The Dysregulation of microRNAs and the Role of Stress in the Pathogenesis of Mental Disorders

MicroRNAs are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by means of partial complementarity to microRNA binding sites at their target genes. These molecules have emerged as key regulators of almost every biological process including accurate control of neuronal gene expression. The authors discuss the current state of microRNA research, including studies of psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and affective disorders). Stress has also been shown to have a critical role in the development of psychiatric disorders, at least partially, through mechanisms related to neural plasticity. Synaptic connections in the brain undergo experience-dependent functional or morphological changes through complex pathways that are not yet fully understood, but for which microRNAs might have a critical role. The focus is on the role that microRNAs play in the development of psychiatric disorders and their potential to serve as biomarkers of disease as well as targets for pharmacological treatment.