Citation
Wingo, Aliza P.; Almli, Lynn M.; Stevens, Jennifer J.; Klengel, Torsten; Uddin, Monica; Li, Yujing; Bustamante, Angela C.; Lori, Adriana; Koen, Nastassja; & Stein, Dan J., et al. (2015). DICER1 and microRNA Regulation in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Comorbid Depression. Nature Communications, 6, e10106. PMCID: PMC4686835Abstract
DICER1 is an enzyme that generates mature microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally in brain and other tissues and is involved in synaptic maturation and plasticity. Here, through genome-wide differential gene expression survey of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with comorbid depression (PTSD&Dep), we find that blood DICER1 expression is significantly reduced in cases versus controls, and replicate this in two independent cohorts. Our follow-up studies find that lower blood DICER1 expression is significantly associated with increased amygdala activation to fearful stimuli, a neural correlate for PTSD. Additionally, a genetic variant in the 3' un-translated region of DICER1, rs10144436, is significantly associated with DICER1 expression and with PTSD&Dep, and the latter is replicated in an independent cohort. Furthermore, genome-wide differential expression survey of miRNAs in blood in PTSD&Dep reveals miRNAs to be significantly downregulated in cases versus controls. Together, our novel data suggest DICER1 plays a role in molecular mechanisms of PTSD&Dep through the DICER1 and the miRNA regulation pathway.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10106Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2015Journal Title
Nature CommunicationsAuthor(s)
Wingo, Aliza P.Almli, Lynn M.
Stevens, Jennifer J.
Klengel, Torsten
Uddin, Monica
Li, Yujing
Bustamante, Angela C.
Lori, Adriana
Koen, Nastassja
Stein, Dan J.
Smith, Alicia K.
Aiello, Allison E.
Koenen, Karestan C.
Wildman, Derek E.
Galea, Sandro
Bradley, Bekh
Binder, Elisabeth B.
Jin, Peng
Gibson, Greg
Ressler, Kerry J.