MicroRNA profiling in stress-resilient and stress-susceptible mice

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16380
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: HIGUCHI Fumihiro 山口大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (60711249)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: ストレス / うつ病 / マイクロRNA / 動物モデル / 遺伝子発現 / ストレスレジリエンス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. In this study, we measured miRNAs levels in the medial prefrontal cortex of two strains of mice, each of which demonstrate different behavioral responses to stress. We found that stressed B6 mice show normal sociality, whereas DBA mice exposed to smSDS exhibit a significantly less social interaction than non-defeated DBA mice. Thus, we developed B6 and DBA mice as stress-resilient and stress-susceptible strains, respectively. We then performed small RNA-seq analysis to measure miRNA levels within the medial prefrontal cortex in stressed and non-stressed B6 and DBA mice. Small RNA-seq data revealed a unique change in miRNA expression between stress-resilient B6 and stress-susceptible DBA mice. This study suggests that miRNA expression, influenced by genetic and environmental factors, may contribute to behavioral responses to stress.

Free Research Field

分子精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によってストレス適応・不適応マウスの脳内マイクロRNA発現を網羅的に検証したことで、ストレス感受性・レジリエンスに関与する候補マイクロRNAを抽出することができた。これは、気分障害や不安障害などを含むストレス性精神疾患の発症機序解明につながる可能性がある。また、これら精神疾患の治療・再発予防に対する新たな治療法の開発が期待できる。