDD 患者的 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 表达水平仅在应答者中显着升高。总之，这些结果表明 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 参与了 MDD 的生物学机制和治疗反应，并为探索 miRNA 作为 MDD 的潜在生物标志物提供了新的见解。MDD 患者的 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 表达水平仅在应答者中显着升高。总之，这些结果表明 miR-374b 和 miR-10a 参与了 MDD 的生物学机制和治疗反应，并为探索 miRNA 作为 MDD 的潜在生物标志物提供了新的见解。