Clinical significance of miRNA-219 and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II γ subunit mRNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with depression

Abstract

Objective To study the expression of miRNA-219 and γCaMK Ⅱ mRNA in the peripheral blood of the first-episode major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, and explore the relationship between these molecular level and MDD symptom. Methods Fourty-one first-episode major depressive disorder patients diagnosed with DSM-5 criteria and 31 healty volunteers were included. The blood was collected in the fasting state and the expression levels of miRNA-219 and γCaMKⅡ mRNA was detected. The patients′ severity of symptoms was assessed with HAMD17. Real-time PCR was used to detect the levels of miRNA-219 and γCaMKⅡ mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes. The correlation between miRNA-219, γCaMK Ⅱ mRNA and HAMD17 was analyzed. Results The miRNA-219 levels of MDD group was significantly lower than that of control group (0.91±0.21 vs. 1.80±0.24, t=2.753, P=0.0075) in peripheral blood, and the γCaMK Ⅱ mRNA levels of MDD group was significantly higher than that of control group (5.55±0.57 vs. 2.16±0.20, t=4.970, P<0.01). There was the positive correlation between γCaMK Ⅱ mRNA levels and the HAMD17 score of MDD (r=0.460, P=0.0025). Conclusion The levels of miRNA-219 in peripheral blood of MDD patients decreased, and the levels of γCaMKⅡ mRNA increased, suggesting that miRNA-219 and γCaMKⅡ may be related to the pathogenesis of depression. Key words: Depressive disorder; Receptors,N-methyl-D-aspartate; Calcium-Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type 2; miRNA-219