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Koning SM, Kessler CL, Canli T, Duman EA, Adam EK, Zinbarg R, Craske MG, Stephens JE, Vrshek-Schallhorn S. Early-life adversity severity, timing, and context type are associated with SLC6A4 methylation in emerging adults: Results from a prospective cohort study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 170:107181. [PMID: 39298801 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation (DNAm), can play a role in the biological embedding of early-life adversity (ELA) through serotonergic mechanisms. The current study examines methylation of the CpG island in the promoter region of the stress-responsive serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) and is the first to jointly assess how it is influenced by ELA severity, timing, and type-specifically, deprivation and threat. METHODS We use data from 627 Youth Emotion Project study participants, recruited from two US high schools. Using adjusted linear regressions, we analyze DNA collected in early adulthood from 410 participants and ELA based on interviewer-rated responses from concurrent Childhood Trauma Interviews, adjusting for survey-measured covariates. RESULTS ELA robustly predicted mean CpG island SLC6A4 DNAm percent across 71 CpG sites. Each additional major-severity ELA event was associated with a 0.121-percentage-point increase (p<0.001), equating to a 0.177 standard deviation (sd) higher DNAm level (95 % CI: 0.080, 0.274) with each 1-sd higher adversity score. When modeled separately, both childhood and adolescent ELA predicted SLC6A4 DNAm. When modeled jointly, adolescent ELA was most strongly predictive, and child adversity remained significantly associated with DNAm through indirect associations via adolescent adversity. Additionally, the ELA-SLC6A4 DNAm association may vary by adversity type. Across separate models for childhood and adolescent exposures, deprivation coefficients are positive and statistically significant. Meanwhile, threat coefficients are positive and not significantly significant but do not statistically differ from deprivation coefficients. In models including all ELA dimensions, one major adolescent deprivation event is associated with a 0.222-percentage-point increased SLC6A4 DNAm (p<0.05), or a 1-sd higher deprivation score with a 0.157-sd increased DNAm. CONCLUSION Results further implicate epigenetic modification on serotonergic neurotransmission via DNAm in the downstream sequelae of ELA-particularly adolescent deprivation-and support preventive interventions in adolescence to mitigate biological embedding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Koning
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Public Health, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
| | | | | | - Elif A Duman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey; Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Petroff RL, Jester J, Riggs J, Alfafara E, Springer K, Kerr N, Issa M, Hall A, Rosenblum K, Goodrich JM, Muzik M. Longitudinal DNA methylation in parent-infant pairs impacted by intergenerational social adversity: An RCT of the Michigan Model of Infant Mental Health Home Visiting. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e70035. [PMID: 39295112 PMCID: PMC11410872 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early childhood development is a strong predictor of long-term health outcomes, potentially mediated via epigenetics (DNA methylation). The aim of the current study was to examine how childhood experiences, punitive parenting, and an intergenerational psychotherapeutic intervention may impact DNA methylation in young children and their mothers. METHODS Mothers and their infants/toddlers between 0 and 24 months were recruited at baseline (n = 146, 73 pairs) to participate in a randomized control trial evaluating the effectiveness of The Michigan Model of Infant Mental Health Home Visiting (IMH-HV) parent-infant psychotherapy compared to treatment as usual. Baseline and 12-month post-enrollment data were collected in the family's home and included self-report questionnaires, biological saliva samples, home environment observation, video-taped parent-child interaction, and audio-recorded interviews. Saliva DNA methylation was measured at the genes, nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1), solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the genetic element, long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE1). RESULTS For mothers, baseline methylation of BDNF, SLC6A4, NR3C1, or LINE1 was largely not associated with baseline measures of their childhood adversity, adverse life experiences, demographic characteristics related to structurally driven inequities, or to IMH-HV treatment effect. In infants, there were suggestions that methylation in SLC6A4 and LINE1 was associated with parenting attitudes. Infant BDNF methylation suggested an overall decrease in response to IMH-HV psychotherapy over 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings suggest that the epigenome in infants and young children may be sensitive to both early life experiences and parent-infant psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah L. Petroff
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Jennifer Jester
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Jessica Riggs
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Emily Alfafara
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Katherine Springer
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Natalie Kerr
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Meriam Issa
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Alanah Hall
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Katherine Rosenblum
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologyMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Department of PediatricsMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Maria Muzik
- Department of PsychiatryMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Department of Obstetrics & GynecologyMichigan MedicineAnn ArborMichiganUSA
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Allbaugh LJ, George G, Klengel T, Profetto A, Marinack L, O'Malley F, Ressler KJ. Children of trauma survivors: Influences of parental posttraumatic stress and child-perceived parenting. J Affect Disord 2024; 354:224-231. [PMID: 38490588 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has established a negative association between parental posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), including subthreshold symptoms, and child physical and behavioral health outcomes. Such intergenerational transmission of risk has multiple possible mechanisms, including lack of positive parenting, increased negative parenting, shared environmental and contextual risks, and potential biological components such as shared genetics or even transmission of epigenetic risk. METHOD This study examined 93 parent-child dyads (n = 171 participants total) from a mixed Urban-Suburban US metropolitan area to investigate the relations between parental PTSS and child-perceived parenting and child PTSS. We sought to examine interactions between parental PTSS and parenting on child PTSS. RESULTS We found an association between parent and child PTSS, consistent with prior literature showing increased risk for children of trauma survivors. Interestingly, we found effects of positive parenting on diminished child PTSS symptoms only in parents without PTSS, whereas the effect of positive parenting on buffering child symptoms was absent in parents with PTSS. LIMITATIONS The present findings are tempered by the use of self-report data to assess parent and child PTSS, which is not as reliable as clinician assessment of symptoms. Further, the use of survey data limits what is known about the extent of trauma exposure in parents and children, and different measures were used to assess PTSS in parents and kids, which limits comparability of these reported symptoms. DISCUSSION Limitations notwithstanding, findings suggest joint attention paid to parenting practices and to a parent's recovery, even from subthreshold symptoms of PTSS, as two different but important ways to support trauma survivor parents in their efforts to most optimally parent and protect their children from intergenerational risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy J Allbaugh
- Department of Psychology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States of America.
| | - Grace George
- McLean Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Torsten Klengel
- McLean Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Alex Profetto
- McLean Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Lucas Marinack
- Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States of America
| | - Fiona O'Malley
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
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Lee A, Thuras P, Baller J, Jiao C, Guo B, Erbes CR, Polusny MA, Liu C, Wu B, Lim KO, Bishop JR. Serotonin Transporter (SLC6A4) and FK506-Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5) Genotype and Methylation Relationships with Response to Meditation in Veterans with PTSD. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04096-6. [PMID: 38671329 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Meditation-based interventions are novel and effective non-pharmacologic treatments for veterans with PTSD. We examined relationships between treatment response, early life trauma exposure, DNA polymorphisms, and methylation in the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) and FK506-binding protein 5 (FKBP5) genes. DNA samples and clinical outcomes were examined in 72 veterans with PTSD who received meditation-based therapy in two separate studies of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and Transcendental Meditation (TM). The PTSD Checklist was administered to assess symptoms at baseline and after 9 weeks of meditation intervention. We examined the SLC6A4 promoter (5HTTLPR_L/S insertion/deletion + rs25531_A/G) polymorphisms according to previously defined gene expression groups, and the FKBP5 variant rs1360780 previously associated with PTSD disease risk. Methylation for CpG sites of SLC6A4 (28 sites) and FKBP5 (45 sites) genes was quantified in DNA samples collected before and after treatment. The 5HTTLPR LALA high expression genotype was associated with greater symptom improvement in participants exposed to early life trauma (p = 0.015). Separately, pre to post-treatment change of DNA methylation in a group of nine FKBP5 CpG sites was associated with greater symptom improvement (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.1, p = 0.027). These findings build on a wealth of existing knowledge regarding epigenetic and genetic relationships with PTSD disease risk to highlight the potential importance of SLC6A4 and FKBP5 for treatment mechanisms and as biomarkers of symptom improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Lee
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Room 7-115 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Paul Thuras
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joshua Baller
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Chuan Jiao
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team Krebs, Université Paris Cité, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Bin Guo
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christopher R Erbes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Melissa A Polusny
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Baolin Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Program in Public Health, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Bishop
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Room 7-115 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Bečeheli I, Horvatiček M, Perić M, Nikolić B, Holuka C, Klasić M, Ivanišević M, Starčević M, Desoye G, Hranilović D, Turner JD, Štefulj J. Methylation of serotonin regulating genes in cord blood cells: association with maternal metabolic parameters and correlation with methylation in peripheral blood cells during childhood and adolescence. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:4. [PMID: 38172913 PMCID: PMC10765867 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01610-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signaling is involved in neurodevelopment, mood regulation, energy metabolism, and other physiological processes. DNA methylation plays a significant role in modulating the expression of genes responsible for maintaining 5-HT balance, such as 5-HT transporter (SLC6A4), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), and 5-HT receptor type 2A (HTR2A). Maternal metabolic health can influence long-term outcomes in offspring, with DNA methylation mediating these effects. We investigated associations between maternal metabolic parameters-pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and glucose tolerance status (GTS), i.e., gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) versus normal glucose tolerance (NGT)-and cord blood methylation of SLC6A4, MAOA, and HTR2A in participants from our PlaNS birth cohort. CpG sites (15, 9, and 2 in each gene, respectively) were selected based on literature and in silico data. Methylation levels were quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing. We also examined the stability of methylation patterns in these genes in circulating blood cells from birth to adolescence using longitudinal DNA methylation data from the ARIES database. RESULTS None of the 203 PlaNS mothers included in this study had preexisting diabetes, 99 were diagnosed with GDM, and 104 had NGT; all neonates were born at full term by planned Cesarean section. Methylation at most CpG sites differed between male and female newborns. SLC6A4 methylation correlated inversely with maternal pBMI and GWG, while methylation at HTR2A site -1665 correlated positively with GWG. None of the maternal metabolic parameters statistically associated with MAOA methylation. DNA methylation data in cord blood and peripheral blood at ages 7 and 15 years were available for 808 participants from the ARIES database; 4 CpG sites (2 in SLC6A4 and 2 in HTR2A) overlapped between the PlaNS and ARIES cohorts. A positive correlation between methylation levels in cord blood and peripheral blood at 7 and 15 years of age was observed for both SLC6A4 and HTR2A CpG sites. CONCLUSIONS Methylation of 5-HT regulating genes in cord blood cells is influenced by neonatal sex, with maternal metabolism playing an additional role. Inter-individual variations present in circulating blood cells at birth are still pronounced in childhood and adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivona Bečeheli
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Horvatiček
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Perić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Barbara Nikolić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Cyrielle Holuka
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 4354, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, University of Luxembourg, 4365, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - Marija Klasić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Ivanišević
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirta Starčević
- Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Gernot Desoye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Dubravka Hranilović
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 4354, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jasminka Štefulj
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
- University Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Yuan M, Yang B, Rothschild G, Mann JJ, Sanford LD, Tang X, Huang C, Wang C, Zhang W. Epigenetic regulation in major depression and other stress-related disorders: molecular mechanisms, clinical relevance and therapeutic potential. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:309. [PMID: 37644009 PMCID: PMC10465587 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic, generally episodic and debilitating disease that affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide, but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. The heritability estimate of MDD is 30-40%, suggesting that genetics alone do not account for most of the risk of major depression. Another factor known to associate with MDD involves environmental stressors such as childhood adversity and recent life stress. Recent studies have emerged to show that the biological impact of environmental factors in MDD and other stress-related disorders is mediated by a variety of epigenetic modifications. These epigenetic modification alterations contribute to abnormal neuroendocrine responses, neuroplasticity impairment, neurotransmission and neuroglia dysfunction, which are involved in the pathophysiology of MDD. Furthermore, epigenetic marks have been associated with the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. The evaluation of epigenetic modifications holds promise for further understanding of the heterogeneous etiology and complex phenotypes of MDD, and may identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we review preclinical and clinical epigenetic findings, including DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA, RNA modification, and chromatin remodeling factor in MDD. In addition, we elaborate on the contribution of these epigenetic mechanisms to the pathological trait variability in depression and discuss how such mechanisms can be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minlan Yuan
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Gerson Rothschild
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - J John Mann
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Larry D Sanford
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Xiangdong Tang
- Sleep Medicine Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Mental Health Center, Translational Neuroscience Center, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Canhua Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chuang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, and Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology in School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Medical Big Data Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Coelho A, Lima-Bastos S, Gobira P, Lisboa S. Endocannabinoid signaling and epigenetics modifications in the neurobiology of stress-related disorders. Neuronal Signal 2023; 7:NS20220034. [PMID: 37520658 PMCID: PMC10372471 DOI: 10.1042/ns20220034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress exposure is associated with psychiatric conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also a vulnerability factor to developing or reinstating substance use disorder. Stress causes several changes in the neuro-immune-endocrine axis, potentially resulting in prolonged dysfunction and diseases. Changes in several transmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glucocorticoids, and cytokines, are associated with psychiatric disorders or behavioral alterations in preclinical studies. Complex and interacting mechanisms make it very difficult to understand the physiopathology of psychiatry conditions; therefore, studying regulatory mechanisms that impact these alterations is a good approach. In the last decades, the impact of stress on biology through epigenetic markers, which directly impact gene expression, is under intense investigation; these mechanisms are associated with behavioral alterations in animal models after stress or drug exposure, for example. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system modulates stress response, reward circuits, and other physiological functions, including hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and immune response. eCBs, for example, act retrogradely at presynaptic neurons, limiting the release of neurotransmitters, a mechanism implicated in the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects after stress. Epigenetic mechanisms can impact the expression of eCB system molecules, which in turn can regulate epigenetic mechanisms. This review will present evidence of how the eCB system and epigenetic mechanisms interact and the consequences of this interaction in modulating behavioral changes after stress exposure in preclinical studies or psychiatric conditions. Moreover, evidence that correlates the involvement of the eCB system and epigenetic mechanisms in drug abuse contexts will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur A. Coelho
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sávio Lima-Bastos
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro H. Gobira
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabrina F. Lisboa
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
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Kim HJ, Bang M, Park CI, Lee SH. Altered DNA Methylation of the Serotonin Transporter Gene Associated with Early Life Stress and White Matter Microalterations in Korean Patients with Panic Disorder. Neuropsychobiology 2023; 82:210-219. [PMID: 37231896 DOI: 10.1159/000530313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Changes in the DNA methylation of 5-HTTLPR are associated with the pathophysiology of panic disorder (PD). This study was conducted to investigate the association between stressful life events and the level of 5-HTTLPR methylation in patients with PD. We also examined whether these factors were associated with white matter alterations in psychological trauma-related regions. METHODS The participants comprised 232 patients with PD and 93 healthy adults of Korean descent. DNA methylation levels of five cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in the 5-HTTLPR region were analyzed. Voxel-wise statistical analysis of diffusion tensor imaging data was performed within the trauma-related regions. RESULTS PD patients showed significantly lower levels of the DNA methylation at 5-HTTLPR 5 CpG sites than healthy controls. In patients with PD, the DNA methylation levels at 5-HTTLPR 5 CpG sites showed significant negative association with the parental separation-related psychological distress, and positive correlations with the fractional anisotropy values of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) which might be related to trait anxiety. CONCLUSION Early life stress was significantly associated with DNA methylation levels at 5-HTTLPR related to the decreased white matter integrity in the SLF region in PD. Decreased white matter connectivity in the SLF might be related to trait anxiety and is vital to the pathophysiology of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ju Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Minji Bang
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Chun Il Park
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyuk Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
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Dee G, Ryznar R, Dee C. Epigenetic Changes Associated with Different Types of Stressors and Suicide. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091258. [PMID: 37174656 PMCID: PMC10177343 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is associated with various epigenetic changes. Some stress-induced epigenetic changes are highly dynamic, whereas others are associated with lasting marks on the epigenome. In our study, a comprehensive narrative review of the literature was performed by investigating the epigenetic changes that occur with acute stress, chronic stress, early childhood stress, and traumatic stress exposures, along with examining those observed in post-mortem brains or blood samples of suicide completers and attempters. In addition, the transgenerational effects of these changes are reported. For all types of stress studies examined, the genes Nr3c1, OXTR, SLC6A4, and BDNF reproducibly showed epigenetic changes, with some modifications observed to be passed down to subsequent generations following stress exposures. The aforementioned genes are known to be involved in neuronal development and hormonal regulation and are all associated with susceptibility to mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Further research is warranted in order to determine the scope of epigenetic actionable targets in individuals suffering from the long-lasting effects of stressful experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett Dee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO 80112, USA
| | - Rebecca Ryznar
- Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO 80112, USA
| | - Colton Dee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA
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Grasmann J, Almenräder F, Voracek M, Tran US. Only Small Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Biomarker Levels of Inflammation and Stress: A Preregistered Systematic Review and Two Three-Level Meta-Analyses. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054445. [PMID: 36901875 PMCID: PMC10003032 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have a positive effect on biomarkers of inflammation and stress in patients with psychiatric disorders and physical illnesses. Regarding subclinical populations, results are less clear. The present meta-analysis addressed the effects of MBIs on biomarkers in psychiatric populations and among healthy, stressed, and at-risk populations. All available biomarker data were investigated with a comprehensive approach, using two three-level meta-analyses. Pre-post changes in biomarker levels within treatment groups (k = 40 studies, total N = 1441) and treatment effects compared to control group effects, using only RCT data (k = 32, total N = 2880), were of similar magnitude, Hedges g = -0.15 (95% CI = [-0.23, -0.06], p < 0.001) and g = -0.11 (95% CI = [-0.23, 0.001], p = 0.053). Effects increased in magnitude when including available follow-up data but did not differ between type of sample, MBI, biomarker, and control group or duration of the MBI. This suggests that MBIs may ameliorate biomarker levels in both psychiatric and subclinical populations to a small extent. However, low study quality and evidence of publication bias may have impacted on the results. More large and preregistered studies are still needed in this field of research.
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11
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Timmers ER, Plösch T, Smit M, Hof IH, Verkaik-Schakel RN, Tijssen MAJ, de Koning TJ, Niezen-Koning KE. Methylation of the serotonin reuptake transporter gene and non-motor symptoms in dystonia patients. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:170. [PMID: 36503539 PMCID: PMC9743677 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01384-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dystonia is a rare movement disorder, in which patients suffer from involuntary twisting movements or abnormal posturing. Next to these motor symptoms, patients have a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, suggesting a role for serotonin in its pathophysiology. This study investigates the percentage of DNA methylation of the gene encoding for the serotonin reuptake transporter (SLC6A4) in dystonia patients and the associations between methylation levels and presence and severity of psychiatric symptoms. METHODS Patients with cervical dystonia (n = 49), myoclonus dystonia (n = 41) and dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) (n = 27) and a group of healthy controls (n = 56) were included. Psychiatric comorbidity was evaluated with validated questionnaires. Methylation levels of 20 CpG sites situated 69 to 213 base pairs upstream of the start codon of SLC6A4 were investigated. Methylation in dystonia patients was compared to healthy controls, correcting for age, and correlated with psychiatric comorbidity. RESULTS Bootstrapped quantile regression analysis showed that being a dystonia patient compared to a healthy control significantly explains the methylation level at two CpG sites (CpG 24: pseudo-R2 = 0.05, p = 0.04, CpG 32: pseudo-R2 = 0.14, p = 0.03). Subgroup analysis revealed that being a DRD patient significantly explained a part of the variance of methylation levels at two CpG sites (CpG 21: pseudo-R2 = 0.03, p = 0.00, CpG 24: pseudo-R2 = 0.06, p = 0.03). Regression analysis showed that methylation level at CpG 38 significantly explained a small proportion of the variance of severity score for anxiety (R2 = 0.07, p = 0.04) and having a diagnosis of depression (Nagelkerke R2: 0.11, p = 0.00). Genotype of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism had no additional effect on these associations. CONCLUSIONS This study showed an association between percentage of methylation at several specific sites of the promoter region of SLCA64 and (dopa-responsive) dystonia patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, methylation levels were associated with severity of anxiety and presence of a depressive disorder in the dystonia group. This study suggests alterations in the serotonergic metabolism in dystonia patients, and its relation with the non-motor symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elze R. Timmers
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Torsten Plösch
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marenka Smit
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid H. Hof
- grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rikst Nynke Verkaik-Schakel
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marina A. J. Tijssen
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom J. de Koning
- grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Box 117, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Klary E. Niezen-Koning
- grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.4494.d0000 0000 9558 4598Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
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12
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Cosentino L, Zidda F, Dukal H, Witt SH, De Filippis B, Flor H. Low levels of Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 are accompanied by an increased vulnerability to the negative outcomes of stress exposure during childhood in healthy women. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:506. [PMID: 36481643 PMCID: PMC9731965 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02259-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous mental illnesses arise following stressful events in vulnerable individuals, with females being generally more affected than males. Adverse childhood experiences are known to increase the risk of developing psychopathologies and DNA methylation was demonstrated to drive the long-lasting effects of early life stress and promote stress susceptibility. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), an X-linked reader of the DNA methylome, is altered in many mental disorders of stress origin, suggesting MECP2 as a marker of stress susceptibility; previous works also suggest a link between MECP2 and early stress experiences. The present work explored whether a reduced expression of MECP2 is paralleled by an increased vulnerability to the negative outcomes of stress exposure during childhood. To this aim, blood MECP2 mRNA levels were analyzed in 63 people without history of mental disorders and traits pertaining to depressive and anxiety symptom clusters were assessed as proxies of the vulnerability to develop stress-related disorders; stress exposure during childhood was also evaluated. Using structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that reduced MECP2 expression is accompanied by symptoms of anxiety/depression in association with exposure to stress in early life, selectively in healthy women. These results suggest a gender-specific involvement of MECP2 in the maladaptive outcomes of childhood adversities, and shed new light on the complex biology underlying gender bias in stress susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Cosentino
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Francesca Zidda
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helene Dukal
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie H. Witt
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Bianca De Filippis
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
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13
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Alameda L, Trotta G, Quigley H, Rodriguez V, Gadelrab R, Dwir D, Dempster E, Wong CCY, Forti MD. Can epigenetics shine a light on the biological pathways underlying major mental disorders? Psychol Med 2022; 52:1645-1665. [PMID: 35193719 PMCID: PMC9280283 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721005559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A significant proportion of the global burden of disease can be attributed to mental illness. Despite important advances in identifying risk factors for mental health conditions, the biological processing underlying causal pathways to disease onset remain poorly understood. This represents a limitation to implement effective prevention and the development of novel pharmacological treatments. Epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as mediators of environmental and genetic risk factors which might play a role in disease onset, including childhood adversity (CA) and cannabis use (CU). Particularly, human research exploring DNA methylation has provided new and promising insights into the role of biological pathways implicated in the aetio-pathogenesis of psychiatric conditions, including: monoaminergic (Serotonin and Dopamine), GABAergic, glutamatergic, neurogenesis, inflammatory and immune response and oxidative stress. While these epigenetic changes have been often studied as disease-specific, similarly to the investigation of environmental risk factors, they are often transdiagnostic. Therefore, we aim to review the existing literature on DNA methylation from human studies of psychiatric diseases (i) to identify epigenetic modifications mapping onto biological pathways either transdiagnostically or specifically related to psychiatric diseases such as Eating Disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar and Psychotic Disorder, Depression, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anxiety Disorder, and (ii) to investigate a convergence between some of these epigenetic modifications and the exposure to known risk factors for psychiatric disorders such as CA and CU, as well as to other epigenetic confounders in psychiatry research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alameda
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Centro Investigación Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Giulia Trotta
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Harriet Quigley
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Rodriguez
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Romayne Gadelrab
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Daniella Dwir
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emma Dempster
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Barrack Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Chloe C. Y. Wong
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marta Di Forti
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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14
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Brewerton TD, Suro G, Gavidia I, Perlman MM. Sexual and gender minority individuals report higher rates of lifetime traumas and current PTSD than cisgender heterosexual individuals admitted to residential eating disorder treatment. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:813-820. [PMID: 34057704 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01222-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with eating disorders (EDs), which occur across all sexual orientations and gender identities. Prior traumas and PTSD also are reported to occur significantly more frequently in individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, non-binary, or other (LGBTQ+), but little is known about rates of PTSD in LGBTQ+ individuals with EDs admitted to residential treatment (RT). METHOD Our sample included 542 adults with DSM-5 EDs admitted to RT at seven sites in the U.S. Rates of current presumptive PTSD (PTSD +) by LGBTQ + status were determined by responses on the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5) and the PTSD Symptom Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). RESULTS Nearly 24% of admitting individuals self-reported as LGBTQ+, and these individuals had significantly higher LEC-5 total scores (5.6 v. 4.9), PCL-5 total scores (41.9 v. 34.0), and rates of PTSD+ (63% v. 45%) than non-LGBTQ+ individuals. The LGBTQ+ with PTSD+ group reported (1) significantly more unwanted sexual experiences, sexual assaults, physical assaults, and severe human suffering experiences, and (2) significantly greater ED, depressive and trait-anxiety symptoms than the non-LGBTQ+ group with PTSD+. CONCLUSIONS LGBTQ+ individuals had significantly higher rates of high impact lifetime traumas and presumptive PTSD+, as well as greater ED and comorbid symptom severity, than non-LGBTQ+ individuals. Development, implementation and assessment of integrated treatment protocols for LGBTQ+ individuals with an ED and PTSD+ is warranted to address the needs of this underserved and often overlooked population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Brewerton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. .,Timothy D. Brewerton, MD, LLC, Mount Pleasant, SC, USA. .,Monte Nido and Affiliates, Miami, FL, USA.
| | | | | | - Molly M Perlman
- Monte Nido and Affiliates, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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15
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Bandeira IC, Giombelli L, Werlang IC, Abujamra AL, Secchi TL, Brondani R, Bragatti JA, Bizzi JWJ, Leistner-Segal S, Bianchin MM. Methylation of BDNF and SLC6A4 Gene Promoters in Brazilian Patients With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Presenting or Not Psychiatric Comorbidities. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:764742. [PMID: 34912196 PMCID: PMC8667271 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.764742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidities has been recognized for centuries, but its pathophysiological mechanisms are still misunderstood. It is biologically plausible that genetic or epigenetic variations in genes that codify important neurotransmitters involved in epilepsy as well as in psychiatric disorders may influence the development of the latter in patients with epilepsy. However, this possibility remains poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methylation profile of the BDNF and SLC6A4, two genes importantly involved in neuroplasticity, in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) regarding the development or not of psychiatric comorbidities. One hundred and thirty-nine patients with TLE, 90 females and 45 males, were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 44.0 (+12.0) years, and mean duration of epilepsy was 25.7 (+13.3) years. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV shows that 83 patients (59.7%) had neuropsychiatric disorders and 56 (40.3%) showed no psychiatric comorbidity. Mood disorders were the most common psychiatric disorder observed, being present in 64 (46.0%) of all 139 patients. Thirty-three (23.7%) patients showed anxiety disorders, 10 (7.2%) patients showed history of psychosis and 8 (5.8%) patients showed history of alcohol//drug abuse. Considering all 139 patients, 18 (12.9%) demonstrated methylation of the promoter region of both BDNF and SLC6A4 genes. A significant decreased methylation profile was observed only in TLE patients with mood disorders when compared with TLE patients without a history of mood disorders (O.R. = 3.45; 95% C.I. = 1.08–11.11; p = 0.04). A sub-analysis showed that TLE patients with major depressive disorder mostly account for this result (O.R. = 7.20; 95% C.I. = 1.01–56.16; p = 0.042). A logistic regression analysis showed that the independent factors associated with a history of depression in our TLE patients was female sex (O.R. = 2.30; 95% C.I. = 1.02–5.18; p = 0.044), not controlled seizures (O.R. = 2.51; 95% C.I. = 1.16–5.41; p = 0.019) and decreased methylation in BDNF and SLC6A4 genes (O.R. = 5.32; 95% C.I. = 1.14–25.00; p = 0.033). Our results suggest that BDNF or SLC6A4 genes profile methylation is independently associated with depressive disorders in patients with epilepsy. Further studies are necessary to clarify these matters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Cristina Bandeira
- Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas Giombelli
- Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Isabel Cristina Werlang
- Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ana Lucia Abujamra
- Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Thais Leite Secchi
- Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rosane Brondani
- Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Division of Neurology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Sandra Leistner-Segal
- Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marino Muxfeldt Bianchin
- Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Division of Neurology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Centro de Tratamento de Epilepsia Refratária (CETER), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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16
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Liu L, Hu Y, Lu Y, Hu L, Gao C, Nie S. Sex-dependent DNA hypermethylation of SLC6A4 in patients with schizophrenia. Neurosci Lett 2021; 769:136394. [PMID: 34910986 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a mental health condition with a complex pathogenic mechanism. One important hypothesis of SCZ pathology is serotonin (5-HT) impairment, and the 5-HT transporter, encoded by the SLC6A4 gene, plays a key role in regulating 5-HT levels. Some studies have confirmed that the CpG island upstream of exon 1 and the island shore region of SLC6A4 are hypermethylated in SCZ; however, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no study on the methylation level of CpG islands downstream of SLC6A4 exon 1. Methylation of CpG islands downstream of SLC6A4 exon 1 was measured in the peripheral blood of SCZ patients with positive symptoms using the MethylTarget method. Overall, the methylation level of SLC6A4 was significantly higher in women than in men. In intergroup comparisons, the level of SLC6A4 methylation was higher in the SCZ group than in the control group, especially within the male subgroup. Moreover, methylation levels of several CpG sites correlated significantly with SCZ. These results suggest that epigenetic alterations of SLC6A4 are related to SCZ pathophysiology. These findings improve the current understanding of the role of the 5-HT system in the pathological development of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Liu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China
| | - Yi Hu
- Mental Health Center of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China
| | - Yumei Lu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China
| | - Liping Hu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China.
| | - Changqing Gao
- Mental Health Center of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China.
| | - Shengjie Nie
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China.
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17
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Craig F, Mascheroni E, Giorda R, Felline MG, Bacco MG, Castagna A, Tenuta F, Villa M, Costabile A, Trabacca A, Montirosso R. Exploring the Contribution of Proximal Family Risk Factors on SLC6A4 DNA Methylation in Children with a History of Maltreatment: A Preliminary Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312736. [PMID: 34886461 PMCID: PMC8657512 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The cumulative effects of proximal family risk factors have been associated with a high number of adverse outcomes in childhood maltreatment, and DNA methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) has been associated with child maltreatment. However, the relationships between proximal family risk factors and SLC6A4 methylation remains unexplored. We examined the association among cumulative family risk factors, maltreatment experiences and DNA methylation in the SLC6A4 gene in a sample of 33 child victims of maltreatment. We computed a cumulative family risk (CFR) index that included proximal family risk factors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, psychopathology, parents’ experiences of maltreatment/abuse in childhood, criminal history, and domestic violence. The majority of children (90.9%) experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Hierarchical regression models suggested that the higher the CFR index score and the number of maltreatment experiences, and the older the children, the higher the SLC6A4 DNA methylation levels. Although preliminary, our findings suggest that, along with childhood maltreatment experiences per se, cumulative proximal family risk factors are seemingly critically associated with DNA methylation at the SLC6A4 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Craig
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (F.C.); (F.T.); (A.C.)
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Eleonora Mascheroni
- 0–3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (E.M.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Roberto Giorda
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (R.G.); (M.V.)
| | - Maria Grazia Felline
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Maria Grazia Bacco
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Annalisa Castagna
- 0–3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (E.M.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Flaviana Tenuta
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (F.C.); (F.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Marco Villa
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (R.G.); (M.V.)
| | - Angela Costabile
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (F.C.); (F.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Antonio Trabacca
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosario Montirosso
- 0–3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (E.M.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
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18
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Bainomugisa CK, Sutherland HG, Parker R, Mcrae AF, Haupt LM, Griffiths LR, Heath A, Nelson EC, Wright MJ, Hickie IB, Martin NG, Nyholt DR, Mehta D. Using Monozygotic Twins to Dissect Common Genes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Migraine. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:678350. [PMID: 34239411 PMCID: PMC8258453 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms have been associated with genes involved in Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD often co-occurs with other health conditions such as depression, cardiovascular disorder and respiratory illnesses. PTSD and migraine have previously been reported to be symptomatically positively correlated with each other, but little is known about the genes involved. The aim of this study was to understand the comorbidity between PTSD and migraine using a monozygotic twin disease discordant study design in six pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for PTSD and 15 pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for migraine. DNA from peripheral blood was run on Illumina EPIC arrays and analyzed. Multiple testing correction was performed using the Bonferroni method and 10% false discovery rate (FDR). We validated 11 candidate genes previously associated with PTSD including DOCK2, DICER1, and ADCYAP1. In the epigenome-wide scan, seven novel CpGs were significantly associated with PTSD within/near IL37, WNT3, ADNP2, HTT, SLFN11, and NQO2, with all CpGs except the IL37 CpG hypermethylated in PTSD. These results were significantly enriched for genes whose DNA methylation was previously associated with migraine (p-value = 0.036). At 10% FDR, 132 CpGs in 99 genes associated with PTSD were also associated with migraine in the migraine twin samples. Genes associated with PTSD were overrepresented in vascular smooth muscle, axon guidance and oxytocin signaling pathways, while genes associated with both PTSD and migraine were enriched for AMPK signaling and longevity regulating pathways. In conclusion, these results suggest that common genes and pathways are likely involved in PTSD and migraine, explaining at least in part the co-morbidity between the two disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte K Bainomugisa
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Heidi G Sutherland
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard Parker
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Allan F Mcrae
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Larisa M Haupt
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Lyn R Griffiths
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Heath
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Elliot C Nelson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Margaret J Wright
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Dale R Nyholt
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Divya Mehta
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
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19
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Hjort L, Rushiti F, Wang SJ, Fransquet P, P Krasniqi S, I Çarkaxhiu S, Arifaj D, Xhemaili VD, Salihu M, A Leku N, Ryan J. Intergenerational effects of maternal post-traumatic stress disorder on offspring epigenetic patterns and cortisol levels. Epigenomics 2021; 13:967-980. [PMID: 33993712 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the association between maternal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during pregnancy and offspring DNA methylation and cortisol levels. Materials & methods: Blood genome-wide DNA methylation and cortisol was measured in the youngest child of 117 women who experienced sexual violence/torture during the Kosovo war. Results: Seventy-two percent of women had PTSD symptoms during pregnancy. Their children had higher cortisol levels and differential methylation at candidate genes (NR3C1, HTR3A and BNDF). No methylation differences reached epigenome-wide corrected significance levels. Conclusion: Identifying the biological processes whereby the negative effects of trauma are passed across generations and defining groups at high risk is a key step to breaking the intergenerational transmission of the effects of mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Hjort
- Department of Obstetrics, Center for Pregnant Women with Diabetes, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Endocrinology, The Diabetes & Bone metabolic Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Feride Rushiti
- Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, Pristina 10000, Kosovo
| | - Shr-Jie Wang
- Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Fransquet
- Biological Neuropsychiatry Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | | | - Selvi I Çarkaxhiu
- Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, Pristina 10000, Kosovo
| | - Dafina Arifaj
- Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, Pristina 10000, Kosovo
| | | | - Mimoza Salihu
- Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, Pristina 10000, Kosovo
| | - Nazmie A Leku
- Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, Pristina 10000, Kosovo
| | - Joanne Ryan
- Biological Neuropsychiatry Unit, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
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20
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DNA Methylation and Allelic Polymorphism at the Dopamine Transporter Promoter Affect Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Preschoolers. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2021; 52:281-290. [PMID: 32462358 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01009-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The role of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in the onset and maintenance of emotional-behavioral difficulties is recognized in adults, adolescents and school-age children, whereas few studies in this field have focused on preschoolers. The study recruited 2-year old children (N = 152) in the general population assessing the possible effect of DAT methylation and allelic polymorphism on internalizing and externalizing symptoms, also exploring whether epigenetic and genetic variability interact. Our results showed that DAT methylation is significantly associated with all the dimensions of children's emotional/behavioral functioning in children carrying 10/10-3/3-8/10 polymorphisms but not in children carrying 9/10-9/9 allele repeats. Understanding the influence of genetic/epigenetic factors on maladaptive emotional/behavioral outcomes in young children, can be of great help in programming effective prevention and intervention plans and can be a valid aid to alleviate psychopathological symptoms before they crystalize into more severe clinical conditions in later life.
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21
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Martin CL, Ward-Caviness CK, Dhingra R, Zikry TM, Galea S, Wildman DE, Koenen KC, Uddin M, Aiello AE. Neighborhood environment, social cohesion, and epigenetic aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:7883-7899. [PMID: 33714950 PMCID: PMC8034890 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Living in adverse neighborhood environments has been linked to risk of aging-related diseases and mortality; however, the biological mechanisms explaining this observation remain poorly understood. DNA methylation (DNAm), a proposed mechanism and biomarker of biological aging responsive to environmental stressors, offers promising insight into potential molecular pathways. We examined associations between three neighborhood social environment measures (poverty, quality, and social cohesion) and three epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, and PhenoAge) using data from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study (n=158). Using linear regression models, we evaluated associations in the total sample and stratified by sex and social cohesion. Neighborhood quality was associated with accelerated DNAm aging for Horvath age acceleration (β = 1.8; 95% CI: 0.4, 3.1), Hannum age acceleration (β = 1.7; 95% CI: 0.4, 3.0), and PhenoAge acceleration (β = 2.1; 95% CI: 0.4, 3.8). In models stratified on social cohesion, associations of neighborhood poverty and quality with accelerated DNAm aging remained elevated for residents living in neighborhoods with lower social cohesion, but were null for those living in neighborhoods with higher social cohesion. Our study suggests that living in adverse neighborhood environments can speed up epigenetic aging, while positive neighborhood attributes may buffer effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantel L. Martin
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Cavin K. Ward-Caviness
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Radhika Dhingra
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Institute of Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tarek M. Zikry
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Derek E. Wildman
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Karestan C. Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Monica Uddin
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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22
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Craig F, Tenuta F, Rizzato V, Costabile A, Trabacca A, Montirosso R. Attachment-related dimensions in the epigenetic era: A systematic review of the human research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:654-666. [PMID: 33727029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of studies documented potential links between parental care and epigenetic mechanisms. The present systematic review focuses on the potential association and interrelationship between attachment-related dimensions and DNA methylation in human studies. We performed a literature review using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. Thirteen papers were included in the review. Findings support significant associations between attachment-related dimensions and epigenetic status in studies which considered different populations, age ranges, attachment measures and peripheral tissues. Although research in this area is still under investigation, available results suggest that DNA methylation associated with attachment-related dimensions might affect the development of stress regulation system and social-emotional capacities, thus contributing to the emerging phenotypic outcomes. However, identifying mediator and moderator effects in the interrelationship between these parameters was problematic owing to heterogeneous methodologies. Finally, we discuss clinical implications, unanswered questions, and future directions for human development in epigenetics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Craig
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Flaviana Tenuta
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Veronica Rizzato
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Angela Costabile
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Trabacca
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy.
| | - Rosario Montirosso
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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23
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Hossack MR, Reid MW, Aden JK, Gibbons T, Noe JC, Willis AM. Adverse Childhood Experience, Genes, and PTSD Risk in Soldiers: A Methylation Study. Mil Med 2021; 185:377-384. [PMID: 32976583 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epigenetics can serve as a marker of susceptibility to many known psychiatric diseases. DNA methylation patterns of multiple genes have been studied in both civilian populations and military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of these genes serve various functions that span the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system, and central nervous system (CNS) growth factors and neurotransmission. It is thought that the methylation levels of such genes may be able to identify individuals who are at higher risk of developing PTSD. Our study seeks to establish whether previously reported PTSD genes possess a particular methylation pattern that is predictive of PTSD in active duty military members with combat exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is an institutional review board (IRB)-approved, cross-sectional, case control, gene-environment interaction study. About 170 active military members with and without PTSD were recruited. Patients with a history of structural brain damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in loss of consciousness, predeployment diagnosis of PTSD or anxiety disorder, and predeployment prescription of an antidepressant or psychoactive medication were excluded. Validated measures of childhood trauma and adversity (adverse childhood experience [ACE] score), PTSD symptoms (PTSD check-list military version [PCL-M]), and combat exposure scales (CES) were measured via validated questionnaires for all subjects. After extracting DNA from peripheral blood provided by the 170 subjects, we determined methylation percentages, via pyrosequencing assays, for nine target areas within the following seven genes: BDNF, NR3C1, MAN2C1, TLR8, SLC6A4, IL-18, and SKA2. These genes are commonly reported in the literature as being highly correlated with PTSD and early-life traumatic experiences.Methylation levels were measured as a percentage at specific sites within the previously mentioned genes. Data were examined with SPSS v 22.0 Statistics and JMP v13.1 software using a general linear model for methylation × trauma (CES scores) split by diagnosis of PTSD or not, methylation versus childhood trauma (ACE scores), and methylation versus PTSD severity (PCL-M score). Two-way ANOVA was performed to control for antidepressant use. A two-tailed Student t-test was performed for PTSD analyses and was correlated with PTSD diagnosis, demographic information as well as ACE score, PCL-M score, and CES scores. RESULTS Differentially methylated sites that were highly associated with PTSD diagnosis were found in three of seven candidate genes: BDNF, NR3C1, and MAN2C1. When compared to controls, patients with PTSD diagnosis had significantly lower levels of methylation, even after controlling for antidepressant use. PCL-M, ACE, and CES scores were significantly associated with PTSD diagnosis. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that methylation of key genes involved in synaptic plasticity and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is associated with lower levels of methylation in military PTSD subjects exposed to combat when compared to their non-PTSD counterparts. Strengths of this study include controlling for antidepressant use and excluding TBI patients. Similar studies in an active duty population of this size are scarce. What is not clear is whether methylation changes are driving PTSD symptomology or whether they are merely a marker of disease. Future areas of research include prospective studies that measure methylation pre- and postcombat exposure in the same individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Hossack
- Department of Neurology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
| | - Matthew W Reid
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
| | - James K Aden
- Graduate Medical Education, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3698 Chambers Pass, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
| | - Thomas Gibbons
- Laboratory Services Branch, Clinical Investigations & Research Support, 1255 Wilford Hall Loop, BLDG 4430, Lackland AFB, TX 78236
| | - Jody C Noe
- 59 MDW/SGVUL, Clinical Research Division, 2200 Bergquist Dr, BLDG 4430, Lackland AFB, TX 78236
| | - Adam M Willis
- Department of Neurology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.,Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern, 5303 Harry Hinds Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, 428 S. Shaw Lane, Room 2555, Engineering Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1226
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24
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Provenzi L, Fumagalli M, Scotto di Minico G, Giorda R, Morandi F, Sirgiovanni I, Schiavolin P, Mosca F, Borgatti R, Montirosso R. Pain-related increase in serotonin transporter gene methylation associates with emotional regulation in 4.5-year-old preterm-born children. Acta Paediatr 2020; 109:1166-1174. [PMID: 31670854 DOI: 10.1111/apa.15077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIM The main goal of this study was to assess the association between pain-related increase in serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) methylation and emotional dysregulation in 4.5-year-old preterm children compared with full-term matched counterparts. METHODS Preterm (n = 29) and full-term (n = 26) children recruited from two Italian hospitals were followed-up from October 2011 to December 2017. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed from cord blood at birth from both groups and peripheral blood at discharge for preterm ones. At 4.5 years, emotional regulation (ie, anger, fear and sadness) was assessed through an observational standardised procedure. RESULTS Preterm children (18 females; mean age = 4.5, range = 4.3-4.8) showed greater anger display compared with full-term controls (14 females; mean age = 4.5, range = 4.4-4.9) in response to emotional stress. Controlling for adverse life events occurrence from discharge to 4.5 years and SLC6A4 methylation at birth, CpG-specific SLC6A4 methylation in the neonatal period was predictive of greater anger display in preterm children but not in full-term ones. CONCLUSION These findings contribute to highlight how epigenetic regulation of serotonin transporter gene in response to NICU pain exposure contributes to long-lasting programming of anger regulation in preterm children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Provenzi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea Bosisio Parini Lecco Italy
| | - Monica Fumagalli
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health University of Milan Milan Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giorda
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MedeaMolecular Biology Lab Bosisio Parini Lecco Italy
| | | | - Ida Sirgiovanni
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan Italy
| | - Paola Schiavolin
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MedeaNeuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit Bosisio Parini Lecco Italy
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25
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Mehta D, Miller O, Bruenig D, David G, Shakespeare-Finch J. A Systematic Review of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Studies in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Growth, and Resilience. J Trauma Stress 2020; 33:171-180. [PMID: 31951051 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Most people will experience a traumatic event within their lifetime. One commonly recognized response to trauma exposure is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The biological underpinnings of PTSD, including epigenetic mechanisms of DNA methylation and gene expression, have been studied intensively. However, psychological posttrauma responses vary widely and can include positive outcomes, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG) and, more commonly, resilience. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the current DNA methylation and gene expression data with respect to three potential posttrauma responses: PTSD, PTG, and resilience. A literature search identified 486 studies, 51 of which were deemed eligible for inclusion (total N = 10,633). All included studies examined PTSD and consistently implicated DNA methylation and gene expression changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammatory genes. Ten studies acknowledged resilience as a posttrauma response, but only two studies examined epigenetics and gene expression using a scale to measure resilience. Low resilience was associated with gene expression patterns in immune and dopamine genes, and high resilience was associated with a blunted inflammatory response. No studies examined epigenetic or gene expression changes associated with PTG. These findings highlight a focus on pathogenic research, which has failed to adequately acknowledge and measure positive posttrauma outcomes of PTG and resilience. Future research should examine DNA methylation and gene expression changes associated with PTG and resilience in addition to PTSD in order to gain a more comprehensive picture of an individual's well-being following exposure to trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Mehta
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Olivia Miller
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Georgina David
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Jane Shakespeare-Finch
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
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26
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Ward-Caviness CK, Pu S, Martin CL, Galea S, Uddin M, Wildman DE, Koenen K, Aiello AE. Epigenetic predictors of all-cause mortality are associated with objective measures of neighborhood disadvantage in an urban population. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:44. [PMID: 32160902 PMCID: PMC7065313 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00830-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neighborhood characteristics are robust predictors of overall health and mortality risk for residents. Though there has been some investigation of the role that molecular indicators may play in mediating neighborhood exposures, there has been little effort to incorporate newly developed epigenetic biomarkers into our understanding of neighborhood characteristics and health outcomes. METHODS Using 157 participants of the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study with detailed assessments of neighborhood characteristics and genome-wide DNA methylation profiling via the Illumina 450K methylation array, we assessed the relationship between objective neighborhood characteristics and a validated DNA methylation-based epigenetic mortality risk score (eMRS). Associations were adjusted for age, race, sex, ever smoking, ever alcohol usage, education, years spent in neighborhood, and employment. A secondary model additionally adjusted for personal neighborhood perception. We summarized 19 neighborhood quality indicators assessed for participants into 9 principal components which explained over 90% of the variance in the data and served as metrics of objective neighborhood quality exposures. RESULTS Of the nine principal components utilized for this study, one was strongly associated with the eMRS (β = 0.15; 95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.24; P = 0.002). This principal component (PC7) was most strongly driven by the presence of abandoned cars, poor streets, and non-art graffiti. Models including both PC7 and individual indicators of neighborhood perception indicated that only PC7 and not neighborhood perception impacted the eMRS. When stratified on neighborhood indicators of greenspace, we observed a potentially protective effect of large mature trees as this feature substantially attenuated the observed association. CONCLUSION Objective measures of neighborhood disadvantage are significantly associated with an epigenetic predictor of mortality risk, presenting a potential novel avenue by which neighborhood-level exposures may impact health. Associations were independent of an individual's perception of their neighborhood and attenuated by neighborhood greenspace features. More work should be done to determine molecular risk factors associated with neighborhoods, and potentially protective neighborhood features against adverse molecular effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cavin K Ward-Caviness
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 104 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
| | - Shirley Pu
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Chantel L Martin
- Carolina Population Center, Univeristy of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Univerity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Monica Uddin
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Derek E Wildman
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Karestan Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Carolina Population Center, Univeristy of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Univerity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
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27
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Navarro-Mateu F, Escámez T, Quesada MP, Alcaráz MJ, Vilagut G, Salmerón D, Huerta JM, Chirlaque MD, Navarro C, Kessler RC, Alonso J, Martínez S. Modification of the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by the 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms after Lorca's earthquakes (Murcia, Spain). Psychiatry Res 2019; 282:112640. [PMID: 31727442 PMCID: PMC7436333 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Information of the modulation effect of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after earthquakes is scarce and contradictory. A cross-sectional face-to-face interview survey of a representative sample of the adults was carried out after the Lorca (Spain) earthquakes (May 11, 2011). Socio-demographic variables, DSM-IV diagnostic assessment and earthquake-related stressors were obtained from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The triallelic and biallelic classification of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism were genotyped from buccal swabs. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict PTSD, including interaction terms to explore gene-environment (G x E) interactions. The vast majority (83%, n = 341) of the Lorca survey respondents (n = 412, 71% response rate) were genotyped. Both classifications of the 5-HTTLPR genotype were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Prior lifetime PTSD was the only variable that remained a significant predictor after adjustments. There were no significant main effects of earthquake related stressors or 5-HTTLPR. However, G x E interactions of 5-HTTLPR with high emotional impact and prior lifetime anxiety disorders were statistically significant. These results provide new evidence of the modulation effect of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms on PTSD risk. This information might characterize people at higher risk of developing PTSD after an earthquake exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Navarro-Mateu
- Unidad de Docencia, Investigación y Formación en Salud Mental (UDIF-SM). Servicio Murciano de Salud. Murcia, Spain; Departamento de Psicología Básica y Metodología, Universidad de Murcia. Murcia, Spain; CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain; IMIB-Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.
| | - Teresa Escámez
- IMIB-Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.,BIOBANC-MUR. IMIB Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.,Spanish Biobaks Platform, ISCIII. Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Mª José Alcaráz
- Fundación para la Formación e Investigación Sanitarias (FFIS) de la Región de Murcia. Murcia, Spain
| | - Gemma Vilagut
- CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain.,IM-Institut Hospital del Mar dÍnvestigacions Médiques. Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Salmerón
- CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain.,IMIB-Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.,Departamento de Ciencias Sociosanitarias. Universidad de Murcia. Murcia, Spain
| | - José Mª Huerta
- CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain.,IMIB-Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.,Department of Epidemiology, Murcia Health Council, Murcia, Spain
| | - M. Dolores Chirlaque
- CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain.,IMIB-Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.,Departamento de Ciencias Sociosanitarias. Universidad de Murcia. Murcia, Spain.,Department of Epidemiology, Murcia Health Council, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carmen Navarro
- CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain.,IMIB-Arrixaca. Murcia, Spain.,Departamento de Ciencias Sociosanitarias. Universidad de Murcia. Murcia, Spain.,Department of Epidemiology, Murcia Health Council, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ronald C. Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy. Harvard Medical School. Boston, USA
| | - Jordi Alonso
- CIBER in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP). Madrid, Spain.,IM-Institut Hospital del Mar dÍnvestigacions Médiques. Barcelona, Spain.,Departamento de Salud y Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Martínez
- Instituto de Neurociencias UMH-CSIC. Alicante, Spain.,CIBER in Mental Health (CIBERSAM). Madrid, Spain
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Sbarra DA, Cook CC, Hasselmo K, Noon MS, Mehl MR. DNA Methylation Across the Serotonin Transporter Gene Following Marital Separation: A Pilot Study. Ann Behav Med 2019; 53:1081-1087. [PMID: 31053862 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marital separation and divorce are stressful life transitions associated with increased risk for a range of poor mental and physical health outcomes. A key task for research in this area is to identify individual differences that may index risk for these adverse outcomes. PURPOSE To examine the association between DNA methylation across the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) and self-reported emotional distress following marital separation. METHODS Genomic DNA methylation (from buffy coat fractions of whole blood) was quantified in a sample of 47 adults following a recent marital separation; concurrent with the blood draw, participants completed questionnaires on their psychological adjustment to the separation experience. RESULTS Relatively greater methylation of SLC6A4 was associated with less subjective separation-related psychological distress, and this association held after accounting for participants' age, length of the relationship, time since the separation, and SLC6A4 genotype, b = -211.99, SE = 94.91, p = .03, 95% CI: -402.22, -25.21. Significantly stronger negative associations were observed between methylation and psychological adjustment among participants who had more recently separated from their former partner. CONCLUSIONS Although results derived from small samples must be considered preliminary and hypothesis generating, the current study raises new questions about the role of DNA methylation and psychosocial adaptation to stressful life events such as divorce, and the findings can inform future studies in this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Sbarra
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Chelsea C Cook
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Karen Hasselmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Muhammad S Noon
- Data Science Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Matthias R Mehl
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Kim GS, Smith AK, Xue F, Michopoulos V, Lori A, Armstrong DL, Aiello AE, Koenen KC, Galea S, Wildman DE, Uddin M. Methylomic profiles reveal sex-specific differences in leukocyte composition associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 81:280-291. [PMID: 31228611 PMCID: PMC6754791 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder precipitated by trauma exposure. However, only some persons exposed to trauma develop PTSD. There are sex differences in risk; twice as many women as men develop a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD. Methylomic profiles derived from peripheral blood are well-suited for investigating PTSD because DNA methylation (DNAm) encodes individual response to trauma and may play a key role in the immune dysregulation characteristic of PTSD pathophysiology. In the current study, we leveraged recent methodological advances to investigate sex-specific differences in DNAm-based leukocyte composition that are associated with lifetime PTSD. We estimated leukocyte composition on a combined methylation array dataset (483 participants, ∼450 k CpG sites) consisting of two civilian cohorts, the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study and Grady Trauma Project. Sex-stratified Mann-Whitney U test and two-way ANCOVA revealed that lifetime PTSD was associated with significantly higher monocyte proportions in males, but not in females (Holm-adjusted p-val < 0.05). No difference in monocyte proportions was observed between current and remitted PTSD cases in males, suggesting that this sex-specific difference may reflect a long-standing trait of lifetime history of PTSD, rather than current state of PTSD. Associations with lifetime PTSD or PTSD status were not observed in any other leukocyte subtype and our finding in monocytes was confirmed using cell estimates based on a different deconvolution algorithm, suggesting that our sex-specific findings are robust across cell estimation approaches. Overall, our main finding of elevated monocyte proportions in males, but not in females with lifetime history of PTSD provides evidence for a sex-specific difference in peripheral blood leukocyte composition that is detectable in methylomic profiles and that may reflect long-standing changes associated with PTSD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace S Kim
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Medical Scholars Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Fei Xue
- Department of Statistics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Don L Armstrong
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derek E Wildman
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Monica Uddin
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Hartwell EE, Kranzler HR. Pharmacogenetics of alcohol use disorder treatments: an update. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2019; 15:553-564. [PMID: 31162983 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2019.1628218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent; costly economically, socially, and interpersonally; and grossly undertreated. The low rate of utilization of medications with demonstrated (albeit modest) efficacy is particularly noteworthy. One approach to increasing the utility and safety of available medications is to use a precision medicine approach, which seeks to identify patients for whom specific medications are likely to be most efficacious and have the fewest adverse effects. Areas Covered: We review the literature on the pharmacogenetics of AUD treatment using both approved and off-label medications. We cover both laboratory studies and clinical trials, highlighting valuable mechanistic insights and underscoring the potential value of precision-based care for AUD. Expert Opinion: Pharmacotherapy can be a useful component of AUD treatment. Currently, the evidence regarding genetic predictors of medication efficacy is very limited. Thus, a precision medicine approach is not yet ready for widespread clinical implementation. Further research is needed to identify candidate genetic variants that moderate the response to both established and novel medications. The growing availability of large-scale, longitudinal datasets that enable the synthesis of genetic and electronic health record data provides important opportunities to develop this area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Hartwell
- a Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center , Crescenz VAMC , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry , University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- a Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center , Crescenz VAMC , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry , University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , Philadelphia , PA , USA
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31
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Bhattacharya S, Fontaine A, MacCallum PE, Drover J, Blundell J. Stress Across Generations: DNA Methylation as a Potential Mechanism Underlying Intergenerational Effects of Stress in Both Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Pre-clinical Predator Stress Rodent Models. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:113. [PMID: 31191267 PMCID: PMC6547031 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most humans will experience some type of traumatic event in their lifetime only a small set of individuals will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Differences in sex, age, trauma type, and comorbidity, along with many other elements, contribute to the heterogenous manifestation of this disorder. Nonetheless, aberrant hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, especially in terms of cortisol and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) alterations, has been postulated as a tenable factor in the etiology and pathophysiology of PTSD. Moreover, emerging data suggests that the harmful effects of traumatic stress to the HPA axis in PTSD can also propagate into future generations, making offspring more prone to psychopathologies. Predator stress models provide an ethical and ethologically relevant way to investigate tentative mechanisms that are thought to underlie this phenomenon. In this review article, we discuss findings from human and laboratory predator stress studies that suggest changes to DNA methylation germane to GRs may underlie the generational effects of trauma transmission. Understanding mechanisms that promote stress-induced psychopathology will represent a major advance in the field and may lead to novel treatments for such devastating, and often treatment-resistant trauma and stress-disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriya Bhattacharya
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Audrey Fontaine
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.,Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (ISIR), Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Phillip E MacCallum
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - James Drover
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Blundell
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
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Prosocial Emotion, Adolescence, and Warfare. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2019; 30:192-216. [DOI: 10.1007/s12110-019-09344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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33
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Bortoluzzi A, Salum GA, da Rosa ED, Chagas VDS, Castro MAA, Manfro GG. DNA methylation in adolescents with anxiety disorder: a longitudinal study. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13800. [PMID: 30218003 PMCID: PMC6138655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders (AD) typically manifest in children and adolescents and might persist into adulthood. However, there are still few data concerning epigenetic mechanisms associated with onset, persistence or remission of AD over time. We investigated a cohort of adolescents and young adults at baseline (age; 13.19 ± 2.38) and after 5 years and classified them according to the AD diagnosis and their longitudinal trajectories into 4 groups: (1) Typically Developing Comparisons (TDC; control group, n = 14); (2) Incident (AD in the second evaluation only, n = 11); (3) Persistent (AD in both evaluations, n = 14) and (4) Remittent (AD in the first evaluation only, n = 8). DNA methylation was evaluated with the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip from saliva samples collected at both evaluations. Gene set enrichment analysis was applied to consider biological pathways. We found decreased DNA methylation in TDC group while the chronic cases of AD presented hypermethylation in central nervous system development pathways. Moreover, we showed that this persistent group also presented hypermethylation while the other three groups were associated with hypomethylation in nervous system development pathway. Incidence and remission groups were associated with increased and decreased methylation in neuron development pathways, respectively. Larger studies are likely to detect specific genes relevant to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Bortoluzzi
- Anxiety Disorders Outpatient Program for Children and Adolescents, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS/Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Post Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Basic Sciences/Health, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, BRAIN Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Giovanni Abrahão Salum
- Anxiety Disorders Outpatient Program for Children and Adolescents, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS/Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eduarda Dias da Rosa
- Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, BRAIN Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gisele Gus Manfro
- Anxiety Disorders Outpatient Program for Children and Adolescents, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS/Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Basic Sciences/Health, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Basic Research and Advanced Investigations in Neurosciences, BRAIN Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Kim GS, Smith AK, Nievergelt CM, Uddin M. Neuroepigenetics of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 158:227-253. [PMID: 30072055 PMCID: PMC6474244 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
While diagnosis of PTSD is based on behavioral symptom clusters that are most directly associated with brain function, epigenetic studies of PTSD in humans to date have been limited to peripheral tissues. Animal models of PTSD have been key for understanding the epigenetic alterations in the brain most directly relevant to endophenotypes of PTSD, in particular those pertaining to fear memory and stress response. This chapter provides an overview of neuroepigenetic studies based on animal models of PTSD, with an emphasis on the effect of stress on fear memory. Where relevant, we also describe human-based studies with relevance to neuroepigenetic insights gleaned from animal work and suggest promising directions for future studies of PTSD neuroepigenetics in living humans that combine peripheral epigenetic measures with measures of central nervous system activity, structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace S Kim
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Medical Scholars Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Caroline M Nievergelt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Monica Uddin
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States.
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35
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Mendoza C, Barreto GE, Iarkov A, Tarasov VV, Aliev G, Echeverria V. Cotinine: A Therapy for Memory Extinction in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:6700-6711. [PMID: 29335846 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0869-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that may develop after exposure to exceptionally threatening or unescapable horrifying events. Actual therapies fail to alleviate the emotional suffering and cognitive impairment associated with this disorder, mostly because they are ineffective in treating the failure to extinguish trauma memories in a great percentage of those affected. In this review, current behavioral, cellular, and molecular evidence supporting the use of cotinine for treating PTSD are reviewed. The role of the positive modulation by cotinine of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and their downstream effectors, the protection of astroglia, and the inhibition of microglia in the PTSD brain are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristhian Mendoza
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - George E Barreto
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.,Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexandre Iarkov
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile
| | - Vadim V Tarasov
- Institute of Pharmacy and Translational Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gjumrakch Aliev
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Severniy Proezd, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, 1142432, Russia. .,"GALLY" International Biomedical Research Consulting LLC, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. .,School of Health Sciences and Healthcare Administration, University of Atlanta, Johns Creek, GA, 30097, USA.
| | - Valentina Echeverria
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4030000, Concepción, Chile. .,Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Research and Development, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA.
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Bishop JR, Lee AM, Mills LJ, Thuras PD, Eum S, Clancy D, Erbes CR, Polusny MA, Lamberty GJ, Lim KO. Methylation of FKBP5 and SLC6A4 in Relation to Treatment Response to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:418. [PMID: 30279666 PMCID: PMC6153325 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for veterans with PTSD. Extensive work has identified epigenetic factors related to PTSD disease risk and pathophysiology, but how these factors influence treatment response is unclear. Serotonin signaling and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning may be perturbed in PTSD and are molecular pathways targeted by PTSD treatments. To identify potential biomarkers for treatment response, we utilized genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples from veterans with PTSD who were responders (n = 11) or non-responders (n = 11) to MBSR as part of a clinical trial. We assessed methylation levels at CpG sites in regions of the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) previously associated with expression and depression outcomes, as well as the Intron 7 region of the FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) containing known glucocorticoid response elements suggested to regulate this gene. Selected subjects were matched across MBSR responder status by baseline symptoms, age, sex, current smoking status, and current antidepressant use. Percent methylation was compared between responders and non-responders at baseline (pre-MBSR treatment). Additionally, percent change in methylation from baseline to post-treatment was compared between responders and non-responders. There was a significant time x responder group interaction for methylation in FKBP5 intron 7 bin 2 [F (1, 19) = 7.492, p = 0.013] whereby responders had a decrease in methylation and non-responders had an increase in methylation from before to after treatment in this region. Analyses of the three CpG sites within bin 2 revealed a significant time x responder group interaction for CpG_35558513 [F (1, 19) = 5.551, p = 0.029] which resides in a known glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Decreases in FKBP5 methylation after treatment in responders as compared to increases in non-responders suggest that effective meditation intervention may be associated with stress-related pathways at the molecular level. These preliminary findings suggest that DNA methylation signatures within FKBP5 are potential indicators of response to meditation treatment in PTSD and require validation in larger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Bishop
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Adam M Lee
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lauren J Mills
- University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Paul D Thuras
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Seenae Eum
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Doris Clancy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Christopher R Erbes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Melissa A Polusny
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Gregory J Lamberty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Defense Veterans Brain Injury Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Kuan PF, Waszczuk MA, Kotov R, Clouston S, Yang X, Singh PK, Glenn ST, Cortes Gomez E, Wang J, Bromet E, Luft BJ. Gene expression associated with PTSD in World Trade Center responders: An RNA sequencing study. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:1297. [PMID: 29249826 PMCID: PMC5802695 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene expression approach has provided promising insights into the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies used hypothesis-free transcriptome-wide approach to comprehensively understand gene expression underpinning PTSD. A transcriptome-wide expression study using RNA sequencing of whole blood was conducted in 324 World Trade Center responders (201 with never, 81 current, 42 past PTSD). Samples from current and never PTSD reponders were randomly split to form discovery (N = 195) and replication (N = 87) cohorts. Differentially expressed genes were used in pathway analysis and to create a polygenic expression score. There were 448 differentially expressed genes in the discovery cohort, of which 99 remained significant in the replication cohort, including FKBP5, which was found to be up-regulated in current PTSD regardless of the genotypes. Several enriched biological pathways were found, including glucocorticoid receptor signaling and immunity-related pathways, but these pathways did not survive FDR correction. The polygenic expression score computed by aggregating 30 differentially expressed genes using the elastic net algorithm achieved sensitivity/specificity of 0.917/0.508, respectively for identifying current PTSD in the replication cohort. Polygenic scores were similar in current and past PTSD, with both groups scoring higher than trauma-exposed controls without any history of PTSD. Together with the pathway analysis results, these findings point to HPA-axis and immune dysregulation as key biological processes underpinning PTSD. A novel polygenic expression aggregate that differentiates PTSD patients from trauma-exposed controls might be a useful screening tool for research and clinical practice, if replicated in other populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Fen Kuan
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Monika A Waszczuk
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Roman Kotov
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Sean Clouston
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Prashant K Singh
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sean T Glenn
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Eduardo Cortes Gomez
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jianmin Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Evelyn Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin J Luft
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
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Ratanatharathorn A, Boks MP, Maihofer AX, Aiello AE, Amstadter AB, Ashley-Koch AE, Baker DG, Beckham JC, Bromet E, Dennis M, Garrett ME, Geuze E, Guffanti G, Hauser MA, Kilaru V, Kimbrel NA, Koenen KC, Kuan PF, Logue MW, Luft BJ, Miller MW, Mitchell C, Nugent NR, Ressler KJ, Rutten BPF, Stein MB, Vermetten E, Vinkers CH, Youssef NA, Nievergelt CM, Smith AK, Smith AK. Epigenome-wide association of PTSD from heterogeneous cohorts with a common multi-site analysis pipeline. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:619-630. [PMID: 28691784 PMCID: PMC5592721 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Compelling evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation play a role in stress regulation and in the etiologic basis of stress related disorders such as Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Here we describe the purpose and methods of an international consortium that was developed to study the role of epigenetics in PTSD. Inspired by the approach used in the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, we brought together investigators representing seven cohorts with a collective sample size of N = 1147 that included detailed information on trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and genome-wide DNA methylation data. The objective of this consortium is to increase the analytical sample size by pooling data and combining expertise so that DNA methylation patterns associated with PTSD can be identified. Several quality control and analytical pipelines were evaluated for their control of genomic inflation and technical artifacts with a joint analysis procedure established to derive comparable data over the cohorts for meta-analysis. We propose methods to deal with ancestry population stratification and type I error inflation and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of applying robust error estimates. To evaluate our pipeline, we report results from an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of age, which is a well-characterized phenotype with known epigenetic associations. Overall, while EWAS are highly complex and subject to similar challenges as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we demonstrate that an epigenetic meta-analysis with a relatively modest sample size can be well-powered to identify epigenetic associations. Our pipeline can be used as a framework for consortium efforts for EWAS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco P Boks
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus
| | - Adam X Maihofer
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry
| | | | | | | | - Dewleen G Baker
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System,Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health
| | - Jean C Beckham
- VA Mid-Atlantic, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center,Durham VA Medical Center,Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Evelyn Bromet
- State University of New York, Epidemiology Research Group
| | - Michelle Dennis
- VA Mid-Atlantic, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center,Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | | | - Elbert Geuze
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus,Military Mental Healthcare- Research Centre, Ministry of Defence
| | - Guia Guffanti
- McLean Hospital, Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry
| | | | - Varun Kilaru
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
| | - Nathan A Kimbrel
- VA Mid-Atlantic, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center,Durham VA Medical Center,Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology,Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, and Department of Psychiatry,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research
| | - Pei-Fen Kuan
- Stony Brook University, Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics
| | - Mark W Logue
- Boston University, Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics),VA Boston Healthcare System
| | | | - Mark W Miller
- VA Boston Healthcare System,Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
| | | | - Nicole R Nugent
- Brown University, Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Pediatric Research
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry,Emory University, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
| | - Bart P F Rutten
- Maastricht University Medical Centre, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology
| | - Murray B Stein
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System,University of California San Diego, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health
| | - Eric Vermetten
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus,Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry,Ministry of Defence, Military Mental Healthcare,Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group
| | | | - Nagy A Youssef
- Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Office of Academic Affairs
| | | | | | - Caroline M Nievergelt
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System,Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics,Emory University, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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39
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Delgado-Morales R, Agís-Balboa RC, Esteller M, Berdasco M. Epigenetic mechanisms during ageing and neurogenesis as novel therapeutic avenues in human brain disorders. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:67. [PMID: 28670349 PMCID: PMC5493012 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-017-0365-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing is the main risk factor for human neurological disorders. Among the diverse molecular pathways that govern ageing, epigenetics can guide age-associated decline in part by regulating gene expression and also through the modulation of genomic instability and high-order chromatin architecture. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the regulation of neural differentiation as well as in functional processes related to memory consolidation, learning or cognition during healthy lifespan. On the other side of the coin, many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with epigenetic dysregulation. The reversible nature of epigenetic factors and, especially, their role as mediators between the genome and the environment make them exciting candidates as therapeutic targets. Rather than providing a broad description of the pathways epigenetically deregulated in human neurological disorders, in this review, we have focused on the potential use of epigenetic enzymes as druggable targets to ameliorate neural decline during normal ageing and especially in neurological disorders. We will firstly discuss recent progress that supports a key role of epigenetic regulation during healthy ageing with an emphasis on the role of epigenetic regulation in adult neurogenesis. Then, we will focus on epigenetic alterations associated with ageing-related human disorders of the central nervous system. We will discuss examples in the context of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorders, and also dementia or Alzheimer's disease as the most frequent neurodegenerative disease. Finally, methodological limitations and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Delgado-Morales
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 3rd Floor, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Av. Gran Via 199-203, 08908L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Roberto Carlos Agís-Balboa
- Psychiatric Diseases Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), SERGAS, CIBERSAM, Vigo, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 3rd Floor, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Av. Gran Via 199-203, 08908L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Berdasco
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 3rd Floor, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Av. Gran Via 199-203, 08908L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
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40
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An epigenome-wide DNA methylation study of PTSD and depression in World Trade Center responders. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1158. [PMID: 28654093 PMCID: PMC5537648 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) have been inconsistent. This may be due to small sample sizes, and measurement and tissue differences. The current two EWA analyses of 473 World Trade Center responders are the largest to date for both PTSD and MDD. These analyses investigated DNA methylation patterns and biological pathways influenced by differentially methylated genes associated with each disorder. Methylation was profiled on blood samples using Illumina 450 K Beadchip. Two EWA analyses compared current versus never PTSD, and current versus never MDD, adjusting for cell types and demographic confounders. Pathway and gene set enrichment analyses were performed to understand the complex biological systems of PTSD and MDD. No significant epigenome-wide associations were found for PTSD or MDD at an FDR P<0.05. The majority of genes with differential methylation at a suggestive threshold did not overlap between the two disorders. Pathways significant in PTSD included a regulator of synaptic plasticity, oxytocin signaling, cholinergic synapse and inflammatory disease pathways, while only phosphatidylinositol signaling and cell cycle pathways emerged in MDD. The failure of the current EWA analyses to detect significant epigenome-wide associations is in contrast with disparate findings from previous, smaller EWA and candidate gene studies of PTSD and MDD. Enriched gene sets involved in several biological pathways, including stress response, inflammation and physical health, were identified in PTSD, supporting the view that multiple genes play a role in this complex disorder.
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41
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Banerjee SB, Morrison FG, Ressler KJ. Genetic approaches for the study of PTSD: Advances and challenges. Neurosci Lett 2017; 649:139-146. [PMID: 28242325 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.02.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly debilitating stress and anxiety-related disorder that occurs in response to specific trauma or abuse. Genetic risk factors may account for up to 30-40% of the heritability of PTSD. Understanding the gene pathways that are associated with PTSD, and how those genes interact with the fear and stress circuitry to mediate risk and resilience for PTSD will enable the development of targeted therapies to prevent the occurrence of or decrease the severity of this complex multi-gene disorder. This review will summarize recent research on genetic approaches to understanding PTSD risk and resilience in human populations, including candidate genes and their epigenetic modifications, genome-wide association studies and neural imaging genetics approaches. Despite challenges faced within this field of study such as inconsistent results and replications, genetic approaches still offer exciting opportunities for the identification and development of novel therapeutic targets and therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunayana B Banerjee
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Filomene G Morrison
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
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42
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Matosin N, Cruceanu C, Binder EB. Preclinical and Clinical Evidence of DNA Methylation Changes in Response to Trauma and Chronic Stress. CHRONIC STRESS (THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.) 2017; 1:2470547017710764. [PMID: 29503977 PMCID: PMC5831952 DOI: 10.1177/2470547017710764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to chronic stress, either repeated severe acute or moderate sustained stress, is one of the strongest risk factors for the development of psychopathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Chronic stress is linked with several lasting biological consequences, particularly to the stress endocrine system but also affecting intermediate phenotypes such as brain structure and function, immune function, and behavior. Although genetic predisposition confers a proportion of the risk, the most relevant molecular mechanisms determining those susceptible and resilient to the effects of stress and trauma may be epigenetic. Epigenetics refers to the mechanisms that regulate genomic information by dynamically changing the patterns of transcription and translation of genes. Mounting evidence from preclinical rodent and clinical population studies strongly support that epigenetic modifications can occur in response to traumatic and chronic stress. Here, we discuss this literature examining stress-induced epigenetic changes in preclinical models and clinical cohorts of stress and trauma occurring early in life or in adulthood. We highlight that a complex relationship between the timing of environmental stressors and genetic predispositions likely mediate the response to chronic stress over time, and that a better understanding of epigenetic changes is needed by further investigations in longitudinal and postmortem brain clinical cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Matosin
- Department of Translational Research in
Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine,
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cristiana Cruceanu
- Department of Translational Research in
Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- Department of Translational Research in
Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
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43
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Cimino S, Cerniglia L, Ballarotto G, Marzilli E, Pascale E, D'Addario C, Adriani W, Tambelli R. DNA Methylation at the DAT Promoter and Risk for Psychopathology: Intergenerational Transmission between School-Age Youths and Their Parents in a Community Sample. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:303. [PMID: 29375406 PMCID: PMC5767582 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of gene polymorphisms and promoter methylation, associated with maladaptive developmental outcomes, vary depending on environmental factors (e.g., parental psychopathology). Most studies have focused on 0- to 5-year-old children, adolescents, or adults, whereas there is dearth of research on school-age youths and pre-adolescents. METHODS In a sample of 21 families recruited at schools, we addressed parents' psychopathological symptoms (through SCL-90-R); offspring emotional-behavioral functioning (through CBCL-6-18); dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) for epigenetic status of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) and for genotype, i.e., variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism at the 3'-UTR. Possible associations were explored between bio-genetic and psychological characteristics within the same individual and between triplets of children, mothers, and fathers. RESULTS DAT methylation of CpG at positions M1, M6, and M7 in mothers was correlated with maternal (phobic) anxiety, whereas in fathers' position M6 was related to paternal depression, anxiety, hostility, psychoticism, and higher Global Severity Index (GSI). No significant correlations were found between maternal and offspring DAT methylation. Significant correlations were found between fathers' methylation at CpG M1 and children's methylation at CpG M6. Linear regressions showed that mothers and fathers' GSI predicted children's methylation at CpG sites M2, M3, and M6, whereas fathers' GSI predicted children's methylation at CpG sites, particularly M1, M2, and M6. Moreover, offspring methylation of DAT at CpG M2 predicted somatic complaint, internalizing and attention problems; methylation of DAT at CpG M6 predicted withdraw. CONCLUSION This study may have important clinical implication for the prevention and treatment of emotional-behavioral difficulties in children, as it adds to previous knowledge about the role of genetic and environmental factors in predicting psychopathological symptoms within non-clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cimino
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Cerniglia
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Ballarotto
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Marzilli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Esterina Pascale
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Walter Adriani
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Rome, Italy.,Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Renata Tambelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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44
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Provenzi L, Giorda R, Beri S, Montirosso R. SLC6A4 methylation as an epigenetic marker of life adversity exposures in humans: A systematic review of literature. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:7-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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45
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Hong C, Efferth T. Systematic Review on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Survivors of the Wenchuan Earthquake. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2016; 17:542-561. [PMID: 26028651 DOI: 10.1177/1524838015585313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) widely occurs among victims or witness of disasters. With flashbacks, hyperarousal, and avoidance being the typical symptoms, PTSD became a focus of psychological research. The earthquake in Wenchuan, China, on May 12, 2008, was without precedent in magnitude and aftermath and caused huge damage, which drew scientists' attention to mental health of the survivors. We conducted a systematic overview by collecting published articles from the PubMed database and classifying them into five points: epidemiology, neuropathology, biochemistry, genetics and epigenetics, and treatment. The large body of research during the past 6 years showed that adolescents and adults were among the most studied populations with high prevalence rates for PTSD. Genomic and transcriptomic studies focusing on gene × environment studies as well as epigenetics are still rare, although a few available data showed great potential to better understand the pathophysiology of PTSD as multifactorial disease. Phytotherapy with Chinese herbs and acupuncture are rarely reported as of yet, although the first published data indicated promising therapy effects. Future studies should focus on the following points: (1) The affected populations under observation should be better defined concerning individual risk factor, time of observation, spatial movement, and individual disease courses of patients. (2) The role of social support for prevalence rates of PTSD should be observed in more detail. (3) Efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine should be studied to find potential interventions and effective treatments of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlan Hong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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46
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Chen Y, Li X, Kobayashi I, Tsao D, Mellman TA. Expression and methylation in posttraumatic stress disorder and resilience; evidence of a role for odorant receptors. Psychiatry Res 2016; 245:36-44. [PMID: 27526315 PMCID: PMC5148136 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and potentially disabling disorder that develops in 1/5 to 1/3 of people exposed to severe trauma. Twin studies indicate that genetic factors account for at least one third of the variance in the risk for developing PTSD, however, the specific role for genetic factors in the pathogenesis of PTSD is not well understood. We studied genome-wide gene expression and DNA methylation profiles in 12 participants with PTSD and 12 participants who were resilient to similar severity trauma exposure. Close to 4000 genes were differentially expressed with adjusted p<0.05, fold-change >2, with all but 3 upregulated with PTSD. Eight odorant/olfactory receptor related genes were up-regulated with PTSD as well as genes related to immune activation, the Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A (GABAA) receptor, and vitamin D synthesis. No differences with adjusted significance for DNA methylation were found. We conclude that increased gene expression may play an important role in PTSD and this expression may not be a consequence of DNA methylation. The role of odorant receptor expression warrants independent replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxiu Chen
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ihori Kobayashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daisy Tsao
- Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Thomas A Mellman
- Department of Psychiatry, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
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47
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An integrative review of methylation at the serotonin transporter gene and its dialogue with environmental risk factors, psychopathology and 5-HTTLPR. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 72:190-209. [PMID: 27880876 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Gene-environment (G×E) interactions have largely been regarded as the root of many complex disorders, including several psychiatric disorders. In this regard, it has been hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms may be the main mediators of such interactions. Of particular interest is the previously described interaction between psychosocial stress and genetic variability of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) in its polymorphic region 5-HTTLPR. Here we review the literature concerning SLC6A4 methylation in association with environmental, clinical or genetic variables. While SLC6A4 hypermethylation has typically been described to be independently associated with both early life stress and depressive disorders, only a few papers address whether methylation could mediate the interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR in predicting psychopathological risk. Nevertheless, research preliminarily indicates a methylation-driven increased vulnerability of carriers of the short allele of 5-HTTLPR to psychiatric disorders when exposed to early stress or soon after exposure to stress.
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48
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Ryan J, Chaudieu I, Ancelin ML, Saffery R. Biological underpinnings of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder: focusing on genetics and epigenetics. Epigenomics 2016; 8:1553-1569. [PMID: 27686106 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain individuals are more susceptible to stress and trauma, as well as the physical and mental health consequences following such exposure, including risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This differing vulnerability is likely to be influenced by genetic predisposition and specific characteristics of the stress itself (nature, intensity and duration), as well as epigenetic mechanisms. In this review we provide an overview of research findings in this field. We highlight some of the key genetic risk factors identified for PTSD, and the evidence that epigenetic processes might play a role in the biological response to trauma, as well as being potential biomarkers of PTSD risk. We also discuss important considerations for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Ryan
- Cancer & Disease Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Childrens Hospital, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.,Inserm, U1061, University of Montpellier, Montpellier F-34093, France.,Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran 3004, Australia
| | - Isabelle Chaudieu
- Inserm, U1061, University of Montpellier, Montpellier F-34093, France
| | | | - Richard Saffery
- Cancer & Disease Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Childrens Hospital, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
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49
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Insight from animal models of environmentally driven epigenetic changes in the developing and adult brain. Dev Psychopathol 2016; 28:1229-1243. [PMID: 27687803 DOI: 10.1017/s095457941600081x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The efforts of many neuroscientists are directed toward understanding the appreciable plasticity of the brain and behavior. In recent years, epigenetics has become a core of this focus as a prime mechanistic candidate for behavioral modifications. Animal models have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of environmentally driven changes to the epigenome in the developing and adult brain. This review focuses mainly on such discoveries driven by adverse environments along with their associated behavioral outcomes. While much of the evidence discussed focuses on epigenetics within the central nervous system, several peripheral studies in humans who have experienced significant adversity are also highlighted. As we continue to unravel the link between epigenetics and phenotype, discerning the complexity and specificity of epigenetic changes induced by environments is an important step toward understanding optimal development and how to prevent or ameliorate behavioral deficits bred by disruptive environments.
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50
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Pape JC, Binder EB. The Role of Genetics and Epigenetics in the Pathogenesis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychiatr Ann 2016. [DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20160729-02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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