Expression of BDNF-Associated lncRNAs in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Patients

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a decisive role in the development of the central nervous system and modulation, differentiation, and function of neurons. Thus, any abnormal pattern of expression of these transcripts might alter normal development leading to neuropsychiatric disorders. In this regard, transcripts of brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) and four BDNF-associated lncRNAs ( BDNF-AS , MIR137HG , MIAT , and PNKY ) were evaluated in the peripheral blood of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients as well as normal subjects. The results indicated that the relative expression (RE) of PNKY was higher in SCZ patients as compared with controls (posterior beta of RE = 2.605, P value = 0.006) and in female patients compared with female controls (posterior beta of RE = 2.831, P value