title: Schizophrenia is associated with an increase in cortical microRNA biogenesis.
abstract: MicroRNA expression profiling and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis of the superior temporal gyrus and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex revealed a significant schizophrenia-associated increase in global microRNA expression. This change was associated with an elevation of primary microRNA processing and corresponded with an increase in the microprocessor component DGCR8. The biological implications for this extensive increase in gene silencing are profound, and were exemplified by members of the miR-15 family and other related microRNA, which were significantly upregulated in both brain regions. This functionally convergent influence is overrepresented in pathways involved in synaptic plasticity and includes many genes and pathways associated with schizophrenia, some of which were substantiated in vitro by reporter gene assay. Given the magnitude of microRNA changes and their wide sphere of influence, this phenomenon could represent an important dimension in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Beveridge
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tooney
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cairns
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C474043:DGCR8 protein, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011506:Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins