Within the VTA, nine miRNAs (2 upregulated and 7 downregulated) and 10 mRNAs (9 upregulated and 1 downregulated) could regulate five pathways (Opioid Signaling, CREB signaling in Neurons, IL-8 Signaling, NRF2-mediated Oxidative Stress Response, and Gap Junction Signaling) (Fig. 5d). Most of the above AUD-related pathways could also be regulated by differentially expressed (absolute FC > 1.3 & P < 0.05) and negatively correlated miRNA–mRNA pairs identified in six of the above eight brain regions of AUD subjects (the Set 2 sample) (Figs. S13 and S14).
