Biomarkers for Suicidal Behavior: miRNAs and their Potential for Diagnostics through Liquid Biopsy – a Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Given that approximately 70% of miRNAs in the body are neuronal, we critically assessed current studies on miRNAs and suicidal behavior. Materials&Methods: To further define the role of miRNAs in suicide, we searched for studies on extracellular vesicles (exosomes) because miRNAs are particularly enriched in exosomes. miRNAs also have important physiological roles, and they can cross the blood–brain barrier and participate in cell-to-cell communication with both nearby and distant cells. Results & Conclusion: This critical assessment suggests that several miRNAs can be closely related to neurophysiology, suicidal behavior, and psychiatric disorders. However, clear overlap is poor due to either different methodologies applied or to molecular differences between suicidal behaviors and studied psychiatric disorders.

Keywords::

• exosome
• extracellular vesicle
• miRNA
• noncoding RNA
• psychiatric disorder
• suicide

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr Christopher Berrie for scientific English editing of the manuscript.

Financial and competing interest disclosure

The authors thank the Slovenian Research Agency for funding the research program grant no. P1-0390 and research project grant no. J3-7132 and Grant No. Z3-2653. The funders had no role in the preparation or publication of the manuscript. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Slovenian Research Agency for funding the research program grant no. P1-0390 and research project grant no. J3-7132 and Grant No. Z3-2653. The funders had no role in the preparation or publication of the manuscript. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.