151
|
Solomon Z, Tsur N, Levin Y, Uziel O, Lahav M, Ohry A. The implications of war captivity and long-term psychopathology trajectories for telomere length. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 81:122-128. [PMID: 28448821 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous findings have demonstrated the link between trauma, its psychopathological aftermath and cellular aging, as reflected in telomere length. However, as long-term examinations of psychopathology following trauma are scarce, very little is known regarding the repercussions of depression and PTSD trajectories of psychopathology for telomeres. The current study examined the implications of war captivity and depression/PTSD trajectories on telomere length. METHODS Ninety-nine former prisoners of war (ex-POWs) from the 1973 Yom Kippur War were evaluated for depression and PTSD at 18, 30, 35 and 42 years after the war. Data on leukocyte telomere length of ex-POWs and 79 controls was collected 42 years after the war. RESULTS Ex-POWs had shorter telomeres compared to controls (Cohen's d=.5 indicating intermediate effect). Ex-POWs with chronic depression had shorter telomeres compared to those with delayed onset of depression (Cohen's d=4.89), and resilient ex-POWs (Cohen's d= 3.87), indicating high effect sizes. PTSD trajectories were not implicated in telomere length (Partial eta2=.16 and p=.11). CONCLUSION The findings suggest that the detrimental ramifications of war captivity are extensive, involving premature cellular senesces. These findings further point to the wear-and-tear effect of long-term depression, but not PTSD, on telomere length. Explanations for the findings are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zahava Solomon
- I-Core Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noga Tsur
- I-Core Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Yafit Levin
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orit Uziel
- The Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Meir Lahav
- The Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Institute of Hematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Avi Ohry
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
152
|
The effect of trauma and PTSD on telomere length: An exploratory study in people exposed to combat trauma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4375. [PMID: 28663541 PMCID: PMC5491524 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04682-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length has been suggested to be a cellular marker for age-related diseases as well as psychosocial stress. The present study investigated whether telomere length is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans exposed to combat trauma in the Vietnam War. The potentially associated factors on cellular aging were considered. Korean male veterans with (n = 122) and without (n = 120) PTSD were included and leukocyte telomere length was measured with a quantitative PCR-based technique. As a whole, no significant difference in telomere length was found between PTSD and non-PTSD groups. In linear regression analysis stratified by trauma levels, among veterans exposed to severe combat (n = 45), PTSD status (B = -1.176, t = -2.259, p = 0.029), antidepressant use (B = 0.168, t = 2.528, p = 0.015), and education level (B = 0.019, t = 2.369, p = 0.023) affected telomere length. However, among veterans with light-to-moderate combat exposure (n = 197), only age (B = -0.007, t = -2.434, p = 0.016) and education level (B = 0.010, t = 2.295, p = 0.023) were associated with telomere length. In the Post-hoc analysis, antidepressant use was associated with longer telomere length in subjects exposed to severe combat. Our exploratory results suggest that PTSD status in combination with severe trauma may be associated with accelerated telomere shortening, and that antidepressant use may have a protective effect on telomere dynamics.
Collapse
|
153
|
Aberrant telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in suicide completers. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3176. [PMID: 28600518 PMCID: PMC5466636 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03599-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Short telomere length (TL) occurs in individuals under psychological stress, and with various psychiatric diseases. Recent studies have also reported mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) alterations under several neuropsychiatric conditions. However, no study has examined whether aberrant TL or mtDNAcn occur in completed suicide, one of the most serious outcomes of mental illnesses. TL and mtDNAcn in post-mortem samples from 528 suicide completers without severe physical illness (508 peripheral bloods; 20 brains) and 560 samples from control subjects (peripheral bloods from 535 healthy individuals; 25 post-mortem brains) were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Suicide completers had significantly shorter TL and higher mtDNAcn of peripheral bloods with sex/age-dependent differences (shorter TL was more remarkably in female/young suicides; higher mtDNAcn more so in male/elderly suicides). The normal age-related decline of TL and mtDNAcn were significantly altered in suicide completers. Furthermore, shorter TL and lower mtDNAcn of post-mortem prefrontal cortex were seen in suicide completers compared to controls. This study shows the first association of aberrant telomeres and mtDNA content with suicide completion. Our results indicate that further research on telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction may help elucidate the molecular underpinnings of suicide-related pathophysiology.
Collapse
|
154
|
Roberts AL, Koenen KC, Chen Q, Gilsanz P, Mason SM, Prescott J, Ratanatharathorn A, Rimm EB, Sumner JA, Winning A, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD. Posttraumatic stress disorder and accelerated aging: PTSD and leukocyte telomere length in a sample of civilian women. Depress Anxiety 2017; 34:391-400. [PMID: 28380289 PMCID: PMC5848097 DOI: 10.1002/da.22620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in male combat veterans have suggested posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with shorter telomere length (TL). We examined the cross-sectional association of PTSD with TL in women exposed to traumas common in civilian life. METHODS Data are from a substudy of the Nurses' Health Study II (N = 116). PTSD and subclinical PTSD were assessed in trauma-exposed women using diagnostic interviews. An array of health behaviors and conditions were assessed. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes (collected 1996-1999). Telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number (T/S) was determined by quantitative real-time PCR telomere assay. We used linear regression models to assess associations and examine whether a range of important health behaviors (e.g., cigarette smoking) and medical conditions (e.g., hypertension) previously associated with TL might explain a PTSD-TL association. We further examined whether type of trauma exposure (e.g., interpersonal violence) was associated with TL and whether trauma type might explain a PTSD-TL association. RESULTS Relative to not having PTSD, women with a PTSD diagnosis had shorter log-transformed TL (β = -.112, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.196, -0.028). Adjustment for health behaviors and medical conditions did not attenuate this association. Trauma type was not associated with TL and did not account for the association of PTSD with TL. CONCLUSIONS Our results add to growing evidence that PTSD may be associated with more rapid cellular aging as measured by telomere erosion. Moreover, the association could not be explained by health behaviors and medical conditions assessed in this study, nor by type of trauma exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L. Roberts
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| | - Karestan C. Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA
| | - Qixuan Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| | - Susan M. Mason
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
| | - Jennifer Prescott
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | | | - Eric B. Rimm
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| | - Jennifer A. Sumner
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center
| | - Ashley Winning
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | - Laura D. Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| |
Collapse
|
155
|
Woody A, Hamilton K, Livitz IE, Figueroa WS, Zoccola PM. Buccal telomere length and its associations with cortisol, heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure responses to an acute social evaluative stressor in college students. Stress 2017; 20:249-257. [PMID: 28482730 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1328494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understanding the relationship between stress and telomere length (a marker of cellular aging) is of great interest for reducing aging-related disease and death. One important aspect of acute stress exposure that may underlie detrimental effects on health is physiological reactivity to the stressor. METHODS This study tested the relationship between buccal telomere length and physiological reactivity (salivary cortisol reactivity and total output, heart rate (HR) variability, blood pressure, and HR) to an acute psychosocial stressor in a sample of 77 (53% male) healthy young adults. RESULTS Consistent with predictions, greater reductions in HR variability (HRV) in response to a stressor and greater cortisol output during the study session were associated with shorter relative buccal telomere length (i.e. greater cellular aging). However, the relationship between cortisol output and buccal telomere length became non-significant when adjusting for medication use. Contrary to past findings and study hypotheses, associations between cortisol, blood pressure, and HR reactivity and relative buccal telomere length were not significant. Overall, these findings may indicate there are limited and mixed associations between stress reactivity and telomere length across physiological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Woody
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| | - Katrina Hamilton
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
- b Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| | - Irina E Livitz
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| | | | - Peggy M Zoccola
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| |
Collapse
|
156
|
Genetic predisposition to advanced biological ageing increases risk for childhood-onset recurrent major depressive disorder in a large UK sample. J Affect Disord 2017; 213:207-213. [PMID: 28233563 PMCID: PMC6191533 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have revealed increased biological ageing amongst major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, as assayed by shorter leukocyte telomere lengths (TL). Stressors such as childhood maltreatment are more common amongst MDD patients, and it has been suggested that this might contribute to shorter TL present amongst patients. However, to our knowledge, no study has yet tested for reverse causality, i.e. whether a genetic predisposition to shorter TL might predispose to MDD or an earlier onset of MDD. METHODS This study used a Mendelian randomisation design to investigate if shortened TL might increase risk for recurrent MDD in a relatively large UK sample (1628 MDD cases, 1140 controls). To achieve this, we used a subset of our sample, for which TL data was available, to identify a suitable instrumental variable. We performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping on rs10936599, a SNP upstream of telomerase RNA component (TERC), and rs2736100, a SNP within telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and attempted to replicate findings which identified these SNPs as predictors of TL. After which, we performed regressions to test if genetic risk for shortened TL increased risk for MDD, childhood-onset MDD or childhood/adolescent-onset MDD. RESULTS T-carriers of rs10936599 demonstrated shorter TL compared to CC-carriers (p≤0.05; 3% of variance explained) and was subsequently used as our instrumental variable. We found that the T-allele of rs10936599 predicted increased risk for childhood-onset MDD relative to controls (p≤0.05), and increased risk for childhood-onset MDD relative to adult-onset MDD cases (p≤0.001), but rs10936599 did not predict adult-onset MDD risk. LIMITATIONS Limitations include a relatively small sample of early-onset cases, and the fact that age-of-onset was ascertained by retrospective recall. CONCLUSION Genetic predisposition to advanced biological ageing, as assayed using rs10936599, predicted a small, but significant, increased risk for childhood-onset recurrent MDD. Genetic predisposition to advanced biological ageing may be one factor driving previously reported associations (or lack of associations) between shorter TL and MDD. Our results also suggest that the telomerase enzyme may act as a potentially important drug target for the prevention of childhood-onset MDD, at least in a subset of cases. Future studies should attempt to replicate our findings in a larger cohort.
Collapse
|
157
|
Vincent J, Hovatta I, Frissa S, Goodwin L, Hotopf M, Hatch SL, Breen G, Powell TR. Assessing the contributions of childhood maltreatment subtypes and depression case-control status on telomere length reveals a specific role of physical neglect. J Affect Disord 2017; 213:16-22. [PMID: 28187293 PMCID: PMC6191534 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have provided evidence that both childhood maltreatment and depressive disorders are associated with shortened telomere lengths. However, as childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for depression, it remains unclear whether this may be driving shortened telomere lengths observed amongst depressed patients. Furthermore, it's unclear if the effects of maltreatment on telomere length shortening are more pervasive amongst depressed patients relative to controls, and consequently whether biological ageing may contribute to depression's pathophysiology. The current study assesses the effects of childhood maltreatment, depression case/control status, and the interactive effect of both childhood maltreatment and depression case/control status on relative telomere length (RTL). METHOD DNA samples from 80 depressed subjects and 100 control subjects were utilized from a U.K. sample (ages 20-84), with childhood trauma questionnaire data available for all participants. RTL was quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Univariate linear regression analyses were used to assess the effects of depression status, childhood maltreatment and depression by childhood maltreatment interactions on RTL. The false discovery rate (q<0.05) was used for multiple testing correction. RESULTS Analysis of depression case/control status showed no significant main effect on RTL. Four subtypes of childhood maltreatment also demonstrated no significant main effect on RTL, however a history of physical neglect did significantly predict shorter RTL in adulthood (F(1, 174)=7.559, p=0.007, q=0.042, Variance Explained=4.2%), which was independent of case/control status. RTL was further predicted by severity of physical neglect, with the greatest differences observed in older maltreated individuals (>50 years old). There were no significant depression case/control status by childhood maltreatment interactions. LIMITATIONS A relatively small sample limited our power to detect interaction effects, and we were unable to consider depression chronicity or recurrence. CONCLUSION Shortened RTL was specifically associated with childhood physical neglect, but not the other subtypes of maltreatment or depression case/control status. Our results suggest that the telomere-eroding effects of physical neglect may represent a biological mechanism important in increasing risk for ageing-related disorders. As physical neglect is more frequent amongst depressed cases generally, it may also represent a confounding factor driving previous associations between shorter RTL and depression case status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Vincent
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Iiris Hovatta
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Souci Frissa
- King's College London, Health Service & Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Laura Goodwin
- King's College London, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK,University of Liverpool, Department of Psychological Sciences, Liverpool, UK
| | - Matthew Hotopf
- King's College London, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at the Maudsley Hospital and King's College London, UK
| | - Stephani L. Hatch
- King's College London, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Gerome Breen
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at the Maudsley Hospital and King's College London, UK
| | - Timothy R. Powell
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK,Corresponding author at: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, PO80, 16 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
158
|
McKinney BC, Lin H, Ding Y, Lewis DA, Sweet RA. DNA methylation evidence against the accelerated aging hypothesis of schizophrenia. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2017; 3:13. [PMID: 28560259 PMCID: PMC5441537 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-017-0017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The accelerated aging hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that physiological changes throughout the body that are associated with normal aging occur at an earlier age in individuals with schizophrenia. Testing this hypothesis has been limited by problems measuring biological age. Recently, a method using DNA methylation levels at 353 genomic sites to produce "DNA methylation age", an estimate of tissue biological age, was described and validated. We used this method to test the hypothesis in the postmortem superior temporal gyrus of 22 non-psychiatric control and 22 schizophrenia subjects. DNA methylation age correlated with chronological age in both non-psychiatric control (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001) and schizophrenia subjects (r = 0.96, p < 0.0001). Age acceleration did not differ between non-psychiatric control and schizophrenia subjects (t = 1.27, p = 0.21). Our findings suggest there is no acceleration of brain aging in schizophrenia. Larger studies using samples from multiple brain regions and homogenous cell populations will be necessary to confirm these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Huang Lin
- Departments of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Ying Ding
- Departments of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - David A. Lewis
- Departments of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Robert A. Sweet
- Departments of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| |
Collapse
|
159
|
Wolkowitz OM, Jeste DV, Martin AS, Lin J, Daly RE, Reuter C, Kraemer H. Leukocyte telomere length: Effects of schizophrenia, age, and gender. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 85:42-48. [PMID: 27835738 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is linked with early medical comorbidity and mortality. These observations indicate possible "accelerated biological aging" in schizophrenia, although prior findings are mixed, and few such studies have examined the role of gender. One putative marker of biological aging is leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which typically shortens with age. METHODS We assessed LTL in phenotypically well characterized 134 individuals with schizophrenia (60 women and 74 men) and 123 healthy comparison subjects (HCs) (66 women and 57 men), aged 26 to 65 years. RESULTS Overall, LTL was inversely associated with age (t(249) = -6.2, p < 0.001), and a gender effect on the rate of LTL decrease with age was found (t(249) = 2.20, p = 0.029), with men declining more rapidly than women. No significant overall effect of diagnosis on the rate of decline was detected. However, at the average sample age (48 years), there was a significant gender effect in both schizophrenia and HC groups (t(249) = 2.48, p = 0.014), with women having longer LTL than men, and a significant gender X diagnosis effect (t(249) = 2.43, p = 0.016) - at the average sample age, women with schizophrenia had shorter LTL than HC women. DISCUSSION Gender, not the diagnosis of schizophrenia, was the major factor involved with LTL shortening across the age range studied. We discuss the constraints of a cross-sectional design and other methodological issues, and indicate future directions. Understanding the impact of schizophrenia on biological aging will require separate evaluations in men and women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Owen M Wolkowitz
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA.
| | - Averria Sirkin Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca E Daly
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA
| | - Chase Reuter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA
| | - Helena Kraemer
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
160
|
Lopizzo N, Tosato S, Begni V, Tomassi S, Cattane N, Barcella M, Turco G, Ruggeri M, Riva MA, Pariante CM, Cattaneo A. Transcriptomic analyses and leukocyte telomere length measurement in subjects exposed to severe recent stressful life events. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1042. [PMID: 28221367 PMCID: PMC5438034 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stressful life events occurring in adulthood have been found able to affect mood and behavior, thus increasing the vulnerability for several stress-related psychiatric disorders. However, although there is plenty of clinical data supporting an association between stressful life events in adulthood and an enhanced vulnerability for psychopathology, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly investigated. Thus, in this study we performed peripheral/whole-genome transcriptomic analyses in blood samples obtained from 53 adult subjects characterized for recent stressful life events occurred within the previous 6 months. Transcriptomic data were analyzed using Partek Genomics Suite; pathway and network analyses were performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and GeneMANIA Software. We found 207 genes significantly differentially expressed in adult subjects who reported recent stressful life experiences (n=21) compared with those without such experiences (n=32). Moreover, the same subjects exposed to such stressful experiences showed a reduction in leukocyte telomere length. A correlation analyses between telomere length and transcriptomic data indicated an association between the exposures to recent stressful life events and the modulation of several pathways, mainly involved in immune-inflammatory-related processes and oxidative stress, such as natural killer cell signaling, interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling, MIF regulation of innate immunity and IL-6 signaling. Our data suggest an association between exposures to recent stressful life events in adulthood and alterations in the immune, inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, which could be also involved in the negative effect of stressful life events on leukocyte telomere length. The modulation of these mechanisms may underlie the clinical association between the exposure to recent Stressful life events in adulthood and an enhanced vulnerability to develop psychiatric diseases in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Lopizzo
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Fatebenefratelli S. Giovanni di Dio, Brescia, Italy
| | - S Tosato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - V Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - S Tomassi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - N Cattane
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Fatebenefratelli S. Giovanni di Dio, Brescia, Italy
| | - M Barcella
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - G Turco
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Ruggeri
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - C M Pariante
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, London, UK
| | - A Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Fatebenefratelli S. Giovanni di Dio, Brescia, Italy,Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, London, UK,Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
161
|
Abstract
A meta-analysis published in this issue of Psychosomatic Medicine provides convincing evidence that certain psychiatric populations have shorter telomeres than nonpsychiatric controls, in accord with the strong evidence linking psychiatric disorders with premature mortality. After addressing the clinical significance of shorter telomeres, this editorial describes mechanistic pathways that lead to telomere shortening. Additionally, two other novel methods for measuring biological markers of accelerated aging are briefly discussed: DNA methylation and cellular senescence based on p16. These innovative approaches could be used to confirm and extend our understanding of psychiatric patients' increased health and mortality risks.
Collapse
|