Investigation of expressions of miRNA's associated with depression in patients with active tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic, contagious and fatal disease. Current estimates indicate that 1/4 of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Depression (DP), which is a debilitating disease both physically and mentally, accompanies TB at high rates simultaneously and a synergistic interaction is observed between them. MicroRNAs (miRNA), a type of small non-coding RNA, control the expression of their target mRNAs to perform their functions. In this study, in order to evaluate the synergistic effect between TB and DP, DP-associated miR-128-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-221-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-107, miR-134-5p, miR-135a and miR-1202 expression levels were investigated in patients with active TB. Individuals diagnosed with active TB and not started treatment (n=35) were included in the TB Patient group, and healthy individuals (n=35) were included in the Control group. Expression levels of miRNAs were determined by Real-Time PCR method. There was a statistically significant increase in miR-128-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-221-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-107, miR-134-5p and miR-135a expression levels in TB Patient group compared to the Control group. On the other hand, no difference was observed between the groups in terms of miR-1202. miR 34a-5p, miR-128-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-221-3p and miR-24-3p, which were increased in DP patients, were also significantly increased in TB patients in this study. This result supports that these miRNAs are common in the pathogenesis of TB and DP and may be effective in the synergy between these two diseases. Significantly increased expression levels of miR-135a, miR-107, miR-24-3p and miR-134-5p were observed in TB patients. It was determined that miR-134-5p, miR-135a and miR-107, which have low expression in DP, show a significant increase in TB. In conclusion, miR-135a, miR-107, miR-24-3p and miR-134-5p, which are increased in TB patients, can be evaluated as new biomarkers. In addition, further studies of miR-34a-5p, miR-128-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-221-3p and miR-24-3p, which increase in TB and DP patients with mediators in the common pathways of both diseases will contribute to the definition of synergy between TB and DP.