Effect of citalopram and sertraline on the expression of miRNA- ۱۲۴, ۱۳۲, and ۱۶ and their protein targets in patients with depression

Objective(s): This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SSRIs on the expression of miRNAs and their protein targets.Materials and Methods: In a ۱۰۰ day open-label study of citalopram (n=۲۵) and sertraline (n=۲۵), levels of miRNA ۱۶, ۱۳۲, and ۱۲۴ and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and serotonin transporter (SERT) protein expression were measured by QRT-PCR and western blot in healthy control (n=۲۰), patients with depression at the baseline, and same patients after ۱۰۰ days of treatment.Results: Expression levels of GR and BDNF proteins were lower in the depressed group before treatment as compared with the healthy group (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). The SERT level was higher among the depressed group before treatment in comparison with the healthy group (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). The level of GR and BDNF significantly increased, and SERT expression decreased after receiving sertraline (P<۰.۰۵). When the depressed group received citalopram, only SERT and GR were altered (P<۰.۰۵). Among the microRNAs’ expression investigated, mir-۱۲۴ and mir-۱۳۲ were higher, and mir-۱۶ was lower among the depressed compared with the healthy group (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). Individuals receiving citalopram only showed an increase in the expression of mir-۱۶ while administration of sertraline led to a significant increase in the expression of mir-۱۶ and a decrease in mir-۱۲۴ and mir-۱۳۲ (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: This elucidated the relationship between antidepressant treatment and the expression of different microRNA that control gene expression in various pathways involved in depressed patients.  Receiving SSRI can affect the level of these proteins and their relevant microRNAs.

کلیدواژه ها:

citalopram ، Depression ، miRNAs ، Sertraline ، SSRIs