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Purpose: Abnormal expression of the NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor may potentially increase the susceptibility to neuropsychiatric diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional sequence of the 3ʹUTR of the human GRIN1 gene, which encodes the GluN1 receptor to determine the effect on the expression of GluN1 receptor. Methods: We transferred seven recombinant pmirGLO recombinant vectors containing the 3ʹUTR truncated fragment of the GRIN1 gene into HEK-293, SK-N-SH, and U87 cell lines and compared the relative fluorescence intensity of adjacent length fragments. The TargetScan database was used to predict miRNAs. Then, miRNA mimics/inhibitors were co-transfected into the three cell lines with the 3ʹUTR of GRIN1 (pmirGLO - GRIN1), to investigate their influence on GRIN1 gene expression. Results: Compared with the pmirGLo-Basic vector, the relative fluorescence intensity of the complete GRIN1 gene 3ʹUTR recombinant sequence − 27 bp – +1284 bp (the next base of the stop codon is +1) was significantly decreased in all three cell lines. The relative fluorescence intensities were significantly different between − 27 bp – +294 bp and − 27 bp – +497 bp regions, and between − 27 bp – +708 bp and − 27 bp – +907 bp regions. According to the prediction of the TargetScan database and analysis, miR-212-5p, miR-324-3p and miR-326 may bind to +295 bp – +497 bp, while miR-491-5p may bind to +798 bp – +907 bp. After co-transfection of miRNA mimic/inhibitor or mimic/inhibitor NC with a recombinant vector in the 3ʹUTR region of GRIN1 gene, we found that has-miR-491-5p inhibited GRIN1 expression significantly in all three cell lines, while has-miR-326 inhibitor upregulated GRIN1 expression in HEK-293 and U87 cells. Conclusion: miR-491-5p may bind to the 3ʹUTR of the GRIN1 gene (+799 bp – +805 bp, the next base of the stop codon is +1) and down-regulate gene expression in HEK-293, SK-N-SH, and U87 cell lines, which implicates a potential role of miR-491-5p in central nervous system diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal RGS4 gene expression may cause neurotransmitter disorders, resulting in schizophrenia. The association between RGS4 and the risk of schizophrenia is controversial, and there has been little research on the SNPs in the promoter region of RGS4. Purpose: The present study was performed to detect the association between SNPs in the promoter region of the RGS4 gene and the risk of schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: In this study, the 1757-bp fragment (− 1119–+600, TSS+1) of RGS4 was amplified and sequenced in 198 schizophrenia patients and 264 healthy controls of the northern Chinese Han population. Allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies were analyzed by chi‐square test. Results: Four SNPs were detected in the region. LD analysis determined that rs7515900 was linked to rs10917671 (D' = 1, r2 = 1). Therefore, the data for rs10917671 were eliminated from further analysis. Genotype TT of rs12041948 (P = 0.009, OR = 1.829, and 95% CI = 0.038– 0.766) was significantly different between the two groups in the northern Chinese Han population. In males, genotype GG of rs6678136 (P = 0.009, OR = 2.292, and 95% CI = 1.256– 4.18) and CC of rs7515900 (P = 0.003, OR = 2.523, and 95% CI = 1.332– 4.778) were significantly different. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that genotype TT of rs12041948 in the pooled male and female samples and GG of rs6678136 and CC of rs7515900 in the male samples could be risk factors for schizophrenia. The present study is the first to detect an association between SNPs in the promoter region of the RGS4 gene and the risk of schizophrenia in the northern Chinese Han population. Functional studies are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]