Expression Levels of miR -۱۲۴a, miR-۵۴۵-۳p and BDNF in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Associated with the Severity of Autism

Background: People with autism frequently exhibit poor social skills, communication difficulties, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are potential and promised targets in developing of new treatment strategies for autism.This study aimed to assess the relative expression of miR-۱۲۴a, miR-۳۴a-۳p, miR-۵۴۵-۳p, miR-۱۵۳, and BDNF in the blood samples of autistic children. Methods: The children autism rating scale (CARS) was used to determine the severity of autism and to confirm the diagnosis. Blood samples were obtained from ۵۰ patients and ۴۰ age-/sex-matched healthy controls. Expressions of miR-۵۴۵-۳p, miR-۳۴a-۳p, miR-۱۲۴a, and BDNF were evaluated using qRT-PCR. Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to check correlations between relative expressions of the miRNAs and BDNF. Biomarker potencies were assessed by ROC curve analysis. Results: qRT-PCR analysis showed that the relative expressions of miR-۵۴۵-۳p, miR-۳۴a-۳p, miR-۱۲۴a, and BDNF were significantly higher in the patients' group than the healthy controls. However, the relative expression of miR-۱۵۳ was significantly lower in the case group than the control group. The relative expression of miR-۱۲۴a was positively correlated with those of miR-۵۴۵-۳p and BDNF among the patients group. Also, the relative expressions of miR-۵۴۵-۳p and BDNF were positively correlated with each other. The ROC curve data also indicated that miR-۱۲۴a, miR-۳۴a-۳p, miR-۵۴۵-۳p, miR-۱۵۳, and BDNF could be possible diagnostic biomarker for CARS diagnosis (AUC=۰.۸۳۲۸, AUC=۰.۸۳۵۴, AUC=۰.۶۷۲۷, AUC=۰.۸۵۱۸ and AUC=۰.۸۲۱۴, respectively). Conclusions: Deregulation of miR-۱۲۴a, miR-۴۵۴-۳p and BDNF might be considered as potential biomarkers for severity of autism.