An In Vitro Study for the Role of Schizophrenia-Related Potential miRNAs in the Regulation of COMT Gene

• Published in: Molecular neurobiology Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 7680 - 7690
• Main Authors: Tonk, Onur, Tokgun, Pervin Elvan, Yılmaz, Özge Sarıca, Tokgun, Onur, Inci, Kubilay, Çelikkaya, Büşra, Altintas, Nuray
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Argonaute 2 protein; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Catechol O-Methyltransferase - genetics; Catechol O-Methyltransferase - metabolism; Cell Biology; Cell Line, Tumor; Chromosome 5; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Mental disorders; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurosciences; Original; Original Article; Protein interaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - genetics; Schizophrenia - metabolism; Transfection; Schizophrenia; COMT gene; miR-30a-5p; miR-30e-5p; miR-34a-5p
• ISSN: 0893-7648; 1559-1182; 1559-1182
• DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04070-2

This study aimed to analyze the possible association of miR-30a-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-34a-5p identified as potential candidate miRNAs in schizophrenia, with the COMT gene. Candidate miRNAs were obtained from the TargetScan database. The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line was used as a cellular model for schizophrenia. miR-30a-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-34a-5p mimics were transfected into the SH-SY5Y cell line. Total RNA was isolated from transfected cells and RNA-IP samples and reverse transcripted for miRNA and mRNA analysis. RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to observe changes in expression levels of COMT . RNA-ımmunoprecipitation was performed to determine RNA–protein interactions after mimic transfection. In the study, it was observed that COMT gene expression levels decreased significantly after miR-30a-5p and miR-34a-5p expressions, whereas increased significantly as a result of miR-30e-5p transfection. RNA-IP data have shown that the amount of COMT pulled down by Ago2 was increased after miR-30a-5p and miR-34a-5p transfections. RNA-IP results revealed that miR-30a-5p and miR-34a-5p are direct targets for the COMT gene.