MicroRNA dysregulation in schizophrenia and functional consequences

Abstract

This chapter describes the role of microRNA dysregulation in the development of schizophrenia (SCZ) with particular reference to functional changes arising from this dysregulation. The chapter begins with evidence from both postmortem and peripheral blood studies that microRNAs are indeed dysregulated in SCZ. This dysregulation is believed to arise in part from genetic mutations in the microRNA transcript; therefore, a thorough review of the studies that identify microRNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SCZ population is subsequently provided. Particular emphasis is placed on the mechanism by which these microRNA SNPs may give rise to functional microRNA and downstream gene express..