MicroRNA-۱۲۷ and MicroRNA-۱۳۲ Expression in Patients with Methamphetamine Abuse in East Azerbaijan, Iran: A Case-Control Study

Background: Addiction is a personal and social problem worldwide, and has physical and psychological effects on consumers’ health. Recently, miRNAs have been described as noninvasive biomarkers. Currently, methamphetamine abuse (MA) is mainly diagnosed by chromatography. This study aimed to investigate the expression and diagnostic value of miR-۱۲۷ and miR-۱۳۲ in blood samples of patients with MA and non-user healthy controls. Methods: A total of ۶۰ patients with MA (case group) and ۶۰ non-user healthy individuals (control group) were selected from Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran. Peripheral blood was obtained and total RNA was extracted. Then, cDNA synthesis was performed and miR-۱۲۷ and miR-۱۳۲ expression was evaluated using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Findings: The results of this study demonstrated that miR-۱۲۷ was significantly lower (۰.۰۴۲-fold change) in patients with MA than in the control group (P<۰.۰۵). However, miR-۱۳۲ was significantly higher (۷.۱-fold change) in patients with MA than in the control group (P<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: In general, expression of miR-۱۲۷ and miR-۱۳۲ may alter in patients with MA. Further studies are needed to identify underlying molecular mechanisms in patients with MA.

کلیدواژه ها:

Addiction ، Methamphetamine ، MicroRNA-۱۲۷ ، MicroRNA-۱۳۲ ، Biomarker