Dysregulated expression of circulating microRNA-134 in adolescents with major depressive disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v9i3.511Keywords:
Depression, miR-134, Adolescent, Major depressive disorderAbstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a significant global health issue. Adolescence, in particular, represents a critical period marked by peak onset, heightened vulnerability, and poorer response to treatment, highlighting the urgent need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in this population. Accumulating evidence has proposed miR-134 as a potential molecular biomarker for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, as with most research on miRNAs in depression, these investigations have been limited to adult populations, leaving the adolescent group underexplored. To extend this work, the present study examined circulating miR-134 expression in adolescents with MDD. A total of forty-two participants, including twenty adolescents with MDD and twenty-two healthy adolescents (HC), were recruited for plasma sampling, RNA extraction, and real-time RT-PCR to quantify the expression of circulating miR-134. Despite the relatively small sample size, circulating plasma miR-134 was significantly downregulated in adolescents with MDD compared with HC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that miR-134 had a moderate diagnostic potential for MDD (area under the curve 0.75). Plasma miR-134 distinguished MDD from HC with 70% sensitivity and 72,7% specificity. Our findings confirm decreased plasma miR-134 levels in adolescents with MDD, consistent with previous observations in adults. This cross-age consistency reinforces the potential of miR-134 as a reliable peripheral biomarker for major depressive disorder, relevant to both adolescent- and adult-onset depression.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Thi Minh Thu Nguyen, Thi Dieu Hien Huynh, Truc Ly Ly, Nguyen Thanh Nhan Le, Kim Phu Tran, Thi Thu Hang Do
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