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Mposhi A, Turner JD. How can early life adversity still exert an effect decades later? A question of timing, tissues and mechanisms. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1215544. [PMID: 37457711 PMCID: PMC10348484 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1215544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to any number of stressors during the first 1000 days from conception to age 2 years is important in shaping an individual's life trajectory of health and disease. Despite the expanding range of stressors as well as later-life phenotypes and outcomes, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous data strongly suggests that early-life exposure to a stressor reduces the capacity of the immune system to generate subsequent generations of naïve cells, while others have shown that, early life stress impairs the capacity of neuronal stem cells to proliferate as they age. This leads us to the "stem cell hypothesis" whereby exposure to adversity during a sensitive period acts through a common mechanism in all the cell types by programming the tissue resident progenitor cells. Furthermore, we review the mechanistic differences observed in fully differentiated cells and suggest that early life adversity (ELA) may alter mitochondria in stem cells. This may consequently alter the destiny of these cells, producing the lifelong "supply" of functionally altered fully differentiated cells.
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Hamledari H, Asghari P, Jayousi F, Aguirre A, Maaref Y, Barszczewski T, Ser T, Moore E, Wasserman W, Klein Geltink R, Teves S, Tibbits GF. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to understand the mechanisms driving cardiomyocyte maturation. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:967659. [PMID: 36061558 PMCID: PMC9429949 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.967659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and reduced quality of life globally. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) provide a personalized platform to study inherited heart diseases, drug-induced cardiac toxicity, and cardiac regenerative therapy. However, the immaturity of CMs obtained by current strategies is a major hurdle in utilizing hiPSC-CMs at their fullest potential. Here, the major findings and limitations of current maturation methodologies to enhance the utility of hiPSC-CMs in the battle against a major source of morbidity and mortality are reviewed. The most recent knowledge of the potential signaling pathways involved in the transition of fetal to adult CMs are assimilated. In particular, we take a deeper look on role of nutrient sensing signaling pathways and the potential role of cap-independent translation mediated by the modulation of mTOR pathway in the regulation of cardiac gap junctions and other yet to be identified aspects of CM maturation. Moreover, a relatively unexplored perspective on how our knowledge on the effects of preterm birth on cardiovascular development can be actually utilized to enhance the current understanding of CM maturation is examined. Furthermore, the interaction between the evolving neonatal human heart and brown adipose tissue as the major source of neonatal thermogenesis and its endocrine function on CM development is another discussed topic which is worthy of future investigation. Finally, the current knowledge regarding transcriptional mediators of CM maturation is still limited. The recent studies have produced the groundwork to better understand CM maturation in terms of providing some of the key factors involved in maturation and development of metrics for assessment of maturation which proves essential for future studies on in vitro PSC-CMs maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Hamledari
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Parisa Asghari
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Farah Jayousi
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alejandro Aguirre
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yasaman Maaref
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tiffany Barszczewski
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Terri Ser
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Edwin Moore
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wyeth Wasserman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ramon Klein Geltink
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sheila Teves
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Glen F. Tibbits
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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3
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Martins CS, de Castro M. Generalized and tissue specific glucocorticoid resistance. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 530:111277. [PMID: 33864884 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones that influence several physiologic functions and are among the most frequently prescribed drugs worldwide. Resistance to GCs has been observed in the context of the familial generalized GC resistance (Chrousos' syndrome) or tissue specific GC resistance in chronic inflammatory states. In this review, we have summarized the major factors that influence individual glucocorticoid sensitivity/resistance. The fine-tuning of GC action is determined in a tissue-specific fashion that includes the combination of different GC receptor promoters, translation initiation sites, splice isoforms, interacting proteins, post-translational modifications, and alternative mechanisms of signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Silva Martins
- Department of Internal Medicine - Ribeirao Preto Medical School - University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil; School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Margaret de Castro
- Department of Internal Medicine - Ribeirao Preto Medical School - University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
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de Assis Pinheiro J, Freitas FV, Borçoi AR, Mendes SO, Conti CL, Arpini JK, Dos Santos Vieira T, de Souza RA, Dos Santos DP, Barbosa WM, Archanjo AB, de Oliveira MM, Dos Santos JG, Sorroche BP, Casali-da-Rocha JC, Trivilin LO, Borloti EB, Louro ID, Arantes LMRB, Alvares-da-Silva AM. Alcohol consumption, depression, overweight and cortisol levels as determining factors for NR3C1 gene methylation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6768. [PMID: 33762648 PMCID: PMC7990967 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The NR3C1 glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene is a component of the stress response system, which can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. NR3C1 methylation has been associated with trauma and mental issues, including depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and personality disorders. Previous studies have reported that stressful events are involved in NR3C1 gene methylation, suggesting that its regulation under environmental effects is complex. The present study aimed to analyze associations involving stressors such as socioeconomic status, health conditions, and lifestyle in relation to NR3C1 methylation in adults. This study included 386 individual users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS), and evaluated socioeconomic and health conditions, body mass index, cortisol levels, and lifestyle. Data were correlated with NR3C1 methylation, determined using DNA pyrosequencing. The results showed that alcohol consumption, overweight, and high cortisol levels were related to NR3C1 demethylation, while depression was related to its methylation. Habits, lifestyle, and health status may influence NR3C1 gene regulation via methylation, revealing the complexity of environmental impacts on NR3C1 methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia de Assis Pinheiro
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Flávia Vitorino Freitas
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Aline Ribeiro Borçoi
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Suzanny Oliveira Mendes
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Catarine Lima Conti
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Juliana Krüger Arpini
- Graduate Program in Forest Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Tamires Dos Santos Vieira
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | | | | | - Wagner Miranda Barbosa
- Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Anderson Barros Archanjo
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Mayara Mota de Oliveira
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Bruna Pereira Sorroche
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Hospital do Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Elizeu Batista Borloti
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Iuri Drumond Louro
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Madeira Alvares-da-Silva
- Biotechnology/Renorbio Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil. .,Department of Morphology, Health Science Center, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil. .,Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alto Universitário Sem Número, Alegre, ES, 29500000, Brazil.
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5
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Dynamic UTR Usage Regulates Alternative Translation to Modulate Gap Junction Formation during Stress and Aging. Cell Rep 2020; 27:2737-2747.e5. [PMID: 31141695 PMCID: PMC6857847 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexin43 (Cx43; gene name GJA1) is the most ubiquitously expressed gap junction protein, and understanding of its regulation largely falls under transcription and post-translational modification. In addition to Cx43, Gja1 mRNA encodes internally translated isoforms regulating gap junction formation, whose expression is modulated by TGF-β. Here, using RLM-RACE, we identify distinct Gja1 transcripts differing only in 5′ UTR length, of which two are upregulated during TGF-β exposure and hypoxia. Introduction of these transcripts into Gja1−/− cells phenocopies the response of Gja1 to TGF-β with reduced internal translation initiation. Inhibiting pathways downstream of TGF-β selectively regulates levels of Gja1 transcript isoforms and translation products. Reporter assays reveal enhanced translation of full-length Cx43 from shorter Gja1 5′ UTR isoforms. We also observe a correlation among UTR selection, translation, and reduced gap junction formation in aged heart tissue. These data elucidate a relationship between transcript isoform expression and translation initiation regulating intercellular communication. Connexin43 gap junctions enable direct intercellular communication facilitating action potential propagation. Internal translation of connexin43 mRNA generates the truncated isoform GJA1–20k, which promotes gap junction formation. During aging, Zeitz et al. find that activation of stress-response pathways shortens connexin43 mRNA UTRs to limit GJA1–20k translation coincident with gap junction loss.
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Ceol M, Gianesello L, Tosetto E, Priante G, Del Prete D, Anglani F. CLCN5 5'UTR isoforms in human kidneys: differential expression analysis between controls and patients with glomerulonephritis. J Investig Med 2020; 68:864-869. [PMID: 32019767 DOI: 10.1136/jim-2019-001205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
ClC-5, the electrogenic chloride/proton exchanger strongly expressed in renal proximal tubules, belongs to the endocytic macromolecular complex responsible for albumin and low-molecular-weight protein uptake. ClC-5 was found to be overexpressed in glomeruli of glomerulonephritis and in cultured human podocytes under albumin overload. The transcriptional regulation of human ClC-5 is not fully understood. Three functional promoters of various strengths and 11 different 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) isoforms of CLCN5 messenger RNA (mRNA) were detected in the human kidney (variants 1-11). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of CLCN5 5'UTR variants and the CLCN5 common translated region in glomerulonephritis. The 5'UTR ends and the translated region of CLCN5 mRNA were analyzed using quantitative relative real-time PCR or quantitative comparative endpoint PCR with GAPDH as housekeeping gene in 8 normal kidneys and 12 renal biopsies from patients with glomerulonephritis. The expression profile for all variants in normal and glomerulonephritis biopsies was similar, and variant 3 and alternative variant 4 were the most abundantly expressed in both sets. In glomerulonephritis biopsies, isoforms under the control of a weak promoter (variants 4, 6 and 7) showed an increased expression leading to an increase in the CLCN5 translated region, underscoring their importance in kidney pathophysiology. Since weak promoters can be turned on by different stimuli, these data support the hypothesis that proteinuria could be one of the stimuli capable of starting a signaling pathway that induces an increase in CLCN5 transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Ceol
- Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lisa Gianesello
- Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrica Tosetto
- Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanna Priante
- Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Dorella Del Prete
- Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Franca Anglani
- Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Lv J, Ma Q, Dasgupta C, Xu Z, Zhang L. Antenatal Hypoxia and Programming of Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in the Adult Rat Heart. Front Physiol 2019; 10:323. [PMID: 31001129 PMCID: PMC6454194 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling is critical for development and function of the heart. Our previous study demonstrated that gestational hypoxia induced epigenetic repression of the GR gene in the developing heart. The present study aims to determine that the alterations of promoter methylation level and epigenetic repression of the GR gene in the developing heart in response to maternal hypoxia is sustained in adult offspring and potential gender differences in the programming of GR gene. Pregnant rats were treated with 10.5% O2 from gestational day 15 (E15) to 21 (E21). Hearts were isolated from 5-month-old male and female offspring with the developing stage being equivalent to 18-year-old human. GR mRNA and protein abundance was determined with real time qRT-PCR and Western blot. GR gene promoter methylation and binding of transcription factors were measured with methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The results showed that antenatal hypoxia significantly decreased the expression of GR mRNA and protein in the hearts of adult male offspring, but not in females, which is ascribed to the differential changes of alternative exon1 mRNA variants of GR gene in male and female hearts in response to prenatal hypoxia. In addition, the downregulation of GR expression in the male heart was correlated with increased methylation levels of CpG dinucleotides in promoters of exon 14, 15, 16, 17, and 110, which resulted in a decrease in the binding of their transcription factors. Thus, the study reveals that antenatal hypoxia results in a reprogramming and long-term change in GR gene expression in the heart by hypermethylation of GR promoter in a sex-differential pattern, which provides a novel mechanism regarding the increased vulnerability of heart later in life with exposure of prenatal hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanxiu Lv
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qingyi Ma
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Chiranjib Dasgupta
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Zhice Xu
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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8
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Epigenetic and Neurological Impairments Associated with Early Life Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants. Int J Genomics 2019; 2019:2085496. [PMID: 30733955 PMCID: PMC6348822 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2085496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases worldwide has dramatically increased over the last decades. Although the aetiology remains uncertain, evidence is now growing that exposure to persistent organic pollutants during sensitive neurodevelopmental periods such as early life may be a strong risk factor, predisposing the individual to disease development later in life. Epidemiological studies have associated environmentally persistent organic pollutant exposure to brain disorders including neuropathies, cognitive, motor, and sensory impairments; neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In many ways, this expands the classical “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease” paradigm to include exposure to pollutants. This model has been refined over the years to give the current “three-hit” model that considers the individual's genetic factors as a first “hit.” It has an immediate interaction with the early-life exposome (including persistent organic pollutants) that can be considered to be a second “hit.” Together, these first two “hits” produce a quiescent or latent phenotype, most probably encoded in the epigenome, which has become susceptible to a third environmental “hit” in later life. It is only after the third “hit” that the increased risk of disease symptoms is crystallised. However, if the individual is exposed to a different environment in later life, they would be expected to remain healthy. In this review, we examine the effect of exposure to persistent organic pollutants and particulate matters in early life and the relationship to subsequent neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. The roles of those environmental factors which may affect epigenetic DNA methylation and therefore influence normal neurodevelopment are then evaluated.
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9
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Tang XF, Zhou XL, Zhang Q, Chen P, Lu C, Pan MH. Bombyx mori cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor is involved in regulation of the silkworm cell cycle. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 27:404-413. [PMID: 29512228 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are negative regulators of the cell cycle. They can bind to cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-cyclin complexes and inhibit CDK activities. We identified a single homologous gene of the CDK interacting protein/kinase inhibitory protein (Cip/Kip) family, BmCKI, in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The gene transcribes two splice variants: a 654-bp-long BmCKI-L (the longer splice variant) encoding a protein with 217 amino acids and a 579-bp-long BmCKI-S (the shorter splice variant) encoding a protein with 192 amino acids. BmCKI-L and BmCKI-S contain the Cip/Kip family conserved cyclin-binding domain and the CDK-binding domain. They are localized in the nucleus and have an unconventional bipartite nuclear localization signal at amino acid residues 181-210. Overexpression of BmCKI-L or BmCKI-S affected cell cycle progression; the cell cycle was arrested in the first gap phase of cell cycle (G1). RNA interference of BmCKI-L or BmCKI-S led to cells accumulating in the second gap phase and the mitotic phase of cell cycle (G2/M). Both BmCKI-L and BmCKI-S are involved in cell cycle regulation and probably have similar effects. The transgenic silkworm with BmCKI-L overexpression (BmCKI-L-OE), exhibited embryonic lethal, larva developmental retardation and lethal phenotypes. These results suggest that BmCKI-L might regulate the growth and development of silkworm. These findings clarify the function of CKIs and increase our understanding of cell cycle regulation in the silkworm.
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Affiliation(s)
- X-F Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - X-L Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Q Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - P Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Genomics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - C Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Genomics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - M-H Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Genomics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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10
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Heck AM, Wilusz J. The Interplay between the RNA Decay and Translation Machinery in Eukaryotes. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2018; 10:a032839. [PMID: 29311343 PMCID: PMC5932591 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a032839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RNA decay plays a major role in regulating gene expression and is tightly networked with other aspects of gene expression to effectively coordinate post-transcriptional regulation. The goal of this work is to provide an overview of the major factors and pathways of general messenger RNA (mRNA) decay in eukaryotic cells, and then discuss the effective interplay of this cytoplasmic process with the protein synthesis machinery. Given the transcript-specific and fluid nature of mRNA stability in response to changing cellular conditions, understanding the fundamental networking between RNA decay and translation will provide a foundation for a complete mechanistic understanding of this important aspect of cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Heck
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
- Program in Cell & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
| | - Jeffrey Wilusz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
- Program in Cell & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
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11
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Palma-Gudiel H, Córdova-Palomera A, Tornador C, Falcón C, Bargalló N, Deco G, Fañanás L. Increased methylation at an unexplored glucocorticoid responsive element within exon 1 D of NR3C1 gene is related to anxious-depressive disorders and decreased hippocampal connectivity. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2018; 28:579-588. [PMID: 29650294 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Among the major psychiatric disorders, anxious-depressive disorders stand out as one of the more prevalent and more frequently associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities. Methylation at the exon 1F of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 has been associated with both early stress exposure and risk for developing a psychiatric disorder; however, other NR3C1 promoter regions have been underexplored. Exon 1D emerges as a suggestive new target in stress-related disorders epigenetically sensitive to early adversity. After assessment of 48 monozygotic twin pairs (n=96 subjects) informative for lifetime history of anxious-depressive disorders, they were classified as concordant, discordant or healthy in function of whether both, one or neither twin in each pair had a lifetime diagnosis of anxious-depressive disorders. DNA for epigenetic analysis was extracted from peripheral blood. Exon 1F and exon 1D CpG-specific methylation was analysed by means of pyrosequencing technology. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was available for 54 subjects (n=27 twin pairs). Exon 1D CpG-specific methylation within a glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) was correlated with familial burden of anxious-depressive disorders (r=0.35, z=2.26, p=0.02). Right hippocampal connectivity was significantly associated with CpG-specific GRE methylation (β=-2.33, t=-2.85, p=0.01). Exon 1F was uniformly hypomethylated across all subgroups of the present sample. GRE hypermethylation at exon 1D of the NR3C1 gene in monozygotic twins concordant for anxious-depressive disorders suggests this region plays a role in increasing vulnerability to psychosocial stress, partly mediated by altered hippocampal connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Palma-Gudiel
- Anthropology Section, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Biomedicine Institute (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aldo Córdova-Palomera
- Anthropology Section, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Biomedicine Institute (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristian Tornador
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Falcón
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomedicina y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza, Spain; BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; Medical Image Core facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Bargalló
- Medical Image Core facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Diagnóstico por Imagen, Hospital Clínico, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gustavo Deco
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Fañanás
- Anthropology Section, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Biomedicine Institute (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
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DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter in the placenta is associated with blood pressure regulation in human pregnancy. J Hypertens 2018; 35:2276-2286. [PMID: 28817493 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000001450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) regulation during pregnancy is influenced by hormones of placental origin. It was shown that the glucocorticoid system is altered in hypertensive pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia. Epigenetic mechanism might influence the activity of genes involved in placental hormone/hormone receptor synthesis/action during pregnancy. METHOD In the current study, we analyzed the association of 5'-C-phosphate-G-3' (CpG) site methylation of different glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) promoter regions with BP during pregnancy. The study was performed as a nested case-control study (n = 80) out of 1045 mother/child pairs from the Berlin Birth Cohort. Placental DNA was extracted and bisulfite converted. Nested PCR products from six NR3C1 proximal promoter regions [glucocorticoid receptor gene promotor region B (GR-1B), C (GR-1C), D (GR-1D), E (GR-1E), F (GR-1F), and H (GR-1H)] were analyzed by next generation sequencing. RESULTS NR3C1 promoter regions GR-1D and GR-1E had a much higher degree of DNA methylation as compared to GR-1B, GR-1F or GR-1H when analyzing the entire study population. Comparison of placental NR3C1 CpG site methylation among hypotensive, normotensive and hypertensive mothers revealed several differently methylated CpG sites in the GR-1F promoter region only. Both hypertension and hypotension were associated with increased DNA methylation of GR-1F CpG sites. These associations were independent of confounding factors, such as family history of hypertension, smoking status before pregnancy and prepregnancy BMI. Assessment of placental glucocorticoid receptor expression by western blot showed that observed DNA methylation differences were not associated with altered levels of placental glucocorticoid receptor expression. However, correlation matrices of all NR3C1 proximal promoter regions demonstrated different correlation patterns of intraregional and interregional DNA methylation in the three BP groups, putatively indicating altered transcriptional control of glucocorticoid receptor isoforms. CONCLUSION Our study provides evidence of an independent association between placental NR3C1 proximal promoter methylation and maternal BP. Furthermore, we observed different patterns of NR3C1 promoter methylation in normotensive, hypertensive and hypotensive pregnancy.
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A Tri-Nucleotide Pattern in a 3' UTR Segment Affects The Activity of a Human Glucocorticoid Receptor Isoform. Shock 2018; 47:148-157. [PMID: 27660999 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000000750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We previously identified a truncated human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) isoform of 118 amino acids, hGR-S1(-349A), that despite lacking the major functional domains, was more hyperactive after glucocorticoid treatment than the full-length receptor. Furthermore, its 3' untranslated region (UTR) was required. To dissect the underlying mechanisms for hyperactivity, a series of hGR isoforms with consecutive deletions in the 3' UTR were created to test their transactivation potential using reporter assays. The hGR-S1(-349A) isoform retaining 1303 bp of 3' UTR displayed unusually high activity with or without glucocorticoid stimulation. Unexpectedly, a complete loss of significant activity was observed with isoforms retaining 1293 bp or 1263 bp of 3' UTR. Analysis of the 20 bp region neighboring the 1293 bp site showed a pattern: 3'UTR termination at every third base pair in this region resulted in a loss of transactivation potential while the other sites retained hyperactivity with or without glucocorticoid stimulation. Variations in the activity of an hGR isoform, due to changes in the 3' UTR sequence configuration, may provide an important link in explaining inconsistent responses to glucocorticoid treatment in individuals and ultimately enable tailored, patient-specific care. Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the cyclic hyperactivity/loss of activity phenomenon may be a step toward identifying a novel mechanism of gene regulation.
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Nabissi M, Morelli MB, Arcella A, Cardinali C, Santoni M, Bernardini G, Santoni A, Santoni G, Amantini C. Post-transcriptional regulation of 5'-untranslated regions of human Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type-1 (TRPV-1) channels: role in the survival of glioma patients. Oncotarget 2018; 7:81541-81554. [PMID: 27829230 PMCID: PMC5348411 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channel is a non-selective cation channel belonging to the Transient Receptor Potential family; variation of its expression has been correlated to glioma progression. In human, TRPV1 transcripts display a remarkable homogeneity differing only for the 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) sequence that generates four variants encoding the same protein. Herein, we investigated the role of the 5'UTR sequences in TRPV1 transcripts stability, regulation of translation, expression in glioma cells and tissues. In addition, the expression of 5'UTR TRPV1 variants as prognostic factor in the survival of glioblastoma patients was evaluated. The expression level for each 5'UTR and their stability was evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. The effect of rapamycin and interferon-gamma in 5'UTR-regulating TRPV1 translation was determined by western blot analysis in glioma cell lines. We demonstrated that the 5'UTR influences the stability and translation efficacy of TRPV1 transcripts, and that TRPV1 variant three (TRPV1v3) was the most stable and the only variant expressed in GBM samples and in glioma stem-like cells. Furthermore, we found that TRPV1v3 expression levels correlate with patient's survival, suggesting that it may represent a potential prognostic marker for patients with glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Nabissi
- School of Pharmacy, Experimental Medicine Section, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | | | | | - Claudio Cardinali
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome (RM), Italy
| | - Matteo Santoni
- Department of Medical Oncology, AOU Ospedali Riuniti, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, Ancona (AN), Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome (RM), Italy.,I.N.M. Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia (IS), Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome (RM), Italy.,I.N.M. Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia (IS), Italy
| | - Giorgio Santoni
- School of Pharmacy, Experimental Medicine Section, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | - Consuelo Amantini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy
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16
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Nagy C, Vaillancourt K, Turecki G. A role for activity-dependent epigenetics in the development and treatment of major depressive disorder. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 17:e12446. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Nagy
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry; McGill University; Montreal Canada
| | - K. Vaillancourt
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry; McGill University; Montreal Canada
| | - G. Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry; McGill University; Montreal Canada
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17
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Bhargava S, Patil V, Shah RA, Somasundaram K. IGF2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) mediated regulation of transcriptome and translatome in glioma cells. Cancer Biol Ther 2017; 19:42-52. [PMID: 28485999 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2017.1323601] [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: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA binding proteins mediate global regulation at the level of transcriptome and translatome of a cell. We studied the global level expression changes regulated by IMP3 in transcriptome and translatome by performing microarray using total cellular RNA and heavy polysome derived RNA of IMP3 silenced glioma cells respectively. Differentially regulated transcripts at the transcriptome level (n = 2388) and at the level of translatome (n = 479) were identified. Further, these transcripts were classified as direct and indirect targets on the basis of presence of IMP3 binding site. Additional investigation revealed that direct targets at transcriptome level were found to be associated with processes related to cell cycle, whereas direct targets at the translatome level participated in apoptosis related pathways. Probable mechanism of indirect regulation at both the levels is also investigated. Collectively, our study reveals multi-level gene expression regulation imposed by IMP3 in glioma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Bhargava
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Vikas Patil
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Riyaz Ahmad Shah
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
| | - Kumaravel Somasundaram
- a Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology , Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore , India
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Argentieri MA, Nagarajan S, Seddighzadeh B, Baccarelli AA, Shields AE. Epigenetic Pathways in Human Disease: The Impact of DNA Methylation on Stress-Related Pathogenesis and Current Challenges in Biomarker Development. EBioMedicine 2017; 18:327-350. [PMID: 28434943 PMCID: PMC5405197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
HPA axis genes implicated in glucocorticoid regulation play an important role in regulating the physiological impact of social and environmental stress, and have become a focal point for investigating the role of glucocorticoid regulation in the etiology of disease. We conducted a systematic review to critically assess the full range of clinical associations that have been reported in relation to DNA methylation of CRH, CRH-R1/2, CRH-BP, AVP, POMC, ACTH, ACTH-R, NR3C1, FKBP5, and HSD11β1/2 genes in adults. A total of 32 studies were identified. There is prospective evidence for an association between HSD11β2 methylation and hypertension, and functional evidence of an association between NR3C1 methylation and both small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and breast cancer. Strong associations have been reported between FKBP5 and NR3C1 methylation and PTSD, and biologically-plausible associations have been reported between FKBP5 methylation and Alzheimer's Disease. Mixed associations between NR3C1 methylation and mental health outcomes have been reported according to different social and environmental exposures, and according to varying gene regions investigated. We conclude by highlighting key challenges and future research directions that will need to be addressed in order to develop both clinically meaningful prognostic biomarkers and an evidence base that can inform public policy practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Austin Argentieri
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St., Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sairaman Nagarajan
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218, USA
| | - Bobak Seddighzadeh
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St., Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St., Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alexandra E Shields
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St., Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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20
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Chu W, Wei W, Han H, Gao Y, Liu K, Tian Y, Jiang Z, Zhang L, Chen J. Muscle-specific downregulation of GR levels inhibits adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular adipocyte tissue. Sci Rep 2017; 7:510. [PMID: 28360421 PMCID: PMC5428816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intramuscular adipose is conducive to good pork quality, whereas subcutaneous adipose is considered as waste in pig production. So uncovering the regulation differences between these two adiposes is helpful to tissue-specific control of fat deposition. In this study, we found the sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs) was lower in intramuscular adipocytes (IMA) compared with subcutaneous adipocytes (SA). Comparison of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) revealed that IMA had lower GR level which contributed to its reduced GCs sensitivity. Higher methylation levels of GR promotor 1-C and 1-H were detected in IMA compared with SA. GR expression decrease was also found in adipocytes when treated with muscle conditioned medium (MCM) in vitro, which resulted in significant inhibition of adipocytes proliferation and differentiation. Since abundant myostatin (MSTN) was detected in MCM by ELISA assay, we further investigated the effect of this myokine on adipocytes. MSTN treatment suppressed adipocytes GR expression, cell proliferation and differentiation, which mimicked the effects of MCM. The methylation levels of GR promotor 1-C and 1-H were also elevated after MSTN treatment. Our study reveals the role of GR in muscle fiber inhibition on intramuscular adipocytes, and identifies myostatin as a muscle-derived modulator for adipose GR level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Chu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.,Precision Medicine and Healthcare, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, 518055, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Haiyin Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Ying Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Kaiqing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Ye Tian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Zaohang Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Lifan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Jie Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, P.R. China.
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Merkulov VM, Merkulova TI, Bondar NP. Mechanisms of Brain Glucocorticoid Resistance in Stress-Induced Psychopathologies. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2017; 82:351-365. [PMID: 28320277 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297917030142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and leads to increased levels of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones. Prolonged elevation of GC levels causes neuronal dysfunction, decreases the density of synapses, and impairs neuronal plasticity. Decreased sensitivity to glucocorticoids (glucocorticoid resistance) that develops as a result of chronic stress is one of the characteristic features of stress-induced psychopathologies. In this article, we reviewed the published data on proposed molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of glucocorticoid resistance in brain, including changes in the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene, biosynthesis of GR isoforms, and GR posttranslational modifications. We also present data on alterations in the expression of the FKBP5 gene encoding the main component of cell ultra-short negative feedback loop of GC signaling regulation. Recent discoveries on stress- and GR-induced changes in epigenetic modification patterns as well as normalizing action of antidepressants are discussed. GR and FKBP5 gene polymorphisms associated with stress-induced psychopathologies are described, and their role in glucocorticoid resistance is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V M Merkulov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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22
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Childhood adversity and epigenetic regulation of glucocorticoid signaling genes: Associations in children and adults. Dev Psychopathol 2016; 28:1319-1331. [PMID: 27691985 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579416000870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Early childhood experiences have lasting effects on development, including the risk for psychiatric disorders. Research examining the biologic underpinnings of these associations has revealed the impact of childhood maltreatment on the physiologic stress response and activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. A growing body of literature supports the hypothesis that environmental exposures mediate their biological effects via epigenetic mechanisms. Methylation, which is thought to be the most stable form of epigenetic change, is a likely mechanism by which early life exposures have lasting effects. We present recent evidence related to epigenetic regulation of genes involved in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation, namely, the glucocorticoid receptor gene (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 [NR3C1]) and FK506 binding protein 51 gene (FKBP5), after childhood adversity and associations with risk for psychiatric disorders. Implications for the development of interventions and future research are discussed.
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DNA methylation: conducting the orchestra from exposure to phenotype? Clin Epigenetics 2016; 8:92. [PMID: 27602172 PMCID: PMC5012062 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation, through 5-methyl- and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5mC and 5hmC), is considered to be one of the principal interfaces between the genome and our environment, and it helps explain phenotypic variations in human populations. Initial reports of large differences in methylation level in genomic regulatory regions, coupled with clear gene expression data in both imprinted genes and malignant diseases, provided easily dissected molecular mechanisms for switching genes on or off. However, a more subtle process is becoming evident, where small (<10 %) changes to intermediate methylation levels are associated with complex disease phenotypes. This has resulted in two clear methylation paradigms. The latter “subtle change” paradigm is rapidly becoming the epigenetic hallmark of complex disease phenotypes, although we are currently hampered by a lack of data addressing the true biological significance and meaning of these small differences. Our initial expectation of rapidly identifying mechanisms linking environmental exposure to a disease phenotype led to numerous observational/association studies being performed. Although this expectation remains unmet, there is now a growing body of literature on specific genes, suggesting wide ranging transcriptional and translational consequences of such subtle methylation changes. Data from the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) has shown that a complex interplay between DNA methylation, extensive 5′UTR splicing, and microvariability gives rise to the overall level and relative distribution of total and N-terminal protein isoforms generated. Additionally, the presence of multiple AUG translation initiation codons throughout the complete, processed mRNA enables translation variability, hereby enhancing the translational isoforms and the resulting protein isoform diversity, providing a clear link between small changes in DNA methylation and significant changes in protein isoforms and cellular locations. Methylation changes in the NR3C1 CpG island alters the NR3C1 transcription and eventually protein isoforms in the tissues, resulting in subtle but visible physiological variability. This review addresses the current pathophysiological and clinical associations of such characteristically small DNA methylation changes, the ever-growing roles of DNA methylation and the evidence available, particularly from the glucocorticoid receptor of the cascade of events initiated by such subtle methylation changes, as well as addressing the underlying question as to what represents a genuine biologically significant difference in methylation.
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Palma-Gudiel H, Córdova-Palomera A, Eixarch E, Deuschle M, Fañanás L. Maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy alters the epigenetic signature of the glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter in their offspring: a meta-analysis. Epigenetics 2016; 10:893-902. [PMID: 26327302 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1088630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress has been widely associated with a number of short- and long-term pathological outcomes. Epigenetic mechanisms are thought to partially mediate these environmental insults into the fetal physiology. One of the main targets of developmental programming is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as it is the main regulator of the stress response. Accordingly, an increasing number of researchers have recently focused on the putative association between DNA methylation at the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and prenatal stress, among other types of psychosocial stress. The current study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the existing evidence linking several forms of prenatal stress with DNA methylation at the region 1F of the NR3C1 gene. The inclusion of relevant articles allowed combining empirical evidence from 977 individuals by meta-analytic techniques, whose methylation assessments showed overlap across 5 consecutive CpG sites (GRCh37/hg19 chr5:142,783,607-142,783,639). From this information, methylation levels at CpG site 36 displayed a significant correlation to prenatal stress (r = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.23, P = 0.002). This result supports the proposed association between a specific CpG site located at the NR3C1 promoter and prenatal stress. Several confounders, such as gender, methylation at other glucocorticoid-related genes, and adjustment for pharmacological treatments during pregnancy, should be taken into account in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Palma-Gudiel
- a Anthropology Unit; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology; and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB); Universidad de Barcelona (UB) ; Barcelona , Spain
| | - A Córdova-Palomera
- a Anthropology Unit; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology; and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB); Universidad de Barcelona (UB) ; Barcelona , Spain.,b Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) ; Madrid , Spain
| | - E Eixarch
- c Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center; BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine; Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona ; Barcelona , Spain.,d Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER) ; Madrid , Spain
| | - M Deuschle
- e Central Institute of Mental Health; Faculty of Medicine Mannheim; University of Heidelberg ; Heidelberg , Germany
| | - L Fañanás
- a Anthropology Unit; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology; and Instituto de Biomedicina (IBUB); Universidad de Barcelona (UB) ; Barcelona , Spain.,b Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) ; Madrid , Spain
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Leenen FAD, Vernocchi S, Hunewald OE, Schmitz S, Molitor AM, Muller CP, Turner JD. Where does transcription start? 5'-RACE adapted to next-generation sequencing. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:2628-45. [PMID: 26615195 PMCID: PMC4824077 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The variability and complexity of the transcription initiation process was examined by adapting RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of 5' cDNA ends (5'-RACE) to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). We oligo-labelled 5'-m(7)G-capped mRNA from two genes, the simple mono-exonic Beta-2-Adrenoceptor (ADRB2R)and the complex multi-exonic Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR, NR3C1), and detected a variability in TSS location that has received little attention up to now. Transcription was not initiated at a fixed TSS, but from loci of 4 to 10 adjacent nucleotides. Individual TSSs had frequencies from <0.001% to 38.5% of the total gene-specific 5' m(7)G-capped transcripts. ADRB2R used a single locus consisting of 4 adjacent TSSs. Unstimulated, the GR used a total of 358 TSSs distributed throughout 38 loci, that were principally in the 5' UTRs and were spliced using established donor and acceptor sites. Complete demethylation of the epigenetically sensitive GR promoter with 5-azacytidine induced one new locus and 127 TSSs, 12 of which were unique. We induced GR transcription with dexamethasone and Interferon-γ, adding one new locus and 185 additional TSSs distributed throughout the promoter region. In-vitro the TSS microvariability regulated mRNA translation efficiency and the relative abundance of the different GRN-terminal protein isoform levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fleur A D Leenen
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, Trier D-54290, Germany
| | - Sara Vernocchi
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, Trier D-54290, Germany
| | - Oliver E Hunewald
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - Stephanie Schmitz
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - Anne M Molitor
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - Claude P Muller
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, Trier D-54290, Germany
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
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Castro-Vale I, van Rossum EF, Machado JC, Mota-Cardoso R, Carvalho D. Genetics of glucocorticoid regulation and posttraumatic stress disorder—What do we know? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 63:143-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Li-Tempel T, Larra MF, Sandt E, Mériaux SB, Schote AB, Schächinger H, Muller CP, Turner JD. The cardiovascular and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress is controlled by glucocorticoid receptor sequence variants and promoter methylation. Clin Epigenetics 2016; 8:12. [PMID: 26823689 PMCID: PMC4730588 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0180-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gender, genetic makeup, and prior experience interact to determine physiological responses to an external perceived stressor. Here, we investigated the contribution of both genetic variants and promoter methylation of the NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) gene to the cardiovascular and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to the socially evaluated cold pressor test (seCPT). RESULTS Two hundred thirty-two healthy participants were recruited and underwent the experiment. They were randomly assigned to either the seCPT group (cold water) or a control group (warm water). The seCPT group had a clear stress reaction; salivary cortisol levels and peak systolic and diastolic blood pressure all increased significantly compared to the control group. GR genotype (TthIIII, NR3C1-I, 1H, E22E, R23K, BclI and 9beta) and methylation data were obtained from 218 participants. Haplotypes were built from the GR genotypes, and haplotype 2 (minor allele of BclI) carriers had a higher cortisol response to the seCPT in comparison to non-carriers (20.77 ± 13.22; 14.99 ± 8.42; p = 0.034), as well as independently of the experimental manipulation, higher baseline heart rate (72.44 ± 10.99; 68.74 ± 9.79; p = 0.022) and blood pressure (115.81 ± 10.47; 111.61 ± 10.74; p = 0.048). Average methylation levels throughout promoter 1F and 1H were low (2.76 and 1.69 %, respectively), but there was a strong correlation between individual CpGs and the distance separating them (Pearson's correlation r = 0.725, p = 3.03 × 10(-26)). Higher promoter-wide methylation levels were associated with decreased baseline blood pressure, and when incorporated into a linear mixed effect model significantly predicted lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure evolution over time in response to the experimental manipulation. The underlying genotype significantly predicted methylation levels; particularly, the homozygous BclI minor allele was associated with higher methylation in promoter 1H (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first studies linking epigenetic modifications of the GR promoter, receptor genotype and physiological measures of the stress response. At baseline, there were clear genetic and epigenetic effects on blood pressure. The seCPT induced a strong cardiovascular and HPA axis response, and both systems were affected by the functional genetic variants, although methylation also predicted blood pressure reactivity. The return to baseline was predominantly influenced by the genomic sequence. Overall, the physiological response to the seCPT is controlled by an exquisite mix of genetic and epigenetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li-Tempel
- Department of Neurobehavioral Genetics, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Mauro F Larra
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Estelle Sandt
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 rue Henri Koch, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4354 Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - Sophie B Mériaux
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 rue Henri Koch, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4354 Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - Andrea B Schote
- Department of Neurobehavioral Genetics, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schächinger
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Claude P Muller
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 rue Henri Koch, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4354 Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg ; Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 rue Henri Koch, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4354 Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
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28
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He B, Zhang N, Zhao R. Dexamethasone Downregulates SLC7A5 Expression and Promotes Cell Cycle Arrest, Autophagy and Apoptosis in BeWo Cells. J Cell Physiol 2016; 231:233-42. [PMID: 26094588 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) such as dexamethasone (Dex) are widely given to pregnant women to induce maturation and improve viability of preterm infants. Despite the beneficial effects, synthetic GCs have adverse effects on placental growth and nutrient transport system. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these events remain unknown. Here we use a human placental choriocarcinoma cell line (BeWo) as model to explore the pathway linking amino acids transport with cell viability under Dex challenge. BeWo cells treated with Dex (100 nM) for 24 h demonstrated G1/S cell cycle arrest together with enhanced autophagy and apoptosis. Concurrently, the amino acid carrier SLC7A5 was down-regulated in association with impaired cellular amino acids uptake and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Similar cellular responses were observed in BeWo cells treated with BCH, a classical System L inhibitor which inactivates SLC7A5. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486 was able to diminish Dex-induced translocation of GR into nucleus and to abolish these effects. Furthermore, Dex treatment significantly promoted the binding of GR to the proximal promoter sequence of SLC7A5 gene. Taken together, our results show that Dex downregulates SLC7A5 expression via GR-mediated transrepression. The impaired amino acids uptake leads to inhibition of mTOR signaling which in turn causes inhibited proliferation and enhanced autophagy and apoptosis in BeWo cells. These findings indicate that SLC7A5 mediates the effect of Dex on cell viability, thus providing a novel molecular target for the prevention and treatment of Dex-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in placental cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nana Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruqian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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29
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Xiong F, Lin T, Song M, Ma Q, Martinez SR, Lv J, MataGreenwood E, Xiao D, Xu Z, Zhang L. Antenatal hypoxia induces epigenetic repression of glucocorticoid receptor and promotes ischemic-sensitive phenotype in the developing heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2016; 91:160-71. [PMID: 26779948 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Large studies in humans and animals have demonstrated a clear association of an adverse intrauterine environment with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Yet mechanisms remain largely elusive. The present study tested the hypothesis that gestational hypoxia leads to promoter hypermethylation and epigenetic repression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene in the developing heart, resulting in increased heart susceptibility to ischemia and reperfusion injury in offspring. Hypoxic treatment of pregnant rats from day 15 to 21 of gestation resulted in a significant decrease of GR exon 14, 15, 16, and 17 transcripts, leading to down-regulation of GR mRNA and protein in the fetal heart. Functional cAMP-response elements (CREs) at -4408 and -3896 and Sp1 binding sites at -3425 and -3034 were identified at GR untranslated exon 1 promoters. Hypoxia significantly increased CpG methylation at the CREs and Sp1 binding sites and decreased transcription factor binding to GR exon 1 promoter, accounting for the repression of the GR gene in the developing heart. Of importance, treatment of newborn pups with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine reversed hypoxia-induced promoter methylation, restored GR expression and prevented hypoxia-mediated increase in ischemia and reperfusion injury of the heart in offspring. The findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of epigenetic repression of the GR gene in fetal stress-mediated programming of ischemic-sensitive phenotype in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuxia Xiong
- Institute for Fetology and Reproductive Medicine Center, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Thant Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Minwoo Song
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Qingyi Ma
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Shannalee R Martinez
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Juanxiu Lv
- Institute for Fetology and Reproductive Medicine Center, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Eugenia MataGreenwood
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Daliao Xiao
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Zhice Xu
- Institute for Fetology and Reproductive Medicine Center, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Institute for Fetology and Reproductive Medicine Center, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
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30
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Smart C, Strathdee G, Watson S, Murgatroyd C, McAllister-Williams RH. Early life trauma, depression and the glucocorticoid receptor gene--an epigenetic perspective. Psychol Med 2015; 45:3393-3410. [PMID: 26387521 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291715001555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hopes to identify genetic susceptibility loci accounting for the heritability seen in unipolar depression have not been fully realized. Family history remains the 'gold standard' for both risk stratification and prognosis in complex phenotypes such as depression. Meanwhile, the physiological mechanisms underlying life-event triggers for depression remain opaque. Epigenetics, comprising heritable changes in gene expression other than alterations of the nucleotide sequence, may offer a way to deepen our understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of unipolar depression and optimize treatments. A heuristic target for exploring the relevance of epigenetic changes in unipolar depression is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene (NR3C1) has been found to be susceptible to epigenetic modification, specifically DNA methylation, in the context of environmental stress such as early life trauma, which is an established risk for depression later in life. METHOD In this paper we discuss the progress that has been made by studies that have investigated the relationship between depression, early trauma, the HPA axis and the NR3C1 gene. Difficulties with the design of these studies are also explored. RESULTS Future efforts will need to comprehensively address epigenetic natural histories at the population, tissue, cell and gene levels. The complex interactions between the epigenome, genome and environment, as well as ongoing nosological difficulties, also pose significant challenges. CONCLUSIONS The work that has been done so far is nevertheless encouraging and suggests potential mechanistic and biomarker roles for differential DNA methylation patterns in NR3C1 as well as novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Smart
- Institute of Neuroscience,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK
| | - G Strathdee
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK
| | - S Watson
- Institute of Neuroscience,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK
| | - C Murgatroyd
- School of Healthcare Science,Manchester Metropolitan University,Manchester,UK
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31
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Kemp MW, Newnham JP, Challis JG, Jobe AH, Stock SJ. The clinical use of corticosteroids in pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update 2015; 22:240-59. [PMID: 26590298 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of antenatal steroid therapy is common in pregnancy. In early pregnancy, steroids may be used in women for the treatment of recurrent miscarriage or fetal abnormalities such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In mid-late pregnancy, the antenatal administration of corticosteroids to expectant mothers in anticipation of preterm birth is one of the most important advances in perinatal medicine; antenatal corticosteroids are now standard care for pregnancies at risk of premature delivery in high- and middle-income countries. The widespread uptake of this therapy is due to a compelling body of evidence demonstrating improved neonatal outcomes following antenatal corticosteroid exposure, stemming most notably from corticosteroid-driven maturation of fetal pulmonary function. As we approach the 50th anniversary of landmark work in this area by Liggins and Howie, it is apparent that much remains to be understood with regards to how we might best apply antenatal corticosteroid therapy to improve pregnancy outcomes at both early and mid to late gestation. METHODS Drawing on advances in laboratory science, pre-clinical and clinical studies, we performed a narrative review of the scientific literature to provide a timely update on the benefits, risks and uncertainties regarding antenatal corticosteroid use in pregnancy. Three, well-established therapeutic uses of antenatal steroids, namely recurrent miscarriage, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and preterm birth, were selected to frame the review. RESULTS Even the most well-established antenatal steroid therapies lack the comprehensive pharmacokinetic and dose-response data necessary to optimize dosing regimens. New insights into complex, tissue-specific corticosteroid signalling by genomic-dependent and independent mechanisms have not been used to inform corticosteroid treatment strategies. There is growing evidence that some fetal corticosteroid treatments are either ineffective, or may result in adverse outcomes, in addition to lasting epigenetic changes in a variety of homeostatic mechanisms. Nowhere is the need to better understand the intricacies of corticosteroid therapy better conveyed than in the findings of Althabe and colleagues who recently reported an increase in overall neonatal mortality and maternal morbidity in association with antenatal corticosteroid administration in low-resource settings. CONCLUSIONS New research to clarify the benefits and potential risks of antenatal corticosteroid therapy is urgently needed, especially with regard to corticosteroid use in low-resource environments. We conclude that there is both significant scope and an urgent need for further research-informed refinement to the use of antenatal corticosteroids in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Kemp
- School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - J P Newnham
- School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - J G Challis
- Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health and Medical Research), The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - A H Jobe
- School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - S J Stock
- Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
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32
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Daskalakis NP, Yehuda R. Site-specific methylation changes in the glucocorticoid receptor exon 1F promoter in relation to life adversity: systematic review of contributing factors. Front Neurosci 2014; 8:369. [PMID: 25484853 PMCID: PMC4240065 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been recent interest in epigenetics in psychiatry since it offers a means of understanding how stressful life experiences, in interaction with the genotype, result in epigenetic changes that result in altered gene expression, ultimately affecting the risk for mental disorders. Many studies focused on methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor exon 1F promoter following an initial observation that changes in this region could be modulated by the environment. This review examines all published studies that have attempted to measure methylation in this region using different techniques, several tissue types, populations at different behavioral state and stages of development. Methodological issues have been raised with the aim of attempting to understand methylation quantification and site of action. We propose that it is useful to examine whether methylation at specific sites within the promoter region may be particularly relevant to psychiatric vulnerability to stress-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos P Daskalakis
- Traumatic Stress Studies Division, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA ; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center Bronx, New York, NY, USA ; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- Traumatic Stress Studies Division, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA ; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center Bronx, New York, NY, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
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