MiR-124 Regulates IQGAP1 and Participates in the Relationship Between Morphine Dependence Susceptibility and Cognition

Jingjing Shi; Yong Chi; Xiaohong Wang; Yingjie Zhang; Lu Tian; Yao Chen; Chunwu Chen; Yong Dong; Hong Sang; Ming Chen; Lei Liu; Na Zhao; Chuanyi Kang; Xiaorui Hu; Xueying Wang; Qingxia Liu; Xuemin Li; Shuang Zhu; Mingxuan Nie; Honghui Wang; Liying Yang; Jiacheng Liu; Huaizhi Wang; Jia Lu; Jian Hu

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.845357

MiR-124 Regulates IQGAP1 and Participates in the Relationship Between Morphine Dependence Susceptibility and Cognition

Front Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 23:13:845357. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.845357. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jingjing Shi¹, Yong Chi^{2

3}, Xiaohong Wang¹, Yingjie Zhang^{2

3}, Lu Tian^{2

3}, Yao Chen⁴, Chunwu Chen⁴, Yong Dong⁴, Hong Sang⁵, Ming Chen⁵, Lei Liu¹, Na Zhao¹, Chuanyi Kang¹, Xiaorui Hu¹, Xueying Wang⁶, Qingxia Liu¹, Xuemin Li¹, Shuang Zhu¹, Mingxuan Nie¹, Honghui Wang¹, Liying Yang¹, Jiacheng Liu¹, Huaizhi Wang¹, Jia Lu¹, Jian Hu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
² The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Capital Medical University & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
³ Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Center of Schizophrenia, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
⁴ Shenyang Mental Health Center, Shenyang, China.
⁵ Changchun Sixth Hospital, Changchun, China.
⁶ Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, China.

Abstract

Background: Long-term excessive use of morphine leads to addictive diseases and affects cognitive function. Cognitive performance is associated with genetic characteristics.MiR-124 plays a critical regulatory role in neurogenesis, synaptic development, brain plasticity, and the use of addictive substances. As a scaffold protein, IQGAP1 affects learning and memory dose-dependent. However, the role of miR-124 and its target protein as potential addiction biomarkers and the impact on cognitive function have not been fully explored.

Method: A total of 40 patients with morphine dependence and 40 cases of healthy people were recruited. We collected basic and clinical information about the two groups. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), Montreal Cognition Assessment Scale (MoCA), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess the severity of depression, anxiety, depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep quality.

Results: Compared to the control group, the morphine-dependent group had higher GAD-7, PHQ-9, PSQI scores, and more elevated miR-124 levels but lower MOCA scores and IQGAP1 levels. MiR-124, IQGAP1, the average intake last year were related to OASI scores.MiR-124, IQGAP1, PHQ-9 were associated with MOCA scores. In the multiple regression model, the levels of miR-124 and IQGAP1 were independent factors influencing the severity of morphine dependence. The level of miR-124 was an independent factor influencing the severity of cognitive impairment in patients with morphine dependence. In addition, the luciferase report confirmed that IQGAP1 mRNA is the direct target of miR-124.

Conclusion: MiR-124 and its target protein IQGAP1 are involved in the regulation of addiction and cognitive function in patients with morphine dependence.

Keywords: IQGAP1; addictive; cognition; mir-124; morphine dependence.