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Paes T, Feelders RA, Hofland LJ. Epigenetic Mechanisms Modulated by Glucocorticoids With a Focus on Cushing Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:e1424-e1433. [PMID: 38517306 PMCID: PMC11099489 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae151] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In Cushing syndrome (CS), prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels results in a wide range of devastating effects causing multisystem morbidity. Despite the efficacy of treatment leading to disease remission and clinical improvement, hypercortisolism-induced complications may persist. Since glucocorticoids use the epigenetic machinery as a mechanism of action to modulate gene expression, the persistence of some comorbidities may be mediated by hypercortisolism-induced long-lasting epigenetic changes. Additionally, glucocorticoids influence microRNA expression, which is an important epigenetic regulator as it modulates gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Evidence suggests that chronically elevated glucocorticoid levels may induce aberrant microRNA expression which may impact several cellular processes resulting in cardiometabolic disorders. The present article reviews the evidence on epigenetic changes induced by (long-term) glucocorticoid exposure. Key aspects of some glucocorticoid-target genes and their implications in the context of CS are described. Lastly, the effects of epigenetic drugs influencing glucocorticoid effects are discussed for their ability to be potentially used as adjunctive therapy in CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ticiana Paes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
| | - Richard A Feelders
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leo J Hofland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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De Alcubierre D, Ferrari D, Mauro G, Isidori AM, Tomlinson JW, Pofi R. Glucocorticoids and cognitive function: a walkthrough in endogenous and exogenous alterations. J Endocrinol Invest 2023; 46:1961-1982. [PMID: 37058223 PMCID: PMC10514174 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02091-7] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis exerts many actions on the central nervous system (CNS) aside from stress regulation. Glucocorticoids (GCs) play an important role in affecting several cognitive functions through the effects on both glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR). In this review, we aim to unravel the spectrum of cognitive dysfunction secondary to derangement of circulating levels of endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids. METHODS All relevant human prospective and retrospective studies published up to 2022 in PubMed reporting information on HPA disorders, GCs, and cognition were included. RESULTS Cognitive impairment is commonly found in GC-related disorders. The main brain areas affected are the hippocampus and pre-frontal cortex, with memory being the most affected domain. Disease duration, circadian rhythm disruption, circulating GCs levels, and unbalanced MR/GR activation are all risk factors for cognitive decline in these patients, albeit with conflicting data among different conditions. Lack of normalization of cognitive dysfunction after treatment is potentially attributable to GC-dependent structural brain alterations, which can persist even after long-term remission. CONCLUSION The recognition of cognitive deficits in patients with GC-related disorders is challenging, often delayed, or mistaken. Prompt recognition and treatment of underlying disease may be important to avoid a long-lasting impact on GC-sensitive areas of the brain. However, the resolution of hormonal imbalance is not always followed by complete recovery, suggesting irreversible adverse effects on the CNS, for which there are no specific treatments. Further studies are needed to find the mechanisms involved, which may eventually be targeted for treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D De Alcubierre
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - D Ferrari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - G Mauro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - A M Isidori
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - J W Tomlinson
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - R Pofi
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.
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Advances in Molecular Pathophysiology and Targeted Therapy for Cushing's Disease. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020496. [PMID: 36672445 PMCID: PMC9857185 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020496] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cushing's disease is caused by autonomous secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. As a result, excess cortisol production leads to the overt manifestation of the clinical features of Cushing's syndrome. Severe complications have been reported in patients with Cushing's disease, including hypertension, menstrual disorders, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, infections, and mental disorders. Cushing's disease presents with a variety of clinical features, ranging from overt to subtle. In this review, we explain recent advances in molecular insights and targeted therapy for Cushing's disease. The pathophysiological characteristics of hormone production and pituitary tumor cells are also explained. Therapies to treat the tumor growth in the pituitary gland and the autonomous hypersecretion of ACTH are discussed. Drugs that target corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors have been effective, including cabergoline, a dopamine receptor type 2 agonist, and pasireotide, a multi-receptor-targeted somatostatin analog. Some of the drugs that target adrenal hormones have shown potential therapeutic benefits. Advances in potential novel therapies for Cushing's disease are also introduced.
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Oxidative Stress and Nuclear Reprogramming: A Pilot Study of the Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species on Architectural and Epigenetic Landscapes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010153. [PMID: 36613595 PMCID: PMC9820425 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010153] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell genome integrity is continuously threatened by various sources, both endogenous and exogenous. Oxidative stress causes a multitude of damages, severely affecting cell viability, fidelity of genetic information inheritance, and determining profound alterations in gene expression. Epigenetics represents a major form of gene expression modulation, influencing DNA accessibility to transcription factors and the overall nuclear architecture. When assessing the stress-induced epigenome reprogramming, widely diffused biochemical and molecular approaches commonly fail to incorporate analyses such as architectural chromatin alterations and target molecules precise spatial localization. Unveiling the significance of the nuclear response to the oxidative stress, as well as the functional effects over the chromatin organization, may reveal targets and strategies for approaches aiming at limiting the impact on cellular stability. For these reasons, we utilized potassium bromate treatment, a stressor able to induce DNA damages without altering the cellular microenvironment, hence purely modeling nuclear oxidative stress. By means of high-resolution techniques, we described profound alterations in DNA and histone epigenetic modifications and in chromatin organization in response to the reactive oxygen species.
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A pilot investigation of genetic and epigenetic variation of FKBP5 and response to exercise intervention in African women with obesity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11771. [PMID: 35817784 PMCID: PMC9273786 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15678-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated gluteal (GSAT) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) DNA methylation of FKBP5 in response to a 12-week intervention in African women with obesity, as well as the effect of the rs1360780 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on FKBP5 methylation, gene expression and post-exercise training adaptations in obesity and metabolic related parameters. Exercise (n = 19) participants underwent 12-weeks of supervised aerobic and resistance training while controls (n = 12) continued their usual behaviours. FKBP5 methylation was measured in GSAT and ASAT using pyrosequencing. SNP and gene expression analyses were conducted using quantitative real-time PCR. Exercise training induced FKBP5 hypermethylation at two CpG dinucleotides within intron 7. When stratified based on the rs1360780 SNP, participants with the CT genotype displayed FKBP5 hypermethylation in GSAT (p < 0.05), and ASAT displayed in both CC and CT carriers. CC allele carriers displayed improved cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin sensitivity, gynoid fat mass, and waist circumference (p < 0.05) in response to exercise training, and these parameters were attenuated in women with the CT genotype. These findings provide a basis for future studies in larger cohorts, which should assess whether FKBP5 methylation and/or genetic variants such as the rs1360780 SNP could have a significant impact on responsiveness to exercise interventions.
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Armignacco R, Jouinot A, Bouys L, Septier A, Lartigue T, Neou M, Gaspar C, Perlemoine K, Braun L, Riester A, Bonnet-Serrano F, Blanchard A, Amar L, Scaroni C, Ceccato F, Rossi GP, Williams TA, Larsen CK, Allassonnière S, Zennaro MC, Beuschlein F, Reincke M, Bertherat J, Assié G. Identification of glucocorticoid-related molecular signature by whole blood methylome analysis. Eur J Endocrinol 2022; 186:297-308. [PMID: 34914631 PMCID: PMC8789024 DOI: 10.1530/eje-21-0907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cushing's syndrome represents a state of excessive glucocorticoids related to glucocorticoid treatments or to endogenous hypercortisolism. Cushing's syndrome is associated with high morbidity, with significant inter-individual variability. Likewise, adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening condition of cortisol deprivation. Currently, hormone assays contribute to identify Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency. However, no biomarker directly quantifies the biological glucocorticoid action. The aim of this study was to identify such markers. DESIGN We evaluated whole blood DNA methylome in 94 samples obtained from patients with different glucocorticoid states (Cushing's syndrome, eucortisolism, adrenal insufficiency). We used an independent cohort of 91 samples for validation. METHODS Leukocyte DNA was obtained from whole blood samples. Methylome was determined using the Illumina methylation chip array (~850 000 CpG sites). Both unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (Limma) methods were used to explore methylome profiles. A Lasso-penalized regression was used to select optimal discriminating features. RESULTS Whole blood methylation profile was able to discriminate samples by their glucocorticoid status: glucocorticoid excess was associated with DNA hypomethylation, recovering within months after Cushing's syndrome correction. In Cushing's syndrome, an enrichment in hypomethylated CpG sites was observed in the region of FKBP5 gene locus. A methylation predictor of glucocorticoid excess was built on a training cohort and validated on two independent cohorts. Potential CpG sites associated with the risk for specific complications, such as glucocorticoid-related hypertension or osteoporosis, were identified, needing now to be confirmed on independent cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Whole blood DNA methylome is dynamically impacted by glucocorticoids. This biomarker could contribute to better assessment of glucocorticoid action beyond hormone assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Armignacco
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Correspondence should be addressed to R Armignacco or G Assié; or
| | - Anne Jouinot
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Lucas Bouys
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Septier
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Lartigue
- ARAMIS Project-Team, Inria Paris, France
- CMAP, UMR 7641, CNRS, École polytechnique, I.P. Paris, France
| | - Mario Neou
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Cassandra Gaspar
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, UMS Pass, Plateforme Post-génomique de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, P3S, Paris, France
| | - Karine Perlemoine
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Leah Braun
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Riester
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Fidéline Bonnet-Serrano
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d’Hormonologie, Paris, France
| | - Anne Blanchard
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Centre d’Investigations Cliniques 9201, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Amar
- Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité Hypertension Artérielle, Paris, France
| | - Carla Scaroni
- UOC Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina DIMED, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Ceccato
- UOC Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina DIMED, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Rossi
- Clinica dell’Ipertensione Arteriosa, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Tracy Ann Williams
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria-Christina Zennaro
- Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Génétique, Paris, France
| | - Felix Beuschlein
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Reincke
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jérôme Bertherat
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d’Endocrinologie, Center for Rare Adrenal Diseases, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Assié
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d’Endocrinologie, Center for Rare Adrenal Diseases, Paris, France
- Correspondence should be addressed to R Armignacco or G Assié; or
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Pathophysiology of Mild Hypercortisolism: From the Bench to the Bedside. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020673. [PMID: 35054858 PMCID: PMC8775422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild hypercortisolism is defined as biochemical evidence of abnormal cortisol secretion without the classical detectable manifestations of overt Cushing’s syndrome and, above all, lacking catabolic characteristics such as central muscle weakness, adipose tissue redistribution, skin fragility and unusual infections. Mild hypercortisolism is frequently discovered in patients with adrenal incidentalomas, with a prevalence ranging between 5 and 50%. This high variability is mainly due to the different criteria used for defining this condition. This subtle cortisol excess has also been described in patients with incidentally discovered pituitary tumors with an estimated prevalence of 5%. To date, the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of mild hypercortisolism of pituitary origin are still not well clarified. At variance, recent advances have been made in understanding the genetic background of bilateral and unilateral adrenal adenomas causing mild hypercortisolism. Some recent data suggest that the clinical effects of glucocorticoid (GC) exposure on peripheral tissues are determined not only by the amount of the adrenal GC production but also by the peripheral GC metabolism and by the GC sensitivity. Indeed, in subjects with normal cortisol secretion, the combined estimate of cortisol secretion, cortisone-to-cortisol peripheral activation by the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme and GC receptor sensitizing variants have been suggested to be associated with the presence of hypertension, diabetes and bone fragility, which are three well-known consequences of hypercortisolism. This review focuses on the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying both the different sources of mild hypercortisolism and their clinical consequences (bone fragility, arterial hypertension, subclinical atherosclerosis, cardiovascular remodeling, dyslipidemia, glucose metabolism impairment, visceral adiposity, infections, muscle damage, mood disorders and coagulation).
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Lee RS, Zandi PP, Santos A, Aulinas A, Carey JL, Webb SM, McCaul ME, Resmini E, Wand GS. Cross-species Association Between Telomere Length and Glucocorticoid Exposure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e5124-e5135. [PMID: 34265046 PMCID: PMC8787853 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) or stress increases the risk of medical disorders, including cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric disorders. GCs contribute to accelerated aging; however, while the link between chronic GC exposure and disease onset is well established, the underpinning mechanisms are not clear. OBJECTIVE We explored the potential nexus between GCs or stress exposure and telomere length. METHODS In addition to rats exposed to 3 weeks of chronic stress, an iatrogenic mouse model of Cushing syndrome (CS), and a mouse neuronal cell line, we studied 32 patients with CS and age-matched controls and another cohort of 75 healthy humans. RESULTS (1) Exposure to stress in rats was associated with a 54.5% (P = 0.036) reduction in telomere length in T cells. Genomic DNA (gDNA) extracted from the dentate gyrus of stressed and unstressed rats showed 43.2% reduction in telomere length (P = 0.006). (2) Mice exposed to corticosterone had a 61.4% reduction in telomere length in blood gDNA (P = 5.75 × 10-5) and 58.8% reduction in telomere length in the dentate gyrus (P = 0.002). (3) We observed a 40.8% reduction in the telomere length in patients with active CS compared to healthy controls (P = 0.006). There was a 17.8% reduction in telomere length in cured CS patients, which was not different from that of healthy controls (P = 0.08). For both cured and active CS, telomere length correlated significantly with duration of hypercortisolism (R2 = 0.22, P = 0.007). (4) There was a 27.6% reduction in telomere length between low and high tertiles in bedtime cortisol levels of healthy participants (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that exposure to stress and/or GCs is associated with shortened telomeres, which may be partially reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Peter P Zandi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alicia Santos
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Aulinas
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jenny L Carey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Susan M Webb
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mary E McCaul
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Eugenia Resmini
- Correspondence: Eugenia Resmini, MD, PhD, Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, CIBER-ER, Unit747, IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gary S Wand
- Gary S. Wand, MD, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Cognitive dysfunction severity evaluation in dogs with naturally-occurring Cushing´s syndrome: A matched case-control study. J Vet Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Eachus H, Choi MK, Ryu S. The Effects of Early Life Stress on the Brain and Behaviour: Insights From Zebrafish Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657591. [PMID: 34368117 PMCID: PMC8335398 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The early life period represents a window of increased vulnerability to stress, during which exposure can lead to long-lasting effects on brain structure and function. This stress-induced developmental programming may contribute to the behavioural changes observed in mental illness. In recent decades, rodent studies have significantly advanced our understanding of how early life stress (ELS) affects brain development and behaviour. These studies reveal that ELS has long-term consequences on the brain such as impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, altering learning and memory. Despite such advances, several key questions remain inadequately answered, including a comprehensive overview of brain regions and molecular pathways that are altered by ELS and how ELS-induced molecular changes ultimately lead to behavioural changes in adulthood. The zebrafish represents a novel ELS model, with the potential to contribute to answering some of these questions. The zebrafish offers some important advantages such as the ability to non-invasively modulate stress hormone levels in a whole animal and to visualise whole brain activity in freely behaving animals. This review discusses the current status of the zebrafish ELS field and its potential as a new ELS model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Min-Kyeung Choi
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Mihaljevic M, Franic D, Soldatovic I, Lukic I, Petrovic SA, Mirjanic T, Stankovic B, Zukic B, Zeljic K, Gasic V, Novakovic I, Pavlovic S, Adzic M, Maric NP. The FKBP5 genotype and childhood trauma effects on FKBP5 DNA methylation in patients with psychosis, their unaffected siblings, and healthy controls. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 128:105205. [PMID: 33933892 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity mediates the relationship between childhood trauma (CT) and psychosis. The FKBP5 gene, one of the key regulators of HPA axis activity after stress exposure, has been found associated with psychosis. Allele-specific and CT related FKBP5 demethylation in intron 7 was revealed in different psychiatric disorders. However, no studies have investigated FKBP5 methylation in subjects with different genetic liability for psychosis. A total of 144 participants were included in the study: 48 patients with psychotic disorders, 50 unaffected siblings, and 46 healthy controls. CT was assessed by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The FKBP5 rs1360780 was genotyped and FKBP5 methylation analyses were performed using bisulfite conversion followed by Sanger sequencing at three CpG sites in intron 7. Mixed linear model was used to assess group differences depending on rs1360780 T allele and CT. Results showed a significant T allele-dependent decrease of FKBP5 methylation in patients compared to unaffected siblings and controls. Effect of interaction between T allele and CT exposure on FKBP5 demethylation was found in controls. No effect of both risk factors (T allele and CT) on FKBP5 methylation level was found in unaffected siblings. We confirmed previous evidence of the association between the FKBP5 rs1360780 T allele, CT, and decreased FKBP5 methylation in intron 7. Allele-specific FKBP5 demethylation found in patients could shed a light on altered HPA axis activity in a subgroup of patients related to stress-induced psychosis. FKBP5 methylation and potential protective mechanisms in unaffected siblings after trauma exposure require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Mihaljevic
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Pasterova 2, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 8, Belgrade 11000, Serbia.
| | - Dusanka Franic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 1100, Serbia
| | - Ivan Soldatovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 8, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; Institute for Biostatistics, Medical Informatics and Research in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Iva Lukic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 1100, Serbia
| | - Sanja Andric Petrovic
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Pasterova 2, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Tijana Mirjanic
- Special Hospital for Psychiatric Disorders Kovin, Cara Lazara 253, Kovin 26220, Serbia
| | - Biljana Stankovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11010, Serbia
| | - Branka Zukic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11010, Serbia
| | - Katarina Zeljic
- Genetics & Evolution Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 3, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Gasic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11010, Serbia
| | - Ivana Novakovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 8, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Sonja Pavlovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11010, Serbia
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 1100, Serbia
| | - Nadja P Maric
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Pasterova 2, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 8, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
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12
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Willmer T, Goedecke JH, Dias S, Louw J, Pheiffer C. DNA methylation of FKBP5 in South African women: associations with obesity and insulin resistance. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:141. [PMID: 32958048 PMCID: PMC7507280 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00932-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a neuroendocrine system associated with the stress response, has been hypothesized to contribute to obesity development. This may be mediated through epigenetic modulation of HPA axis-regulatory genes in response to metabolic stressors. The aim of this study was to investigate adipose tissue depot-specific DNA methylation differences in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its co-chaperone, FK506-binding protein 51 kDa (FKBP5), both key modulators of the HPA axis. METHODS Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) and gluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue (GSAT) biopsies were obtained from a sample of 27 obese and 27 normal weight urban-dwelling South African women. DNA methylation and gene expression were measured by pyrosequencing and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. Spearman's correlation coefficients, orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis and multivariable linear regression were performed to evaluate the associations between DNA methylation, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and key indices of obesity and metabolic dysfunction. RESULTS Two CpG dinucleotides within intron 7 of FKBP5 were hypermethylated in both ASAT and GSAT in obese compared to normal weight women, while no differences in GR methylation were observed. Higher percentage methylation of the two FKBP5 CpG sites correlated with adiposity (body mass index and waist circumference), insulin resistance (homeostasis model for insulin resistance, fasting insulin and plasma adipokines) and systemic inflammation (c-reactive protein) in both adipose depots. GR and FKBP5 mRNA levels were lower in GSAT, but not ASAT, of obese compared to normal weight women. Moreover, FKBP5 mRNA levels were inversely correlated with DNA methylation and positively associated with adiposity, metabolic and inflammatory parameters. CONCLUSIONS These findings associate dysregulated FKBP5 methylation and mRNA expression with obesity and insulin resistance in South African women. Additional studies are required to assess the longitudinal association of FKBP5 with obesity and associated co-morbidities in large population-based samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarryn Willmer
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa.
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa.
| | - Julia H Goedecke
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
- Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, 7700, South Africa
| | - Stephanie Dias
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Johan Louw
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Kwa-Dlangezwa, 3886, South Africa
| | - Carmen Pheiffer
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
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13
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Piasecka M, Papakokkinou E, Valassi E, Santos A, Webb SM, de Vries F, Pereira AM, Ragnarsson O. Psychiatric and neurocognitive consequences of endogenous hypercortisolism. J Intern Med 2020; 288:168-182. [PMID: 32181937 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric and neurocognitive symptoms due to hypercortisolism were already described by Harvey Cushing in his original paper on patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). Nowadays, it is well known that psychiatric and cognitive complaints are two of the most common, and most distressing, symptoms in patients with CS. Psychiatric symptoms are indeed a major clinical manifestation of CS. The most commonly observed psychiatric conditions are depression and anxiety, whilst mania and psychosis are less common. Several domains of cognitive function are impaired at diagnosis, including episodic and working memory, executive function and attention. Following treatment, one-fourth of the patients still experience depressed mood, and the cognitive impairments are only partially restored. Consequently, quality of life in patients with CS is severely and persistently affected. Neuroimaging studies have also illustrated the deleterious effects of hypercortisolism on the brain by demonstrating reduced grey matter volumes and cortical thickness, altered resting-state functional responses and during cognitive tasks, as well as widespread reduced white matter integrity, especially in structures important for cognitive function and emotional processing, both before and after successful abrogation of hypercortisolism. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the psychiatric and neurocognitive consequences of hypercortisolism in patients with CS, both before, and after successful treatment. In addition, we review the structural and functional brain abnormalities associated with hypercortisolism and discuss the influence of these factors on quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piasecka
- From the, Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - E Papakokkinou
- From the, Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - E Valassi
- IIB-Sant Pau and Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Univ Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unidad 747), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Santos
- IIB-Sant Pau and Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Univ Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unidad 747), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S M Webb
- IIB-Sant Pau and Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Univ Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unidad 747), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F de Vries
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Center for Endocrine Tumours Leiden, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A M Pereira
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Center for Endocrine Tumours Leiden, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - O Ragnarsson
- From the, Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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14
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Lou QY, Li Z, Teng Y, Xie QM, Zhang M, Huang SW, Li WF, Chen YF, Pan FM, Xu SQ, Cai J, Liu S, Tao JH, Liu SX, Huang HL, Wang F, Pan HF, Su H, Xu ZW, Hu WB, Zou YF. Associations of FKBP4 and FKBP5 gene polymorphisms with disease susceptibility, glucocorticoid efficacy, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Clin Rheumatol 2020; 40:167-179. [PMID: 32557257 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-05195-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the associations of FKBP4 and FKBP5 gene polymorphisms with disease susceptibility, glucocorticoid (GC) efficacy, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. METHODS All subjects were collected from the First and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in Hefei, China, during 2011 to 2015. In the case-control study, 541 SLE patients and 543 controls were recruited. In the follow-up study, 466 patients completed the 12-week follow-up and then were divided into GC-sensitive and GC-insensitive groups. Genotyping was determined using Multiplex SNaPshot technique. Data were analyzed using chi-square test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS rs4713904, rs9368878, and rs7757037 of FKBP5 were associated with depression in SLE patients (rs4713904, PBH = 0.037; rs9368878, PBH = 0.001; rs7757037, PBH = 0.003). Moreover, rs4713904 was associated with GC efficacy in males with SLE (PBH = 0.011). The rs755658 of FKBP5 was associated with improvement in social function (PBH = 0.022) and mental component summary (PBH = 0.028). The rs4713907 of FKBP5 was related to improvement in total score of SF-36, bodily pain, and mental component summary score (all PBH = 0.018). Furthermore, the rs12582595 of FKBP4 was correlated with general health improvement (PBH = 0.033). No associations were seen between FKBP4/FKBP5 gene polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS FKBP5 gene polymorphisms may be associated with depression and GC efficacy of SLE patients. Meanwhile, the genetic polymorphisms of FKBP4 and FKBP5 genes may be associated with HRQOL improvement in SLE patients. Key Points • FKBP5 gene polymorphisms were associated with depression of SLE patients. • FKBP5 gene polymorphisms were associated with GC efficacy of SLE patients. • FKBP5 gene polymorphisms were associated with HRQOL improvement in SLE patients. • FKBP4 gene polymorphisms were associated with HRQOL improvement in SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Yue Lou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ying Teng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Qiao-Mei Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shun-Wei Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Wen-Fei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Yang-Fan Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Fa-Ming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Sheng-Qian Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Jin-Hui Tao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Sheng-Xiu Liu
- Institute of Dermatology and Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Hai-Liang Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Hai-Feng Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hong Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Xu
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park, Brisbane, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Wen-Biao Hu
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park, Brisbane, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
| | - Yan-Feng Zou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81, Meishan Rd, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China. .,The Key Laboratory of Anhui Medical Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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15
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Chiarella J, Schumann L, Pomares FB, Frodl T, Tozzi L, Nemoda Z, Yu P, Szyf M, Khalid-Khan S, Booij L. DNA methylation differences in stress-related genes, functional connectivity and gray matter volume in depressed and healthy adolescents. J Affect Disord 2020; 271:160-168. [PMID: 32479312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in adult depressed patients have indicated that altered DNA methylation patterns at genes related to serotonin and HPA axis functioning (e.g., SLC6A4, FKBP5) are associated with changes in frontolimbic functional connectivity and structure. Here, we examined whether these associations can be generalized to adolescents. METHODS 25 adolescents with depression (Mean age = 15.72 ± 0.94 SD; 20 girls) and 20 healthy controls (Mean age = 16.05 ± 1.5 SD; 16 girls) underwent a functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging protocol, which included a resting-state assessment and measures of brain morphometry. DNA was obtained from saliva. Levels of SLC6A4 and FKBP5 methylation were determined using pyrosequencing. RESULTS SLC6A4 methylation was linked to amygdala-frontal operculum resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), regardless of diagnosis, and was differentially associated with inferior orbitofrontal gyrus (IFOG) gray matter (GM) volume in adolescents with depression and controls. Replicating and extending previous findings in adults, FKBP5 methylation was associated with IFOG GM volume in depressed and healthy adolescents, as well as orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-rostral prefrontal cortex (RPFC) connectivity in healthy adolescents only. LIMITATIONS Effects of medication use or genotype cannot be ruled out. Further, the relatively small sample size and predominately female sample may limit generalizability. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that previously observed associations between SLC6A4 and FKBP5 methylation and frontolimbic processes in adult depressed patients can be in part generalized to adolescent patients. Further, findings suggest that measuring peripheral methylation at these genes deserves further attention as potential markers of typical and atypical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Chiarella
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | | | | | - Thomas Frodl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Leonardo Tozzi
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zsofia Nemoda
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Patricia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sarosh Khalid-Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child Psychiatry, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
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16
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No association between FKBP5 gene methylation and acute and long-term cortisol output. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:175. [PMID: 32488091 PMCID: PMC7266811 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0846-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior studies identified DNA methylation (DNAM) changes in a regulatory region within the FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) gene as a crucial mediator of long-term negative health outcomes following early adversity. A critical mechanism underlying this link, in turn, has been suggested to be epigenetically induced dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The purpose of this study was thus to investigate associations of FKBP5 DNAM with both acute and chronic cortisol output. Two hundred adults with differential exposure to childhood trauma (CT) were underwent a laboratory stressor (Trier Social Stress Test) and provided salivary samples for the analysis of acute cortisol stress responses. In addition, hair cortisol concentrations were determined as a valid measure of integrated long-term cortisol levels. Whole blood samples were drawn for DNAM analyses of FKBP5 intron 7 via bisulfite pyrosequencing. In contrast to most prior work, only healthy participants were included in order to disentangle the effects of trauma exposure per se from those related to mental disorders. First, our findings did not reveal strong evidence for a robust effect of CT on FKBP5 intron 7 DNAM status, even if genetic predisposition (rs1360780 genotype) was taken into account. Second, FKBP5 DNAM levels were found to be unrelated to acute cortisol stress reactivity and long-term cortisol concentration in hair. The failure to demonstrate a significant association between CT and FKBP5 DNAM in an exclusively healthy sample could be interpreted as suggesting that individuals' mental health status may be a critical modulator of previously observed effects.
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17
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Wheater ENW, Stoye DQ, Cox SR, Wardlaw JM, Drake AJ, Bastin ME, Boardman JP. DNA methylation and brain structure and function across the life course: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:133-156. [PMID: 32151655 PMCID: PMC7237884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
MRI has enhanced our capacity to understand variations in brain structure and function conferred by the genome. We identified 60 studies that report associations between DNA methylation (DNAm) and human brain structure/function. Forty-three studies measured candidate loci DNAm; seventeen measured epigenome-wide DNAm. MRI features included region-of-interest and whole-brain structural, diffusion and functional imaging features. The studies report DNAm-MRI associations for: neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders; major depression and suicidality; alcohol use disorder; schizophrenia and psychosis; ageing, stroke, ataxia and neurodegeneration; post-traumatic stress disorder; and socio-emotional processing. Consistency between MRI features and differential DNAm is modest. Sources of bias: variable inclusion of comparator groups; different surrogate tissues used; variation in DNAm measurement methods; lack of control for genotype and cell-type composition; and variations in image processing. Knowledge of MRI features associated with differential DNAm may improve understanding of the role of DNAm in brain health and disease, but caution is required because conventions for linking DNAm and MRI data are not established, and clinical and methodological heterogeneity in existing literature is substantial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N W Wheater
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David Q Stoye
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Simon R Cox
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna M Wardlaw
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mark E Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - James P Boardman
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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18
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Jiang S, Postovit L, Cattaneo A, Binder EB, Aitchison KJ. Epigenetic Modifications in Stress Response Genes Associated With Childhood Trauma. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:808. [PMID: 31780969 PMCID: PMC6857662 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be referred to by other terms (e.g., early life adversity or stress and childhood trauma) and have a lifelong impact on mental and physical health. For example, childhood trauma has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The heritability of ACE-related phenotypes such as PTSD, depression, and resilience is low to moderate, and, moreover, is very variable for a given phenotype, which implies that gene by environment interactions (such as through epigenetic modifications) may be involved in the onset of these phenotypes. Currently, there is increasing interest in the investigation of epigenetic contributions to ACE-induced differential health outcomes. Although there are a number of studies in this field, there are still research gaps. In this review, the basic concepts of epigenetic modifications (such as methylation) and the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the stress response are outlined. Examples of specific genes undergoing methylation in association with ACE-induced differential health outcomes are provided. Limitations in this field, e.g., uncertain clinical diagnosis, conceptual inconsistencies, and technical drawbacks, are reviewed, with suggestions for advances using new technologies and novel research directions. We thereby provide a platform on which the field of ACE-induced phenotypes in mental health may build.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shui Jiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lynne Postovit
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatric Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - 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, GA, United States
| | - Katherine J. Aitchison
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Häusl AS, Balsevich G, Gassen NC, Schmidt MV. Focus on FKBP51: A molecular link between stress and metabolic disorders. Mol Metab 2019; 29:170-181. [PMID: 31668388 PMCID: PMC6812026 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) as well as stress-related disorders are rising public health threats and major burdens for modern society. Chronic stress and depression are highly associated with symptoms of the metabolic syndrome, but the molecular link is still not fully understood. Furthermore, therapies tackling these biological disorders are still lacking. The identification of shared molecular targets underlying both pathophysiologies may lead to the development of new treatments. The FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) has recently been identified as a promising therapeutic target for stress-related psychiatric disorders and obesity-related metabolic outcomes. SCOPE OF THE REVIEW The aim of this review is to summarize current evidence of in vitro, preclinical, and human studies on the stress responsive protein FKBP51, focusing on its newly discovered role in metabolism. Also, we highlight the therapeutic potential of FKBP51 as a new treatment target for symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS We conclude the review by emphasizing missing knowledge gaps that remain and future research opportunities needed to implement FKBP51 as a drug target for stress-related obesity or T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Häusl
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany.
| | - Georgia Balsevich
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Ab T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Nils C Gassen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bonn Clinical Center, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany; Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias V Schmidt
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany.
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20
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Wiechmann T, Röh S, Sauer S, Czamara D, Arloth J, Ködel M, Beintner M, Knop L, Menke A, Binder EB, Provençal N. Identification of dynamic glucocorticoid-induced methylation changes at the FKBP5 locus. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:83. [PMID: 31122292 PMCID: PMC6533766 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0682-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic mechanisms may play a major role in the biological embedding of early-life stress (ELS). One proposed mechanism is that glucocorticoid (GC) release following ELS exposure induces long-lasting alterations in DNA methylation (DNAm) of important regulatory genes of the stress response. Here, we investigate the dynamics of GC-dependent methylation changes in key regulatory regions of the FKBP5 locus in which ELS-associated DNAm changes have been reported. Results We repeatedly measured DNAm in human peripheral blood samples from 2 independent cohorts exposed to the GC agonist dexamethasone (DEX) using a targeted bisulfite sequencing approach, complemented by data from Illumina 450K arrays. We detected differentially methylated CpGs in enhancers co-localizing with GC receptor binding sites after acute DEX treatment (1 h, 3 h, 6 h), which returned to baseline levels within 23 h. These changes withstood correction for immune cell count differences. While we observed main effects of sex, age, body mass index, smoking, and depression symptoms on FKBP5 methylation levels, only the functional FKBP5 SNP (rs1360780) moderated the dynamic changes following DEX. This genotype effect was observed in both cohorts and included sites previously shown to be associated with ELS. Conclusion Our study highlights that DNAm levels within regulatory regions of the FKBP5 locus show dynamic changes following a GC challenge and suggest that factors influencing the dynamics of this regulation may contribute to the previously reported alterations in DNAm associated with current and past ELS exposure. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-019-0682-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Wiechmann
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Röh
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Susann Sauer
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Janine Arloth
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maik Ködel
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Madita Beintner
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisanne Knop
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Menke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Nadine Provençal
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany. .,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. .,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Klinger-König J, Hertel J, Van der Auwera S, Frenzel S, Pfeiffer L, Waldenberger M, Golchert J, Teumer A, Nauck M, Homuth G, Völzke H, Grabe HJ. Methylation of the FKBP5 gene in association with FKBP5 genotypes, childhood maltreatment and depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:930-938. [PMID: 30700816 PMCID: PMC6461917 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0319-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation of the FKBP5 gene is assumed to alter FKBP5 expression and hence the synthesis of the FK506 binding protein 51, a central element of a genomic negative feedback loop for glucocorticoid receptor signaling. The present study aimed to replicate and extend previously reported influences of FKBP5 genotypes, childhood maltreatment and depression on methylation levels of five CpG sites in intron 7 of the FKBP5 gene in a large population-based sample. Besides the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1360780, associations of the FKBP5 methylation with 22 other, unlinked FKBP5 SNPs as well as associations between FKBP5 methylation levels and transcription levels were investigated. Using whole-blood methylation of 3965 subjects of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) reduced methylation levels in TT allele carriers of rs1360780 (OR = 0.975, p = .005) and currently depressed subjects (OR = 0.995, p = 0.005) were found. Further, an impact of two yet undescribed SNPs (rs6910300, rs7771727) on methylation levels was observed. However, main and interactive effects for childhood maltreatment and lifetime major depressive disorder observed in previous studies could not be replicated. Finally, FKBP5 methylation levels were not related to FKBP5 transcription levels in whole blood. Thus, the present study verified the associations of FKBP5 genotypes and state depression on the FKBP5 methylation levels of five CpG sites in intron 7. However, FKBP5 methylation of these five CpG sites could not be validated as a valuable clinical biomarker for biological long-term effects of childhood maltreatment or lifetime depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Klinger-König
- grid.5603.0Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, Greifswald, 17489 Germany
| | - Johannes Hertel
- grid.5603.0Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, Greifswald, 17489 Germany ,0000 0001 2295 9843grid.16008.3fLuxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, Greifswald, 17489, Germany. .,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Stefan Frenzel
- grid.5603.0Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, Greifswald, 17489 Germany
| | - Liliane Pfeiffer
- grid.4567.00000 0004 0483 2525Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany ,grid.4567.00000 0004 0483 2525Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Melanie Waldenberger
- grid.4567.00000 0004 0483 2525Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany ,grid.4567.00000 0004 0483 2525Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany ,grid.452396.f0000 0004 5937 5237German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Janine Golchert
- grid.5603.0Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- grid.5603.0Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Nauck
- grid.5603.0Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany ,grid.452396.f0000 0004 5937 5237German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Georg Homuth
- grid.5603.0Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Völzke
- grid.5603.0Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany ,grid.452396.f0000 0004 5937 5237German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans J. Grabe
- grid.5603.0Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, Greifswald, 17489 Germany ,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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22
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Huang K, Hu Y, Sun Y, Yu Z, Liu W, Zhu P, Tao F. Elective caesarean delivery and offspring’s cognitive impairment: Implications of methylation alteration in hippocampus glucocorticoid signaling genes. Brain Res Bull 2019; 144:108-121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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23
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Duis J, Cox OH, Ji Y, Seifuddin F, Lee RS, Wang X. Effect of Genotype and Maternal Affective Disorder on Intronic Methylation of FK506 Binding Protein 5 in Cord Blood DNA. Front Genet 2018; 9:648. [PMID: 30619472 PMCID: PMC6305129 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP: rs1360780) in FKBP5 (FK506 Binding Protein 5) has been shown to interact with exposure to childhood adversity to promote loss of methylation and increase in gene expression in adults. We asked whether rs1360780 can influence FKBP5 intronic methylation in the context of exposure to maternal affective disorders in utero. Sixty cord blood DNA samples from the Boston Birth Cohort were genotyped at rs1360780 and studied for methylation changes as they relate to genotype and exposure to affective disorders during pregnancy. Linear regression was employed to contrast the risk (TT) genotype to the heterozygous (CT) and homozygous (CC) genotypes with adjustment for potential confounders. The recessive genotype (TT) was associated with increased methylation at multiple CpGs in the FKBP5 intron 5 region (p < 0.01). These findings were enhanced among cases exposed to maternal affective disorders (p = 0.02). A human cell line treated with cortisol showed that changes in intron 5 CpG methylation and FKBP5 expression were inversely associated. These findings suggest that rs1360780 can influence FKBP5 intronic methylation by acting in cis as a methylation quantitative locus and highlight the impact of genotypic risk on methylation in utero. Additionally, prenatal stress exposure compounded with the risk genotype may lead to a compensatory increase in methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Duis
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Olivia H Cox
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yuelong Ji
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Fayaz Seifuddin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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24
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Lee RS, Mahon PB, Zandi PP, McCaul ME, Yang X, Bali U, Wand GS. DNA methylation and sex-specific expression of FKBP5 as correlates of one-month bedtime cortisol levels in healthy individuals. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 97:164-173. [PMID: 30036794 PMCID: PMC6366448 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to cortisol is associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychiatric disorders. Although cortisol can be readily measured from peripheral sources such as blood, urine, or saliva, multiple samplings spanning several days to weeks are necessary to reliably assess chronic cortisol exposure levels (referred to as cortisol load). Although cortisol levels in hair have been proposed as a measure of cortisol load, measurement is cumbersome and many people are not candidates due to short hair length and use of hair dyes. To date, there are no blood biomarkers that capture cortisol load. To identify a blood biomarker capable of integrating one-month cortisol exposure levels, 75 healthy participants provided 30+ days of awakening and bedtime saliva cortisol and completed psychosocial measures of anxiety, depression, and stress. Mean daily awakening and bedtime cortisol levels were then compared to CpG methylation levels, gene expression, and genotypes of the stress response gene FKBP5 obtained from blood drawn on the last day of the study. We found a correlation between FKBP5 methylation levels and mean 30+day awakening and bedtime cortisol levels (|r|≥0.32, p ≤ 0.006). We also observed a sex-specific correlation between bedtime cortisol levels and FKBP5 mRNA expression in female participants (r = 0.42, p = 0.005). Dividing the 30-day sampling period into four weekly bins showed that the correlations for both methylation and expression were not being driven by cortisol levels in the week preceding the blood draw. We also identified a female-specific association between FKBP5 mRNA expression and scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (r = 0.37, p = 0.013) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (r = 0.32, p = 0.033). Finally, DNA was genotyped at four SNPs, and variation in rs4713902 was shown to have an effect on FKBP5 expression under a codominant model (f = 3.41, p = 0.048) for females only. Our results suggest that blood FKBP5 DNA methylation and mRNA expression levels may be a useful marker for determining general or sex-specific 30-day cortisol load and justifies genome-wide approaches that can potentially identify additional cortisol markers with broader clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Pamela B Mahon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Peter P Zandi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Mary E McCaul
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Xiaoju Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Utsav Bali
- Sygnature Discovery, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, UK
| | - Gary S Wand
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States.
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25
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Di Sante J, Ismaylova E, Nemoda Z, Gouin JP, Yu WJ, Caldwell W, Vitaro F, Szyf M, Tremblay RE, Booij L. Peripheral DNA methylation of HPA axis-related genes in humans: Cross-tissue convergence, two-year stability and behavioural and neural correlates. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 97:196-205. [PMID: 30059826 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Environmental factors can influence gene expression via epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation. DNA methylation levels of regulatory regions in Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis-related genes assessed from brain tissues as well as from surrogate, peripheral tissues have been associated with vulnerability to stress-related psychopathologies. Commonly used peripheral samples to assess DNA methylation in living humans are derived from blood, saliva or buccal cells. Although psychiatric epigenetic studies are increasingly relying on peripheral measures of DNA methylation, it is still unknown to what extent methylation patterns across peripheral tissues are associated with each other and with measures of brain processes and behavioural stress. In the present study, with a sample of 51 healthy adults, we assessed cross-tissue correlations of DNA methylation patterns in the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) 1 F promoter and the FK506 Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5) gene intron 7 region using saliva and buccal cell samples, and assessed two-year stability in both tissues in a male subsample (N = 14). We also investigated associations between peripherally-derived DNA methylation and measures of neural function and perceived daily stress, and compared the extent of these associations across tissue samples. DNA methylation cross-tissue correlations were highly significant for FKBP5, but not significant for NR3C1. DNA methylation in both genes remained stable for two years. Tissue- and gene-specific associations were found for brain resting state connectivity and neural responses to sadness, thereby suggesting that saliva- and buccal cell-derived DNA methylation levels of NR3C1-1 F and FKBP5 gene regions might differently capture different measures of putatively related brain processes. It was also found that greater buccal cell- (but not saliva-) derived NR3C1-1 F methylation was associated with lower perceived daily life demands. Results of the present study may inform the design of future epigenetic studies on FKBP5-intron-7 and NR3C1-1 F-promoter methylation in relation to neuro-imaging and behavioural measures, and provide insight for the development of peripheral DNA methylation correlates of stress sensitivity and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Di Sante
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elmira Ismaylova
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Zsofia Nemoda
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Wei-Jo Yu
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Warren Caldwell
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Frank Vitaro
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Richard E Tremblay
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linda Booij
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
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26
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Type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic risk may be associated with increase in DNA methylation of FKBP5. Clin Epigenetics 2018; 10:82. [PMID: 29951131 PMCID: PMC6010037 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0513-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Subclinical hypercortisolism and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. Intronic methylation of FKBP5 has been implicated as a potential indicator of chronic cortisol exposure. Our overall objective in this study was to determine the association of chronic cortisol exposure, measured via percent methylation of FKBP5 at intron 2, with percent glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI), in a clinic-based sample of 43 individuals with T2DM. Results Greater percent methylation of the FKBP5 intron 2 at one CpG-dinucleotide region was significantly associated with higher HbA1c (β = 0.535, p = 0.003) and LDL cholesterol (β = 0.344, p = 0.037) and a second CpG-dinucleotide region was significantly associated with higher BMI and WC (β = 0.516, p = 0.001; β = 0.403, p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusions FKBP5 methylation may be a marker of higher metabolic risk in T2DM, possibly secondary to higher exposure to cortisol. Further work should aim to assess the longitudinal association of FKBP5 with cardiovascular disease and glycemic outcomes in T2DM as a first step in understanding potential preventive and treatment-related interventions targeting the HPA axis.
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27
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Tozzi L, Farrell C, Booij L, Doolin K, Nemoda Z, Szyf M, Pomares FB, Chiarella J, O'Keane V, Frodl T. Epigenetic Changes of FKBP5 as a Link Connecting Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors with Structural and Functional Brain Changes in Major Depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:1138-1145. [PMID: 29182159 PMCID: PMC5854813 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The gene for the glucocorticoid receptor regulator FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) plays a role for risk, response to treatment, and changes in brain areas in major depressive disorder (MDD). Chronic stress is associated with lower methylation of FKBP5. Our aim was to investigate whether methylation of FKBP5 reflected exposure to childhood adversity in MDD and controls and whether it was associated with structure and function of emotional processing regions. FKBP5 intron 7 GR response element region methylation and rs1360780 allelic status were assessed from whole blood in 56 MDD adults and 50 controls. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we assessed gray matter concentration of selected areas and their function during valence recognition of emotional images. Childhood adversity was investigated using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. In MDD patients carrying the high-risk T allele of rs1360780, lower methylation of FKBP5 was predicted by childhood adversity (F=4.95, p=0.04). In all participants, lower FKBP5 intron methylation levels were associated with reduced gray matter concentration in the inferior frontal orbital gyrus bilaterally (Wald chi-square=11.93, pFDR<0.01) and, in MDD, with its bilaterally higher activation during valence recognition (Wald chi-square=5.58, p=0.02). Activation of this region, regardless of side, was found to be lower in MDD compared to controls (Wald chi-square=3.88, p=0.049) and to be inversely correlated with depression severity (Wald chi-square=4.65, p=0.03). Our findings support the hypothesis that, in genetically predisposed individuals carrying a high-risk variant of the gene, childhood maltreatment might induce demethylation of FKBP5. This is in turn associated with structural and functional changes in the inferior frontal orbital gyrus, a relevant area for the clinical symptoms of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Tozzi
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland,Department of Psychiatry, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany,University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipzigerstr. 44, Magdeburg 39120, Germany, Tel: +4915225191188, Fax: +493916714229, E-mail:
| | - Chloe Farrell
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linda Booij
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada,CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kelly Doolin
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zsofia Nemoda
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Florence B Pomares
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada,CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Julian Chiarella
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada,CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Veronica O'Keane
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Thomas Frodl
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland,Department of Psychiatry, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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28
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Winkler BK, Lehnert H, Oster H, Kirchner H, Harbeck B. FKBP5 methylation as a possible marker for cortisol state and transient cortisol exposure in healthy human subjects. Epigenomics 2017; 9:1279-1286. [PMID: 28875708 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Current glucocorticoid replacement regimens, in adrenal insufficiency, fail to mimic the physiological cortisol secretion, thereby fostering serious side effects. AIM To experimentally evaluate the impact of CpG methylation within the FKBP5 gene as a possible short- and long-term marker for cortisol exposure in humans. MATERIALS & METHODS An ACTH-stimulation test was carried out and methylation status of the FKBP5 gene in leukocytes was determined. RESULTS A negative correlation between basal levels of methylation and serum cortisol was observed. Individual changes in FKBP5 methylation after 24 h correlated with cortisol responses. CONCLUSION Considering previous studies conducted with murine leucocytes, FKBP5 methylation may be suitable as a long-term biomarker, rather than acute glucocorticoid exposure, also in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta K Winkler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Hendrik Lehnert
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Henrik Oster
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Henriette Kirchner
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Birgit Harbeck
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
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29
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Qian Y, Xiao D, Guo X, Chen H, Hao L, Ma X, Huang G, Ma D, Wang H. Hypomethylation and decreased expression of BRG1 in the myocardium of patients with congenital heart disease. Birth Defects Res 2017. [PMID: 28646505 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BRG1, an ATPase subunit of the SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable complex, is tightly associated with cardiac development. However, little is known about the association between the pathogenesis of CHD and BRG1. METHODS The methylation of a BRG1 promoter and a novel CpG island in the second intron was analyzed in the myocardium of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients (n = 24) and normal controls (n = 11) using pyrosequencing and the MassARRAY platform. BRG1 expression was sketched in the normal fetal and postnatal heart using real-time PCR. BRG1 mRNA and protein expression was detected by means of real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The expression of GATA4 was analyzed with real-time PCR. RESULTS The CpG shore in the second intron of BRG1 was hypomethylated in the myocardium of patients (p < 0.05). BRG1 showed a high level of expression in the normal fetal heart in the second trimester (p < 0.01). Compared with that of the normal subjects, BRG1 expression was decreased by 70% in the myocardium of patients (n = 92; p < 0.05). Of note, the expression of GATA4 was significantly correlated with BRG1 expression (r = 0.7475; p = 0.0082) in the myocardium, and it was also decreased by 70% in these patients (n = 92; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggested that the early high expression of BRG1 in fetal hearts maintained normal cardiac development and that the abnormal hypomethylation and decreased expression of BRG1 in human hearts probably affect the expression of GATA4, which affects the pathogenesis of CHD. Birth Defects Research 109:1183-1195, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Qian
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defects, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Deyong Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defects, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Hongbo Chen
- Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defects, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Hao
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Ma
- Pediatric Heart Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoying Huang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defects, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Heart Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Duan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defects, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
| | - Huijun Wang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Birth Defects, Pediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University Shanghai, China
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Santos A, Resmini E, Pascual JC, Crespo I, Webb SM. Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Cushing's Syndrome: Prevalence, Diagnosis and Management. Drugs 2017; 77:829-842. [PMID: 28393326 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-017-0735-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cushing's syndrome (CS) results from chronic exposure to cortisol excess, produced by the adrenal cortex. Hypercortisolism predisposes to psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders, mainly to depression and anxiety disorders. Screening tools to identify psychiatric symptoms are available for clinicians in their daily practice, although a specific diagnosis should be performed by specialists. Even if psychiatric symptoms improve after remission of hypercortisolism, complete recovery may not be achieved. Given the burden of these symptoms, psychiatric or psychological monitoring and treatment should be offered through all phases of CS, with a multidisciplinary approach. The aim of this article is to review data on the prevalence, diagnosis and management of psychiatric symptoms seen in patients with CS and to propose therapeutic approaches that may be followed in clinical practice. The prevalence of different psychiatric disorders has been described in both the active phase and after CS remission. Patients may not talk spontaneously about psychiatric symptoms they present, thus clinicians should ask directly about them. We recommend the use of screening tools in clinical practice to detect and treat these symptoms promptly. Even if reference endocrinologists cannot perform a definite psychiatric diagnosis, it will be important to ask patients directly about the presence of symptoms and refer if necessary to a psychiatrist. Additionally, patient information and educational programmes could be useful to manage psychiatric symptoms and to improve quality of life in patients with CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Santos
- Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER 747), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eugenia Resmini
- Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER 747), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan Carlos Pascual
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iris Crespo
- Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER 747), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susan M Webb
- Department of Endocrinology/Medicine, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER 747), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Epigenetic programming by stress and glucocorticoids along the human lifespan. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:640-646. [PMID: 28289275 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress triggers a set of behavioral, neural, hormonal, and molecular responses that can be a driving force for survival when adaptive and time-limited, but may also contribute to a host of disease states if dysregulated or chronic. The beneficial or detrimental effects of stress are largely mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, a highly conserved neurohormonal cascade that culminates in systemic secretion of glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids activate the glucocorticoid receptor, a ubiquitous nuclear receptor that not only causes widespread changes in transcriptional programs, but also induces lasting epigenetic modifications in many target tissues. While the epigenome remains sensitive to stressors throughout life, we propose two key principles that may govern the epigenetics of stress and glucocorticoids along the lifespan: first, the presence of distinct life periods, during which the epigenome shows heightened plasticity to stress exposure, such as in early development and at advanced age; and, second, the potential of stress-induced epigenetic changes to accumulate throughout life both in select chromatin regions and at the genome-wide level. These principles have important clinical and translational implications, and they show striking parallels with the existence of sensitive developmental periods and the cumulative impact of stressful experiences on the development of stress-related phenotypes. We hope that this conceptual mechanistic framework will stimulate fruitful research that aims at unraveling the molecular pathways through which our life stories sculpt genomic function to contribute to complex behavioral and somatic phenotypes.
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de Vega WC, Herrera S, Vernon SD, McGowan PO. Epigenetic modifications and glucocorticoid sensitivity in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). BMC Med Genomics 2017; 10:11. [PMID: 28231836 PMCID: PMC5324230 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-017-0248-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating idiopathic disease characterized by unexplained fatigue that fails to resolve with sufficient rest. Diagnosis is based on a list of symptoms and exclusion of other fatigue-related health conditions. Despite a heterogeneous patient population, immune and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function differences, such as enhanced negative feedback to glucocorticoids, are recurring findings in ME/CFS studies. Epigenetic modifications, such as CpG methylation, are known to regulate long-term phenotypic differences and previous work by our group found DNA methylome differences in ME/CFS, however the relationship between DNA methylome modifications, clinical and functional characteristics associated with ME/CFS has not been examined. Methods We examined the DNA methylome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a larger cohort of female ME/CFS patients using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip Array. In parallel to the DNA methylome analysis, we investigated in vitro glucocorticoid sensitivity differences by stimulating PBMCs with phytohaemagglutinin and suppressed growth with dexamethasone. We explored DNA methylation differences using bisulfite pyrosequencing and statistical permutation. Linear regression was implemented to discover epigenomic regions associated with self-reported quality of life and network analysis of gene ontology terms to biologically contextualize results. Results We detected 12,608 differentially methylated sites between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls predominantly localized to cellular metabolism genes, some of which were also related to self-reported quality of life health scores. Among ME/CFS patients, glucocorticoid sensitivity was associated with differential methylation at 13 loci. Conclusions Our results indicate DNA methylation modifications in cellular metabolism in ME/CFS despite a heterogeneous patient population, implicating these processes in immune and HPA axis dysfunction in ME/CFS. Modifications to epigenetic loci associated with differences in glucocorticoid sensitivity may be important as biomarkers for future clinical testing. Overall, these findings align with recent ME/CFS work that point towards impairment in cellular energy production in this patient population. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12920-017-0248-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred C de Vega
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada.,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Santiago Herrera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada.,Present affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Suzanne D Vernon
- Solve ME/CFS Initiative, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Present affiliation: The Bateman Horne Center of Excellence, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada. .,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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