Multi-omics study reveals associations among neurotransmitter, extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA and psychiatric comorbidities during heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal

Quick Facts

  • Publication title: Multi-omics study reveals associations among neurotransmitter, extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA and psychiatric comorbidities during heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal
  • Journal: Biomed Pharmacother
  • Year: 2022
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113685
  • PMID/PMCID: 36137407

Research overview

Despite decades of research in the field of substance withdrawal, molecular biomarkers and related mechanistic study have generally been lacking. Our results suggest that the miRNA content of circulating exosomes represent a biomolecular "fingerprint" of the progression of substance withdrawal and may uncover the putative mechanism of how these exosomal miRNAs contribute to psychiatric symptoms.

Key findings

Despite decades of research in the field of substance withdrawal, molecular biomarkers and related mechanistic study have generally been lacking.

In addition to known neurotransmitters, circulating miRNAs are found in small vesicles known as exosomes within blood that have diagnostic potential and are known to contribute to psychiatric disorders.

The aim of this work was to characterize the changes in neurotransmitter and exosomal miRNA profiles during heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal using a cross-sectional study design, and to determine their associations to psychiatric comorbidities in a large group of patients with substance use disorders (SUDs).

Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, a series of known, conserved, and novel exosomal miRNAs were identified as being associated with the severity of anxiety and depression, as well as the concentrations of neurotransmitters GABA, choline, and serotonin.

Echo Biotech Role

Echo Biotech contributed EV isolation and purification, miRNA profiling/sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, whole-transcriptome sequencing; the study also used or cited Exosupur®.

Related platforms: Exoomics®, Research Reagents & Tools

Related services and capabilities: Biofluid EV Isolation & Purification, EV miRNA Profiling / Sequencing, EV Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing, Research Reagent / Product Supply

Related products or reagents: Exosupur® EV Isolation/Purification Kit

References

Original publication: Multi-omics study reveals associations among neurotransmitter, extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA and psychiatric comorbidities during heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie,. 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113685. PMID/PMCID: 36137407.