title: Increased miR-132 level is associated with visual memory dysfunction in patients with depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired visual memory seems to be a core feature of depression, while increased microRNA-132 (miR-132) levels have been widely reported in depression patients. The authors aimed to explore the relationship between miR-132 changes and visual memory deficits in unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 62 medication-free MDD patients and 73 matched healthy controls (HCs) were tested for miR-132 expression level in peripheral blood using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We used a computerized neurocognitive task from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) - pattern recognition memory (PRM) task - as a measurement of visual memory. The relationship between visual memory, miR-132 expression level, and clinical symptoms was explored in patients with MDD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upregulated miR-132 expression levels were seen in MDD patients but not in HCs. Two-samplet-tests showed that MDD patients had decreased visual memory, mainly memory delayed compared to that of HCs. Correlation analyses revealed that in MDD patients, increased miR-132 expression levels were significantly correlated with visual memory as measured by the CANTABPRM. Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores were negatively correlated with PRM - number correct (immediate) and PRM - percent correct (immediate).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main limitations were missing data and lack of follow-up studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that increased miR-132 expression levels were associated with visual memory deficits, which may underlie the pathophysiology of MDD. In individuals with depression, immediate visual memory defects were positively correlated with anxiety symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry; National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry; National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry; National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liansheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry; National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry; National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry; National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: CANTAB; cognition; major depressive disorder; memory; miR-132