Biological markers for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have mostly proved elusive. Kai Wang at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington, and her colleagues are shifting the picture by showing that levels of some RNA fragments circulating in the blood of combat veterans with PTSD are different from the levels of those without the condition—a finding that could lead to a blood test for PTSD.
The researchers recruited 22 male combat veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and an equal number of people without PTSD. They took a blood sample from each participant, extracted the fluid plasma portion and then sequenced the extracellular RNA found in the plasma. Compared with the control group, people with PTSD had unusual concentrations (sometimes higher than the control group, sometimes lower) of several RNA molecules circulating in their blood. These RNAs are involved in central nervous system development, inflammation and the control of the brain’s neurotransmitter system. The team found a similar profile of circulating RNA in a validation group of ten additional veterans with PTSD.
The authors hope to confirm their proposed biomarkers in a larger experimental group that includes both men and women. If a biomarker test for PTSD proves reliable across the board, psychiatrists could also adopt it as a tool to monitor treatment effectiveness.
J. Clin. Med. 8, 963 (2019)
