Blood‐based circRNA / miRNA biomarkers for modified electroconvulsive therapy efficacy and memory impairment in major depressive disorder

Background The mechanism of memory impairment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) after modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) is still unclear. This study explored the role of the circular RNA–miRNA interaction network in MECT treatment of MDD to provide new evidence on the possible mechanism of memory impairment caused by MECT. Methods Differentially expressed miRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with MDD before and after MECT were screened, and a prediction model for the circular RNA–miRNA interaction network was constructed based on this. Then, the relationship between MECT and the expression of circular RNA (circRNA) and miRNA was analyzed. Finally, the correlations among circRNA, miRNA and clinical symptoms and memory function in patients with MDD were analyzed. Results After MECT, 26 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were found in peripheral blood of patients with MDD. According to the prediction model, three miRNAs were significantly downregulated and two circRNAs were significantly upregulated after MECT. In addition, the expression of miRNA was significantly correlated with that of circRNA. The circRNA–miRNA regulatory network was associated with multiple clinical symptoms and memory scores in patients with MDD treated with MECT. Conclusion The circRNA–miRNA interaction network may be involved in the neuropsychiatric mechanism of MECT in the treatment of MDD. The expression levels of multiple regulatory factors in this network can be used as biomarkers to reflect the improvement of some symptoms and the risk of memory impairment in patients with MDD after MECT.