1- Department of Biology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 2- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Science Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , drmehashemi@gmail.com 3- Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (1042 Views)
Background & objectives: Major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are among the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide, and put a heavy burden on the society. Major depressive disorder’s symptoms include depressed mood, loss of interest, weight lose/gain, etc. Bipolar disorder manifest as two distinct episodes, including mania/ hypomania which consists of irregular elevated mood and depression. These disorders are polygenic in nature, and multiple investigations have reported various genes with small impacts to be associated with these conditions. NRF2 as a member of antioxidant system participates in oxidative stress detoxifying pathway, and MYT1 is involved in neurogenesis. Several studies have reported these transcription factors to play a role in Notch signaling pathway, and therefore they may interact with one another. In this study the expression level of these transcription factors and their potential correlation has been investigated. Material & methods: Real time PCR was conducted to assess the expression level of NRF2 and MYT1in the peripheral blood of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder patients in comparison with healthy individuals. In addition, Wechsler subtests were used to evaluate working memory function in individuals. Results: Results demonstrate significant downregulation of NRF2 and MYT1. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive correlation between these two transcription factors. In addition, ROC curve analysis indicated the peripheral biomarker characteristic of NRF2 and MYT1. Data suggests a reduction in the working memory functions of affected individuals in comparison with healthy subjects. Conclusion: Biomarker characteristics of NRF2 and MYT1 illustrates their potential to be used as prognostic and diagnostic factors for these conditions. Furthermore, despite of having distinct roles in cells, observed positive correlation might be due to an upstream regulator and a reveal a mutual signaling pathway for NRF2 and MYT1. More studies are needed to investigate all the possible common pathways between NRF2 and MYT1. In addition, larger samples are necessary to improve the statistical power of the analysis.
Ghanbarirad M, Hashemi M, Saberi S M, Majd A. NRF2 and MYT1 correlation in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021; 31 URL: http://tmuj.iautmu.ac.ir/article-1-2064-en.html