MICRORNA EXPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH METHAMPHETAMINE USE DISORDER: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract Background MiRNAs have the potential to use as diagnostic biomarkers for neuropsychiatric disorders However, the possibility of using the miRNAs as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of substance use disorders has extensively investigated. Aims & Objectives In this study, we aimed to investigate miRNAs expression in the serum of patients with methamphetamine use disorder admitted at an addiction center compared with the control. Method We extracted the circulating miRNAs from the serum of 19 methamphetamine users and 19 controls. The expression of 800 human miRNAs from the extracted samples were quantified with NanoString analysis and differential expression analysis of miRNAs between methamphetamine users and control subjects were determined. The candidate miRNAs validated by qPCR and pathway analysis predicted target genes from miRNAs candidates were analyzed. Results We selected five differentially expressed miRNAs between drug users and control, i.e., has-miR- 92a-3p, has-miR-451a, has-miR-30e-5p, has-miR-630, has-miR-495-3p. We found that these selected differentially expressed miRNAs are enriched in various pathways including amphetamine addiction pathway, cholinergic synapse pathway in KEGG pathway. Conclusion The results from this study would provide information about potential miRNAs that could be further investigate for potential diagnostic or prognostic markers for the methamphetamine use disorder.