Evaluation of serum miRNA expression profile in panic disorder patients

Background: Even if it began to be investigated in the field of psychiatry in recent years, studies of miRNA in anxiety disorders are limited. Our research is the first miRNA expression study in panic disorder which has the exclusion of drug use and additional psychiatric disorders. Aim: We aimed to determine the availability of miRNAs as biomarkers in the serum levels of panic disorder and to demonstrate the changing expression of miRNAs. Material and methods: In the research, 35 panic disorder patients and 35 healthy controls were administered sociodemographic and clinical information form, SCID-I, PDSS. 2 tube peripheral venous blood were taken from each group for genetic evaluation. miRNA expression analysis was performed in those samples by RT-PCR method. Results: Compared with the healthy control group, 8 miRNA expression levels were found different in panic disorder group. 5 of them were upregulated and 3 of them were downregulated. There was no correlation between the level of miRNA expression and PDSS total score and PDSS sub-items. miR-1297 and miR-4465 expression levels were statistically significant between the two groups. Both miRNAs is also known to arrange the gene regions that affect GABAA receptor subtypes. Conclusions: miR-1297 and miR-4465 regulate the GABAA gene that thought to play a role in the etiology of panic disorder. In panic disorder group, miR-1297 and miR-4465 expression levels was found upregulated than healthy control group. Keywords: panic disorder, miR-1297, miR-4465, GABA