Revision to psychopharmacology mRNA and microRNA profiles are associated with stress susceptibility and resilience induced by psychological stress in the prefrontal cortex

Objectives The prefrontal cortex is associated with many mental neurological diseases. The mRNA and microRNA profiles of stress susceptibility and resilience induced by psychological stress in the prefrontal cortex remain to be elucidated. Methods The C57 observer was placed in the cage next to the CD1 mouse and suffered psychological stress by watching the CD1 attacking another C57 mouse. After 5 days of psychological stress, the degree of fear memory and anxiety of mice were measured by social interaction test and elevated plus maze (EPM). The prefrontal cortex was extracted and mRNA and microRNA profiles were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. Results In susceptible mice versus resilient mice, the downregulation of genes involved in serotonergic synapse may be related to the susceptibility to psychological stress. The imbalanced regulation of genes involved in VEGF, p53, chemokine, Ras, sphingolipid, GnRH, MAPK, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways may be related to the susceptibility to psychological stress. Compared with control mice, susceptible mice and resilient mice have changed genes involved in serotonergic synapse, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, axon guidance, calcium, cAMP, GnRH, estrogen, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, Rap1, and Ras signaling pathways, these changes may be related to psychological stress processing. The sequencing results of mRNAs and microRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Conclusions The downregulation of genes involved in serotonergic synapse and imbalance of signaling pathways in the prefrontal cortex may be related to susceptibility to psychological stress.