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Plas X, Bruinsma B, van Lissa CJ, Vermetten E, van Lutterveld R, Geuze E. Long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms in deployed military personnel: A 10-year prospective study. J Affect Disord 2024; 354:702-711. [PMID: 38537760 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military missions, especially those involving combat exposure, are associated with an increased risk of depression. Understanding the long-term course of depressive symptoms post-deployment is important to improve decision-making regarding deployment and mental health policies in the military. This study investigates trajectories of depressive symptoms in the Dutch army, exploring the influence of factors such as demographics, early-life trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and deployment stressors. METHODS A cohort of 1032 military men and women deployed to Afghanistan (2005-2008) was studied from pre- to 10 years post-deployment. Depressive and PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Symptom CheckList-90 and the Self-Rating Inventory for PTSD. Demographics, early trauma, and deployment experiences were collected at baseline and after deployment, respectively. Latent Class Growth Analysis was used to explore heterogeneity in trajectories of depressive symptoms over time. RESULTS Four trajectories were found: resilient (65%), intermediate-stable (20%), symptomatic-chronic (9%), and late-onset-increasing (6%). The resilient group experienced fewer deployment stressors, while the symptomatic-chronic group reported more early life traumas. Trajectories with elevated depressive symptoms consistently demonstrated higher PTSD symptoms. LIMITATIONS Potential nonresponse bias and missing information due to the longitudinal design and extensive follow-up times. CONCLUSIONS This study identified multiple trajectories of depressive symptoms in military personnel up to 10 years post-deployment, associated with early trauma, deployment stressors, adverse life events and PTSD symptoms. The prevalence of the resilient trajectory suggests a substantial level of resilience among deployed military personnel. These findings provide valuable insights and a foundation for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xandra Plas
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Bastiaan Bruinsma
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Caspar J van Lissa
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Vermetten
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Remko van Lutterveld
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elbert Geuze
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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2
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Goltser-Dubner T, Shalev A, Benarroch F, Canetti L, Yogev M, Kalla C, Masarwa R, Martin J, Pevzner D, Oz O, Saloner C, Amer R, Lavon M, Lotan A, Galili-Weisstub E, Segman R. Decreased mononuclear cell NR3C1 SKA2 and FKPB5 expression levels among adult survivors of suicide bombing terror attacks in childhood are associated with the development of PTSD. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3851-3855. [PMID: 37845495 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02278-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Life threatening trauma and the development of PTSD during childhood, may each associate with transcriptional perturbation of immune cell glucocorticoid reactivity, yet their separable longer term contributions are less clear. The current study compared resting mononuclear cell gene expression levels of the nuclear receptor, subfamily 3, member 1 (NR3C1) coding the glucocorticoid receptor, its trans-activator spindle and kinetochore-associated protein 2 (SKA2), and its co-chaperon FKBP prolyl isomerase 5 (FKBP5), between a cohort of young adults first seen at the Hadassah Emergency Department (ED) after surviving a suicide bombing terror attack during childhood, and followed longitudinally over the years, and matched healthy controls not exposed to life threatening trauma. While significant reductions in mononuclear cell gene expression levels were observed among young adults for all three transcripts following early trauma exposure, the development of subsequent PTSD beyond trauma exposure, accounted for a small but significant portion of the variance in each of the three transcripts. Long-term perturbation in the expression of immune cell glucocorticoid response transcripts persists among young adults who develop PTSD following life threatening trauma exposure in childhood, denoting chronic dysregulation of immune stress reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Goltser-Dubner
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amit Shalev
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Fortu Benarroch
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Laura Canetti
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maayan Yogev
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Carmel Kalla
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ranin Masarwa
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Josef Martin
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Dalya Pevzner
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Osnat Oz
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Chen Saloner
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Reaan Amer
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Lavon
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amit Lotan
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Esti Galili-Weisstub
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronen Segman
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
- The Herman-Danna Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
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3
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Cosentino L, Witt SH, Dukal H, Zidda F, Siehl S, Flor H, De Filippis B. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 expression is associated with symptom severity in patients with PTSD in a sex-dependent manner. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:249. [PMID: 37419878 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02529-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic events may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with higher prevalence in women. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) increase PTSD risk in adulthood. Epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in PTSD pathogenesis and a mutation in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) in mice provide susceptibility to PTSD-like alterations, with sex-dependent biological signatures. The present study examined whether the increased risk of PTSD associated with ACE exposure is accompanied by reduced MECP2 blood levels in humans, with an influence of sex. MECP2 mRNA levels were analyzed in the blood of 132 subjects (58 women). Participants were interviewed to assess PTSD symptomatology, and asked to retrospectively report ACE. Among trauma-exposed women, MECP2 downregulation was associated with the intensification of PTSD symptoms linked to ACE exposure. MECP2 expression emerges as a potential contributor to post-trauma pathophysiology fostering novel studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying its potential sex-dependent role in PTSD onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Cosentino
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helene Dukal
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Francesca Zidda
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sebastian Siehl
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Bianca De Filippis
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
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4
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Kumsta R, Zang JCS, Hummel EM, Müller S, Moser DA, Herpertz S, Kessler H. Treatment-associated mRNA co-expression changes in monocytes of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1181321. [PMID: 37426106 PMCID: PMC10326517 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1181321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PTSD is a prevalent mental disorder that results from exposure to extreme and stressful life events and comes at high costs for both the individual and society. Therapeutic treatment presents the best way to deal with PTSD-the mechanisms underlying change after treatment, however, remain poorly understood. While stress and immune associated gene expression changes have been associated with PTSD development, studies investigating treatment effects at the molecular level so far tended to focus on DNA methylation. Here we use gene-network analysis on whole-transcriptome RNA-Seq data isolated from CD14+ monocytes of female PTSD patients (N = 51) to study pre-treatment signatures of therapy response and therapy-related changes at the level of gene expression. Patients who exhibited significant symptom improvement after therapy showed higher baseline expression in two modules involved in inflammatory processes (including notable examples IL1R2 and FKBP5) and blood coagulation. After therapy, expression of an inflammatory module was increased, and expression of a wound healing module was decreased. This supports findings reporting an association between PTSD and dysregulations of the inflammatory and the hemostatic system and mark both as potentially treatment sensitive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kumsta
- Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, Laboratory for Stress and Gene-Environment Interplay, University of Luxemburg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxemburg
| | - Johannes C. S. Zang
- Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Elisabeth M. Hummel
- Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Svenja Müller
- Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk A. Moser
- Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephan Herpertz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Henrik Kessler
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Fulda Hospital, University Medicine Marburg Campus Fulda, Fulda, Germany
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5
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Malekpour M, Shekouh D, Safavinia ME, Shiralipour S, Jalouli M, Mortezanejad S, Azarpira N, Ebrahimi ND. Role of FKBP5 and its genetic mutations in stress-induced psychiatric disorders: an opportunity for drug discovery. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1182345. [PMID: 37398599 PMCID: PMC10313426 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1182345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced mental health disorders are affecting many people around the world. However, effective drug therapy for curing psychiatric diseases does not occur sufficiently. Many neurotransmitters, hormones, and mechanisms are essential in regulating the body's stress response. One of the most critical components of the stress response system is the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The FKBP prolyl isomerase 51 (FKBP51) protein is one of the main negative regulators of the HPA axis. FKBP51 negatively regulates the cortisol effects (the end product of the HPA axis) by inhibiting the interaction between glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and cortisol, causing reduced transcription of downstream cortisol molecules. By regulating cortisol effects, the FKBP51 protein can indirectly regulate the sensitivity of the HPA axis to stressors. Previous studies have indicated the influence of FKBP5 gene mutations and epigenetic changes in different psychiatric diseases and drug responses and recommended the FKBP51 protein as a drug target and a biomarker for psychological disorders. In this review, we attempted to discuss the effects of the FKBP5 gene, its mutations on different psychiatric diseases, and drugs affecting the FKBP5 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Malekpour
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Dorsa Shekouh
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Shadi Shiralipour
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Jalouli
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sahar Mortezanejad
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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6
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Al Jowf GI, Ahmed ZT, Reijnders RA, de Nijs L, Eijssen LMT. To Predict, Prevent, and Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review of Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065238. [PMID: 36982313 PMCID: PMC10049301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can become a chronic and severely disabling condition resulting in a reduced quality of life and increased economic burden. The disorder is directly related to exposure to a traumatic event, e.g., a real or threatened injury, death, or sexual assault. Extensive research has been done on the neurobiological alterations underlying the disorder and its related phenotypes, revealing brain circuit disruption, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Psychotherapy remains the first-line treatment option for PTSD given its good efficacy, although pharmacotherapy can also be used as a stand-alone or in combination with psychotherapy. In order to reduce the prevalence and burden of the disorder, multilevel models of prevention have been developed to detect the disorder as early as possible and to reduce morbidity in those with established diseases. Despite the clinical grounds of diagnosis, attention is increasing to the discovery of reliable biomarkers that can predict susceptibility, aid diagnosis, or monitor treatment. Several potential biomarkers have been linked with pathophysiological changes related to PTSD, encouraging further research to identify actionable targets. This review highlights the current literature regarding the pathophysiology, disease development models, treatment modalities, and preventive models from a public health perspective, and discusses the current state of biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazi I. Al Jowf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
| | - Ziyad T. Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al-Bukairyah 52726, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rick A. Reijnders
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars M. T. Eijssen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Bioinformatics—BiGCaT, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
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7
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Glucocorticoid-based pharmacotherapies preventing PTSD. Neuropharmacology 2023; 224:109344. [PMID: 36402246 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly disabling psychiatric condition that may arise after exposure to acute and severe trauma. It is a highly prevalent mental disorder worldwide, and the current treatment options for these patients remain limited due to low effectiveness. The time window right after traumatic events provides clinicians with a unique opportunity for preventive interventions against potential deleterious alterations in brain function that lead to PTSD. Some studies pointed out that PTSD patients present an abnormal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that may contribute to a vulnerability toward PTSD. Moreover, glucocorticoids have arisen as a promising option for preventing the disorder's development when administered in the aftermath of trauma. The present work compiles the recent findings of glucocorticoid administration for the prevention of a PTSD phenotype, from human studies to animal models of PTSD. Overall, glucocorticoid-based therapies for preventing PTSD demonstrated moderate evidence in terms of efficacy in both clinical and preclinical studies. Although clinical studies point out that glucocorticoids may not be effective for all patients' subpopulations, those with adequate traits might greatly benefit from them. Preclinical studies provide precise insight into the mechanisms mediating this preventive effect, showing glucocorticoid-based prevention to reduce long-lasting behavioral and neurobiological abnormalities caused by traumatic stress. However, further research is needed to delineate the precise mechanisms and the extent to which these interventions can translate into lower PTSD rates and morbidity. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Fear, Anxiety and PTSD'.
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8
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Goldschen L, Ellrodt J, Amonoo HL, Feldman CH, Case SM, Koenen KC, Kubzansky LD, Costenbader KH. The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and systemic lupus erythematosus. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 108:292-301. [PMID: 36535611 PMCID: PMC10018810 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.12.012] [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: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous, multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by unpredictable disease flares. Although the pathogenesis of SLE is complex, an epidemiologic link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the development of SLE has been identified, suggesting that stress-related disorders alter the susceptibility to SLE. Despite the strong epidemiologic evidence connecting PTSD and SLE, gaps remain in our understanding of how the two may be connected. Perturbations in the autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine system, and at the genomic level may cause and sustain immune dysregulation that could lower the threshold for the development and propagation of SLE. We first describe shared risk factors for SLE and PTSD. We then describe potential biological pathways which may facilitate excessive inflammation in the context of PTSD. Among those genetically predisposed to SLE, systemic inflammation that accompanies chronic stress may fan the flames of smoldering SLE by priming immune pathways. Further studies on the connection between trauma and inflammation will provide important data on pathogenesis, risk factors, and novel treatments for SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Goldschen
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Jack Ellrodt
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hermioni L Amonoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, MA 02115, USA; Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Candace H Feldman
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Siobhan M Case
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karen H Costenbader
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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9
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Zhu W, Li Y, Ma X, Yang H, Wang Z, Shi R, Shi W, Cong B. Bibliometric analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder in forensic medicine: Research trends, hot spots, and prospects. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1074999. [PMID: 36726521 PMCID: PMC9884826 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1074999] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has various risk factors, complex pathogenesis, and diverse symptoms, and is often comorbid with other injuries and diseases, making forensic diagnosis difficult. Methods To explore the current research status and trends of PTSD, we used the Web of Science Core Collection databases to screen PTSD-related literature published between 2010 and 2021 and CiteSpace to perform bibliometric analysis. Results In recent years, PTSD-related research has grown steadily. The countries and institutions with the most research results were the United States and England, and King's College London and Boston University, respectively. Publications were identified from 2,821 different journals, including 13 forensic-related journals, but the journal distribution was relatively scattered and there was a lack of professional core journals. Keyword co-occurrence and clustering identified many hot topics; "rat model," "mental health," and "satisfaction" were the topics most likely to have a clear effect on future research. Analysis extracted nine turning points from the literature that suggested that neural network centers, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and biomarkers were new research directions. It was found that COVID-19 can cause severe psychological stress and induce PTSD, but the relationship needs further study. The literature on stress response areas and biomarkers has gradually increased over time, but specific systemic neural brain circuits and biomarkers remain to be determined. Conclusion There is a need to expand the collection of different types of biological tissue samples from patients with different backgrounds, screen PTSD biomarkers and molecular targets using multi-omics and molecular biology techniques, and establish PTSD-related molecular networks. This may promote a systematic understanding of the abnormal activation of neural circuits in patients with PTSD and help to establish a personalized, accurate, and objective forensic diagnostic standard.
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10
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Sbisa AM, Madden K, Toben C, McFarlane AC, Dell L, Lawrence-Wood E. Potential peripheral biomarkers associated with the emergence and presence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 147:105954. [PMID: 36308820 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves an interplay between psychological manifestations and biological systems. Biological markers of PTSD could assist in identifying individuals with underlying dysregulation and increased risk; however, accurate and reliable biomarkers are yet to be identified. METHODS A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Databases included EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central. Studies from a comprehensive 2015 review (Schmidt et al., 2015) and English language papers published subsequently (between 2014 and May 2022) were included. Forty-eight studies were eligible. RESULTS Alterations in neuroendocrine and immune markers were most commonly associated with PTSD symptoms. Evidence indicates PTSD symptoms are associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction as represented by low basal cortisol, a dysregulated immune system, characterized by an elevated pro-inflammatory state, and metabolic dysfunction. However, a considerable number of studies neglected to measure sex or prior trauma, which have the potential to affect the biological outcomes of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Mixed findings are indicative of the complexity and heterogeneity of PTSD and suggest the relationship between allostatic load, biological markers, and PTSD remain largely undefined. CONCLUSIONS In addition to prospective research design and long-term follow up, it is imperative future research includes covariates sex, prior trauma, and adverse childhood experiences. Future research should include exploration of biological correlates specific to PTSD symptom domains to determine whether underlying processes differ with symptom expression, in addition to subclinical presentation of posttraumatic stress symptoms, which would allow for greater understanding of biomarkers associated with disorder risk and assist in untangling directionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M Sbisa
- Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Kelsey Madden
- Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catherine Toben
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Lisa Dell
- Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ellie Lawrence-Wood
- Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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11
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Gultig KD, de Rooij SR, Hilberdink CE, Olff M, Roseboom TJ, van Zuiden M. Effects of prenatal exposure to the 1944-45 Dutch famine and glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms on later life PTSD susceptibility. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2219075. [PMID: 37335018 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2219075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Exposure to adversity in utero is thought to increase susceptibility to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following later life trauma, due to neurobiological programming effects during critical developmental periods. It remains unknown whether effects of prenatal adversity on PTSD susceptibility are modulated by genetic variations in neurobiological pathways implicated in PTSD susceptibility.Objective: We investigated whether genetic variation in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) modulated effects of prenatal famine exposure on late adulthood PTSD symptom severity after trauma exposure in childhood and mid-to-late adulthood.Method: We included N = 439 term-born singleton adults (mean age: 72 years, 54.2% women) from the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort, born around the time of the Dutch Famine of 1944/1945, divided into exposure and control groups based on timing of the famine during gestation. Participants filled out self-report questionnaires on childhood (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and mid-to-late adulthood (Life Events Checklist for DSM-5) trauma, and current PTSD symptom severity (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5). GR haplotypes were determined from four functional GR single nucleotide polymorphisms (ER22/23EK, N363S, BclI and exon 9β) in previously collected DNA. Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate associations of GR haplotype and prenatal famine exposure in conjunction with later life trauma on PTSD symptom severity.Results: We observed a significant three-way interaction between the GR Bcll haplotype, famine exposure during early gestation, and adulthood trauma exposure on PTSD symptom severity in late adulthood. Only participants exposed to famine during early gestation without the GR Bcll haplotype showed a significantly stronger positive association between adulthood trauma and PTSD symptom severity than non-exposed participants, indicating increased PTSD susceptibility.Conclusions: Our results illustrate the importance of integrated approaches considering genetics and environmental contexts throughout various life periods, including the rarely investigated prenatal environment, to elucidate how PTSD susceptibility evolves throughout life.HIGHLIGHTS Adversity during pregnancy is thought to increase offspring's PTSD risk following later life trauma, but exact neurobiological mechanisms underlying this process remain unknown.We found that effects of prenatal famine exposure on PTSD symptom severity were influenced by genetic variation in the glucocorticoid receptor, which signals effects of the stress hormone cortisol.Integrated approaches considering genetics and environmental contexts throughout both early and later life are important to understand how PTSD risk evolves throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh D Gultig
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne R de Rooij
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Hilberdink
- Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, the Netherlands
| | - Tessa J Roseboom
- Departments of Epidemiology and Data Science and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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12
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Prevalence of Common Alleles of Some Stress Resilience Genes among Adolescents Born in Different Periods Relative to the Socioeconomic Crisis of the 1990s in Russia. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 45:51-65. [PMID: 36661490 PMCID: PMC9857244 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Social stress is common among people and is considered one of the causes of the declining birth rate. Predisposition to stress and stress-induced disorders is largely determined genetically. We hypothesized that due to differences in stress resistance, carriers of different genetic variants of genes associated with stress resilience and stress-induced diseases may have dissimilar numbers of offspring under conditions of long-term social stress. To test this hypothesis, a comparative analysis of frequencies of seven common polymorphic regions [exon 3 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of the DRD4 gene, rs4680 of COMT, STin2 VNTR and the 5-HTTLPR (rs774676466) insertion/deletion polymorphism of SLC6A4, rs4570625 of TPH2, rs6265 of BDNF, and rs258747 of NR3C1] was performed on standardized groups of randomly selected adolescents born before, during, and after severe socioeconomic deprivation (the crisis of the 1990s in Russia). There were significant differences in frequencies of "long" alleles of the DRD4 gene (p = 0.020, χ2 = 5.492) and rs4680 (p = 0.022, χ2 = 5.289) in the "crisis" group as compared to the combined "noncrisis" population. It is possible that the dopaminergic system had an impact on the successful adaptation of a person to social stress.
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13
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de Voogd LD, Kampen RA, Kaldewaij R, Zhang W, Hashemi MM, Koch SBJ, Klumpers F, Glennon JC, Roelofs K. Trauma-induced human glucocorticoid receptor expression increases predict subsequent HPA-axis blunting in a prospective longitudinal design. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 146:105909. [PMID: 36162182 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is abnormalities in the HPA-axis. This includes alterations in its negative feedback regulation. Although altered glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA expression is thought to play a crucial role herein, direct longitudinal evidence in humans is lacking to support this assumption. The current prospective longitudinal study assessed the consequence of repeated trauma exposure on GR mRNA expression from saliva samples in early-career police recruits (n = 112) by assessing them before and after trauma exposure. We did not observe a relationship between change in GR mRNA expression and development of PTSD symptom severity. However, the more traumatic events were experienced during police training the stronger GR mRNA expression was increased. Moreover, increases in GR mRNA expression were associated with blunted HPA-axis stress-reactivity at follow-up compared to baseline. This study provides the first longitudinal evidence of a dose-response relationship between trauma and human GR mRNA expression (extracted from saliva) changes; therefore, replication is warranted. Our finding might contribute a possible explanatory framework for blunted HPA-axis function associated with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lycia D de Voogd
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Rosalie Anne Kampen
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Reinoud Kaldewaij
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Wei Zhang
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mahur Melina Hashemi
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia B J Koch
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Floris Klumpers
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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14
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Martínez-Levy GA, Bermúdez-Gómez J, Flores-Torres RP, Merlín-García I, Nani A, Cruz-Fuentes CS, Briones-Velasco M. Clinical, environmental, and molecular factors associated to the occurrence and persistence of posttraumatic stress disorder after an earthquake. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 154:102-110. [PMID: 35933853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and disabling condition with high incidence after an earthquake. The objective of the present study was to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence and persistence of PTSD. Individuals (18-65 years old) who experienced the earthquake of September 19th, 2017, attended the National Institute of Psychiatry (INPRFM) between October and November 2017 (baseline n = 68). Participants were followed 4-6 (first follow-up, n = 40) and 7-9 (second follow-up n = 41) months after the earthquake. Delay returning to normal activities, a negative emotional valence to a previous earthquake, comorbidity with depression, history of childhood maltreatment, and low expression of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) were associated with PTSD in the basal assessment. The earthquake-related variable associated with the persistence of PTSD at the second follow-up was that the earthquake had directly affected the participants, either because they were evicted, had damage to their homes, or suffered some injury. Comorbidity with dysthymia, history of childhood maltreatment, and higher severity of PTSD in the basal assessment were associated with persistent PTSD in the second follow-up. The lower expression of the FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) in participants with persistent PTSD in the second follow-up was better explained by childhood physical abuse than with PTSD severity. These findings suggest that acute exposure to earthquake-related stressful situations is relevant for the initial risk of PTSD, while potential long-term stressful conditions are associated with its persistence. Likewise, molecular markers associated with hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis dysregulation were differentially associated with PTSD diagnosis at the different assessment times.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Martínez-Levy
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
| | - J Bermúdez-Gómez
- Servicios Clínicos, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
| | - R P Flores-Torres
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
| | - I Merlín-García
- Servicios Clínicos, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
| | - A Nani
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
| | - C S Cruz-Fuentes
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
| | - M Briones-Velasco
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz", Av. Mexico-Xochimilco 101, Huipulco, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14370, Mexico.
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15
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Pang JP, Hu XP, Wang YX, Liao JN, Chai X, Wang XW, Shen C, Wang JJ, Zhang LL, Wang XY, Zhu F, Weng QJ, Xu L, Hou TJ, Li D. Discovery of a novel nonsteroidal selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator by virtual screening and bioassays. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:2429-2438. [PMID: 35110698 PMCID: PMC8809242 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00855-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely used in the treatment of a broad range of inflammatory diseases, but their clinic use is limited by undesired side effects such as metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, skin and muscle atrophies, mood disorders and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression. Selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators (SGRMs) are expected to have promising anti-inflammatory efficacy but with fewer side effects caused by GCs. Here, we reported HT-15, a prospective SGRM discovered by structure-based virtual screening (VS) and bioassays. HT-15 can selectively act on the NF-κB/AP1-mediated transrepression function of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and repress the expression of pro-inflammation cytokines (i.e., IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, and CCL-2) as effectively as dexamethasone (Dex). Compared with Dex, HT-15 shows less transactivation potency that is associated with the main adverse effects of synthetic GCs, and no cross activities with other nuclear receptors. Furthermore, HT-15 exhibits very weak inhibition on the ratio of OPG/RANKL. Therefore, it may reduce the side effects induced by normal GCs. The bioactive compound HT-15 can serve as a starting point for the development of novel therapeutics for high dose or long-term anti-inflammatory treatment.
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16
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Viho EMG, Buurstede JC, Berkhout JB, Mahfouz A, Meijer OC. Cell type specificity of glucocorticoid signaling in the adult mouse hippocampus. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13072. [PMID: 34939259 PMCID: PMC9286676 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid stress hormones are powerful modulators of brain function and can affect mood and cognitive processes. The hippocampus is a prominent glucocorticoid target and expresses both the glucocorticoid receptor (GR: Nr3c1) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR: Nr3c2). These nuclear steroid receptors act as ligand-dependent transcription factors. Transcriptional effects of glucocorticoids have often been deduced from bulk mRNA measurements or spatially informed individual gene expression. However, only sparse data exists allowing insights on glucocorticoid-driven gene transcription at the cell type level. Here, we used publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data to assess the cell-type specificity of GR and MR signaling in the adult mouse hippocampus. The data confirmed that Nr3c1 and Nr3c2 expression differs across neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations. We analyzed co-expression with sex hormones receptors, transcriptional coregulators, and receptors for neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Our results provide insights in the cellular basis of previous bulk mRNA results and allow the formulation of more defined hypotheses on the effects of glucocorticoids on hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva M. G. Viho
- Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Jacobus C. Buurstede
- Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Jari B. Berkhout
- Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Department of Human GeneticsLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Ahmed Mahfouz
- Department of Human GeneticsLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Delft Bioinformatics LaboratoryDelft University of TechnologyDelftThe Netherlands
- Leiden Computational Biology CenterLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Onno C. Meijer
- Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular MedicineLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
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17
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Tu HF, Skalkidou A, Lindskog M, Gredebäck G. Maternal childhood trauma and perinatal distress are related to infants' focused attention from 6 to 18 months. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24190. [PMID: 34921204 PMCID: PMC8683435 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03568-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal distress is repeatedly reported to have negative impacts on the cognitive development in children and is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder). However, studies examining the associations between maternal distress and the development of attention in infancy are few. This study investigated the longitudinal relationships between maternal distress (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and exposure to childhood trauma) and the development of focused attention in infancy in 118 mother-infant dyads. We found that maternal exposure to non-interpersonal traumatic events in childhood was associated with the less focused attention of the infants to audio-visual stimuli at 6, 10, and 18 months. In addition, exposure to interpersonal traumatic events in childhood was identified as a moderator of the negative effect of maternal anxiety during the 2nd trimester on the development of focused attention in infants. We discuss the possible mechanisms accounting for these cross-generational effects. Our findings underscore the importance of maternal mental health to the development of focused attention in infancy and address the need for early screening of maternal mental health during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsing-Fen Tu
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Alkistis Skalkidou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcus Lindskog
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Gredebäck
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 75237, Uppsala, Sweden
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18
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Maguire D, Watt J, Armour C, Milanak M, Lagdon S, Lamont JV, Kurth MJ, Fitzgerald P, Moore T, Ruddock MW. Post-traumatic stress disorder: A biopsychosocial case-control study investigating peripheral blood protein biomarkers. Biomark Neuropsychiatry 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bionps.2021.100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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19
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Gordon I, Horesh D, Milstein N, Tomashin A, Mayo O, Korisky A. Pre-pandemic autonomic nervous system activity predicts mood regulation expectancies during COVID-19 in Israel. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13910. [PMID: 34329495 PMCID: PMC8420474 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite the unfolding impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on psychological well‐being, there is a lack of prospective studies that target physiological markers of distress. There is a need to examine physiological predictors from the pre‐pandemic period to identify and treat individuals at‐risk. In this study, our aim was to use pre‐pandemic markers of autonomic nervous system (ANS) parasympathetic and sympathetic regulation to predict individuals' psychological well‐being during the crisis. We also assessed the role of mood regulation expectancies as a mediator of the association between pre‐pandemic physiological measures and COVID‐related well‐being. In May to June 2020, 185 Israeli adults completed online questionnaires assessing their mood regulation expectancies since COVID‐19 began, and their current well‐being. These individuals had participated in lab studies 1.5–3 years prior to this assessment, where their physiological measures were taken, including respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and skin conductance level (SCL). RSA was positively related to mood regulation expectancies during COVID‐19 (b = 3.46, 95% CI [0.84, 6.05]). Mood regulation expectancies, in turn, positively predicted well‐being during the crisis (b = 0.021, 95% CI [0.016, 0.027]). The mediation was significant and moderated by SCL (index = −0.09, 95% CI [−0.02, −0.0001]), such that it was strongest for individuals with low SCL. We point to pre‐pandemic physiological mechanisms underlying individuals' mental well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic. These findings have theoretical, diagnostic, and clinical implications that may refine our understanding of the physiological basis of resilience to the COVID‐19 pandemic and thus may be implemented to identify and assist individuals in these times. Our study offers a unique psychophysiological approach to predicting mood regulation and mental well‐being during COVID‐19 from pre‐pandemic resting physiological activity. We show that pre‐pandemic markers of the autonomic nervous system, which were collected during routine 2–3 years prior to the pandemic, allow us to prospectively understand emotion regulation and well‐being during COVID‐19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilanit Gordon
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Danny Horesh
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,Department of Psychiatry, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nir Milstein
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Alon Tomashin
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Oded Mayo
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Adi Korisky
- The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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20
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Garrett ME, Qin XJ, Mehta D, Dennis MF, Marx CE, Grant GA, Stein MB, Kimbrel NA, Beckham JC, Hauser MA, Ashley-Koch AE. Gene Expression Analysis in Three Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Cohorts Implicates Inflammation and Innate Immunity Pathways and Uncovers Shared Genetic Risk With Major Depressive Disorder. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:678548. [PMID: 34393704 PMCID: PMC8358297 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychiatric disorder that can develop following exposure to traumatic events. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD group (PGC-PTSD) has collected over 20,000 multi-ethnic PTSD cases and controls and has identified both genetic and epigenetic factors associated with PTSD risk. To further investigate biological correlates of PTSD risk, we examined three PGC-PTSD cohorts comprising 977 subjects to identify differentially expressed genes among PTSD cases and controls. Whole blood gene expression was quantified with the HumanHT-12 v4 Expression BeadChip for 726 OEF/OIF veterans from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), 155 samples from the Injury and Traumatic Stress (INTRuST) Clinical Consortium, and 96 Australian Vietnam War veterans. Differential gene expression analysis was performed in each cohort separately followed by meta-analysis. In the largest cohort, we performed co-expression analysis to identify modules of genes that are associated with PTSD and MDD. We then conducted expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis and assessed the presence of eQTL interactions involving PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD). Finally, we utilized PTSD and MDD GWAS summary statistics to identify regions that colocalize with eQTLs. Although not surpassing correction for multiple testing, the most differentially expressed genes in meta-analysis were interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), a pro-inflammatory cytokine previously associated with PTSD, and integrin-linked kinase (ILK), which is highly expressed in brain and can rescue dysregulated hippocampal neurogenesis and memory deficits. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of toll-like receptor (TLR) and interleukin-1 receptor genes, which are integral to cellular innate immune response. Co-expression analysis identified four modules of genes associated with PTSD, two of which are also associated with MDD, demonstrating common biological pathways underlying the two conditions. Lastly, we identified four genes (UBA7, HLA-F, HSPA1B, and RERE) with high probability of a shared causal eQTL variant with PTSD and/or MDD GWAS variants, thereby providing a potential mechanism by which the GWAS variant contributes to disease risk. In summary, we provide additional evidence for genes and pathways previously reported and identified plausible novel candidates for PTSD. These data provide further insight into genetic factors and pathways involved in PTSD, as well as potential regions of pleiotropy between PTSD and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie E Garrett
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Xue Jun Qin
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Divya Mehta
- Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Michelle F Dennis
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Christine E Marx
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Gerald A Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nathan A Kimbrel
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jean C Beckham
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Michael A Hauser
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Allison E Ashley-Koch
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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21
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Danan D, Todder D, Zohar J, Cohen H. Is PTSD-Phenotype Associated with HPA-Axis Sensitivity? Feedback Inhibition and Other Modulating Factors of Glucocorticoid Signaling Dynamics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116050. [PMID: 34205191 PMCID: PMC8200046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we found that basal corticosterone pulsatility significantly impacts the vulnerability for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Rats that exhibited PTSD-phenotype were characterized by blunted basal corticosterone pulsatility amplitude and a blunted corticosterone response to a stressor. This study sought to identify the mechanisms underlining both the loss of pulsatility and differences in downstream responses. Serial blood samples were collected manually via jugular vein cannula at 10-min intervals to evaluate suppression of corticosterone following methylprednisolone administration. The rats were exposed to predator scent stress (PSS) after 24 h, and behavioral responses were assessed 7 days post-exposure for retrospective classification into behavioral response groups. Brains were harvested for measurements of the glucocorticoid receptor, mineralocorticoid receptor, FK506-binding protein-51 and arginine vasopressin in specific brain regions to assess changes in hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) regulating factors. Methylprednisolone produced greater suppression of corticosterone in the PTSD-phenotype group. During the suppression, the PTSD-phenotype rats showed a significantly more pronounced pulsatile activity. In addition, the PTSD-phenotype group showed distinct changes in the ventral and dorsal CA1, dentate gyrus as well as in the paraventricular nucleus and supra-optic nucleus. These results demonstrate a pre-trauma vulnerability state that is characterized by an over-reactivity of the HPA and changes in its regulating factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dor Danan
- Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Ministry of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84170, Israel; (D.D.); (D.T.)
| | - Doron Todder
- Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Ministry of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84170, Israel; (D.D.); (D.T.)
| | - Joseph Zohar
- Post-Trauma Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv 52621, Israel;
| | - Hagit Cohen
- Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Ministry of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84170, Israel; (D.D.); (D.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-544-369106
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22
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Scheeringa MS. Reexamination of diathesis stress and neurotoxic stress theories: A qualitative review of pre-trauma neurobiology in relation to posttraumatic stress symptoms. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2021; 30:e1864. [PMID: 33220110 PMCID: PMC8170571 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Associations of neurobiological differences with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have generated interest in their temporal relation. Support has been voiced for the neurotoxic stress theory (NST) in which neurobiological differences develop following exposure and PTSD development. In contrast, the diathesis stress theory (DST) posits that neurobiological differences existed prior to exposure and may be vulnerability factors for PTSD. Studies in the first wave of neurobiological PTSD research were all cross sectional, but a second wave of research followed which used prospective repeated-measures designs that measured neurobiology prior to trauma exposure experiences, allowing greater causal inference. METHODS This study reviewed the second-wave studies in hopes of developing a preliminary consensus to support either the NST or the DST based on this more powerful prospective, repeated-measures study design. RESULTS Twenty-five second-wave studies were located that measured neurobiology prior to traumatic experiences. Nineteen studies supported the DST. Of 10 studies that were capable of testing the NST, only 3 were supportive. CONCLUSION The implications of the NST versus the DST have profound implications for understanding the fragility of the human brain and possible paths forward for future research on assessment, treatment, and social policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Scheeringa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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23
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Hossack MR, Reid MW, Aden JK, Gibbons T, Noe JC, Willis AM. Adverse Childhood Experience, Genes, and PTSD Risk in Soldiers: A Methylation Study. Mil Med 2021; 185:377-384. [PMID: 32976583 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epigenetics can serve as a marker of susceptibility to many known psychiatric diseases. DNA methylation patterns of multiple genes have been studied in both civilian populations and military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of these genes serve various functions that span the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system, and central nervous system (CNS) growth factors and neurotransmission. It is thought that the methylation levels of such genes may be able to identify individuals who are at higher risk of developing PTSD. Our study seeks to establish whether previously reported PTSD genes possess a particular methylation pattern that is predictive of PTSD in active duty military members with combat exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is an institutional review board (IRB)-approved, cross-sectional, case control, gene-environment interaction study. About 170 active military members with and without PTSD were recruited. Patients with a history of structural brain damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in loss of consciousness, predeployment diagnosis of PTSD or anxiety disorder, and predeployment prescription of an antidepressant or psychoactive medication were excluded. Validated measures of childhood trauma and adversity (adverse childhood experience [ACE] score), PTSD symptoms (PTSD check-list military version [PCL-M]), and combat exposure scales (CES) were measured via validated questionnaires for all subjects. After extracting DNA from peripheral blood provided by the 170 subjects, we determined methylation percentages, via pyrosequencing assays, for nine target areas within the following seven genes: BDNF, NR3C1, MAN2C1, TLR8, SLC6A4, IL-18, and SKA2. These genes are commonly reported in the literature as being highly correlated with PTSD and early-life traumatic experiences.Methylation levels were measured as a percentage at specific sites within the previously mentioned genes. Data were examined with SPSS v 22.0 Statistics and JMP v13.1 software using a general linear model for methylation × trauma (CES scores) split by diagnosis of PTSD or not, methylation versus childhood trauma (ACE scores), and methylation versus PTSD severity (PCL-M score). Two-way ANOVA was performed to control for antidepressant use. A two-tailed Student t-test was performed for PTSD analyses and was correlated with PTSD diagnosis, demographic information as well as ACE score, PCL-M score, and CES scores. RESULTS Differentially methylated sites that were highly associated with PTSD diagnosis were found in three of seven candidate genes: BDNF, NR3C1, and MAN2C1. When compared to controls, patients with PTSD diagnosis had significantly lower levels of methylation, even after controlling for antidepressant use. PCL-M, ACE, and CES scores were significantly associated with PTSD diagnosis. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that methylation of key genes involved in synaptic plasticity and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is associated with lower levels of methylation in military PTSD subjects exposed to combat when compared to their non-PTSD counterparts. Strengths of this study include controlling for antidepressant use and excluding TBI patients. Similar studies in an active duty population of this size are scarce. What is not clear is whether methylation changes are driving PTSD symptomology or whether they are merely a marker of disease. Future areas of research include prospective studies that measure methylation pre- and postcombat exposure in the same individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Hossack
- Department of Neurology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
| | - Matthew W Reid
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
| | - James K Aden
- Graduate Medical Education, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3698 Chambers Pass, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
| | - Thomas Gibbons
- Laboratory Services Branch, Clinical Investigations & Research Support, 1255 Wilford Hall Loop, BLDG 4430, Lackland AFB, TX 78236
| | - Jody C Noe
- 59 MDW/SGVUL, Clinical Research Division, 2200 Bergquist Dr, BLDG 4430, Lackland AFB, TX 78236
| | - Adam M Willis
- Department of Neurology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.,Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern, 5303 Harry Hinds Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, 428 S. Shaw Lane, Room 2555, Engineering Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1226
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24
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Castro-Vale I, Durães C, van Rossum EFC, Staufenbiel SM, Severo M, Lemos MC, Carvalho D. The Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene ( NR3C1) 9β SNP Is Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9020173. [PMID: 33562675 PMCID: PMC7915937 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9020173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with glucocorticoid (GC) hypersensitivity. Although genetic factors account for 30–46% of the variance in PTSD, no associations have been found between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GC receptor (GR) gene (NR3C1) and risk for this disorder. We studied the association of five SNPs in the GR gene (rs10052957, rs6189/rs6190, rs6195, rs41423247, and rs6198) and haplotypes with PTSD, in a group of Portuguese male war veterans (33 with lifetime PTSD, 28 without). To determine whether the 9β SNP (rs6198) was associated with chronically altered cortisol levels, we evaluated hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in a sample of 69 veterans’ offspring. The 9β variant (G allele) was significantly associated with lifetime PTSD under a dominant model of inheritance. The 9β variant was also significantly associated with severity of current PTSD symptoms. The haplotype analysis revealed an association between a common haplotype comprising the 9β risk allele and lifetime PTSD. Carriers of the 9β risk allele had significantly lower HCC than non-carriers. We found the 9β risk allele and a haplotype comprising the 9β risk allele of the GR gene to be associated with PTSD in veterans. This 9β risk allele was also associated with lower HCC in their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivone Castro-Vale
- Medical Psychology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.D.); (D.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-220426920
| | - Cecília Durães
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.D.); (D.C.)
- Ipatimup—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum
- Erasmus MC, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (E.F.C.v.R.); (S.M.S.)
| | - Sabine M. Staufenbiel
- Erasmus MC, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (E.F.C.v.R.); (S.M.S.)
| | - Milton Severo
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Predictive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Medical Education and Simulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel C. Lemos
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal;
| | - Davide Carvalho
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.D.); (D.C.)
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar S. João, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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25
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Schultebraucks K, Chang BP. The opportunities and challenges of machine learning in the acute care setting for precision prevention of posttraumatic stress sequelae. Exp Neurol 2021; 336:113526. [PMID: 33157093 PMCID: PMC7856033 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Personalized medicine is among the most exciting innovations in recent clinical research, offering the opportunity for tailored screening and management at the individual level. Biomarker-enriched clinical trials have shown increased efficiency and informativeness in cancer research due to the selective exclusion of patients unlikely to benefit. In acute stress situations, clinically significant decisions are often made in time-sensitive manners and providers may be pressed to make decisions based on abbreviated clinical assessments. Up to 30% of trauma survivors admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) will develop long-lasting posttraumatic stress psychopathologies. The long-term impact of those survivors with posttraumatic stress sequelae are significant, impacting both long-term psychological and physiological recovery. An accurate prognostic model of who will develop posttraumatic stress symptoms does not exist yet. Additionally, no scalable and cost-effective method that can be easily integrated into routine care exists, even though especially the acute care setting provides a critical window of opportunity for prevention in the so-called golden hours when preventive measures are most effective. In this review, we aim to discuss emerging machine learning (ML) applications that are promising for precisely risk stratification and targeted treatments in the acute care setting. The aim of this narrative review is to present examples of digital health innovations and to discuss the potential of these new approaches for treatment selection and prevention of posttraumatic sequelae in the acute care setting. The application of artificial intelligence-based solutions have already had great success in other areas and are rapidly approaching the field of psychological care as well. New ways of algorithm-based risk predicting, and the use of digital phenotypes provide a high potential for predicting future risk of PTSD in acute care settings and to go new steps in precision psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schultebraucks
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
| | - Bernard P Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
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26
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Schultebraucks K, Sijbrandij M, Galatzer-Levy I, Mouthaan J, Olff M, van Zuiden M. Forecasting individual risk for long-term Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in emergency medical settings using biomedical data: A machine learning multicenter cohort study. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100297. [PMID: 33553513 PMCID: PMC7843920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The necessary requirement of a traumatic event preceding the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, theoretically allows for administering preventive and early interventions in the early aftermath of such events. Machine learning models including biomedical data to forecast PTSD outcome after trauma are highly promising for detection of individuals most in need of such interventions. In the current study, machine learning was applied on biomedical data collected within 48 h post-trauma to forecast individual risk for long-term PTSD, using a multinominal approach including the full spectrum of common PTSD symptom courses within one prognostic model for the first time. N = 417 patients (37.2% females; mean age 46.09 ± 15.88) admitted with (suspected) serious injury to two urban Academic Level-1 Trauma Centers were included. Routinely collected biomedical information (endocrine measures, vital signs, pharmacotherapy, demographics, injury and trauma characteristics) upon ED admission and subsequent 48 h was used. Cross-validated multi-nominal classification of longitudinal self-reported symptom severity (IES-R) over 12 months and bimodal classification of clinician-rated PTSD diagnosis (CAPS-IV) at 12 months post-trauma was performed using extreme Gradient Boosting and evaluated on hold-out sets. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values were used to explain the derived models in human-interpretable form. Good prediction of longitudinal PTSD symptom trajectories (multiclass AUC = 0.89) and clinician-rated PTSD at 12 months (AUC = 0.89) was achieved. Most relevant prognostic variables to forecast both multinominal and dichotomous PTSD outcomes included acute endocrine and psychophysiological measures and hospital-prescribed pharmacotherapy. Thus, individual risk for long-term PTSD was accurately forecasted from biomedical information routinely collected within 48 h post-trauma. These results facilitate future targeted preventive interventions by enabling future early risk detection and provide further insights into the complex etiology of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schultebraucks
- Vagelos School of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Vrije Universiteit, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Isaac Galatzer-Levy
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joanne Mouthaan
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Miranda Olff
- ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, the Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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27
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Qing Y, van Zuiden M, Eriksson C, Lopes Cardozo B, Simon W, Ager A, Snider L, Sabin ML, Scholte W, Kaiser R, Rijnen B, Olff M. Cortisol awakening response over the course of humanitarian aid deployment: a prospective cohort study. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1816649. [PMID: 33680342 PMCID: PMC7875048 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1816649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Internationally deployed humanitarian aid (HA) workers are routinely confronted with potentially traumatic stressors. However, it remains unknown whether HA deployment and related traumatic stress are associated with long-term changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Therefore, we investigated whether cortisol awakening response (CAR) decreased upon deployment and whether this was moderated by previous and recent trauma exposure and parallel changes in symptom severity and perceived social support. Methods: In this prospective study, n = 86 HA workers (68% females) completed questionnaires regarding trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depressive symptoms and perceived social support, as well as salivary cortisol assessments at awakening and 30 minutes post-awakening at before, early and 3-6 months post-deployment. Results: Linear mixed models showed significantly decreased CAR (b(SE) = -.036(.011), p = .002) and awakening cortisol over time (b(SE) = -.007(.003), p = .014). The extent of awakening cortisol change was significantly moderated by interactions between previous and recent trauma exposure. Also, a steeper awakening cortisol decrease was significantly associated with higher mean anxiety and PTSD symptoms across assessments. No significant effects were found for social support. Conclusions: We observed attenuated CAR and awakening cortisol upon HA deployment, with a dose-response effect between trauma exposure before and during the recent deployment on awakening cortisol. Awakening cortisol change was associated with PTSD and anxiety symptom levels across assessments. Our findings support the need for organizational awareness that work-related exposures may have long-lasting biological effects. Further research assessing symptoms and biological measures in parallel is needed to translate current findings into guidelines on the individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulan Qing
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience and Public Health Research Institutes, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience and Public Health Research Institutes, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Eriksson
- Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Barbara Lopes Cardozo
- Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Alastair Ager
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Scotland, UK
| | - Leslie Snider
- The MHPSS Collaborative for Children and Families in Adversity, Save the Children Denmark, København, Denmark
| | - Miriam Lewis Sabin
- The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | - Willem Scholte
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience and Public Health Research Institutes, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,The Antares Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
| | - Reinhard Kaiser
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dulles, VA, USA
| | - Bas Rijnen
- Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience and Public Health Research Institutes, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
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Castro-Vale I, Carvalho D. The Pathways between Cortisol-Related Regulation Genes and PTSD Psychotherapy. Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:healthcare8040376. [PMID: 33019527 PMCID: PMC7712185 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8040376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only develops after exposure to a traumatic event in some individuals. PTSD can be chronic and debilitating, and is associated with co-morbidities such as depression, substance use, and cardiometabolic disorders. One of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of PTSD and its subsequent maintenance is a dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The corticotrophin-releasing hormone, cortisol, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and their respective genes are some of the mediators of PTSD's pathophysiology. Several treatments are available, including medication and psychotherapies, although their success rate is limited. Some pharmacological therapies based on the HPA axis are currently being tested in clinical trials and changes in HPA axis biomarkers have been found to occur in response not only to pharmacological treatments, but also to psychotherapy-including the epigenetic modification of the GR gene. Psychotherapies are considered to be the first line treatments for PTSD in some guidelines, even though they are effective for some, but not for all patients with PTSD. This review aims to address how knowledge of the HPA axis-related genetic makeup can inform and predict the outcomes of psychotherapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivone Castro-Vale
- Medical Psychology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Davide Carvalho
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, São João Hospital University Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal;
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Vulnerability Factors Associated with Lifetime Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Veterans 40 Years after War. Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:healthcare8040359. [PMID: 32987683 PMCID: PMC7711782 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8040359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Vulnerability factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development are still controversial. Our aim was to study the vulnerability factors for the development of war-related PTSD over a period of 40 years after exposure. A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out on 61 male traumatized war veterans, taking into consideration adverse childhood experiences (ACE), attachment orientations, number of non-war-related traumatic events, and war experiences. Lifetime PTSD was assessed by using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Insecure attachment styles were significantly associated with lifetime PTSD and even after adjustment for war exposure this was still significant. Non-war-related traumatic events were not associated with lifetime PTSD, whereas ACE were associated with lifetime PTSD. War-related experiences were also associated with lifetime PTSD, except for injury or disease. The results for our sample show that, 40 years after war, the intensity of war-related experiences and ACE were significantly and independently associated with the development of lifetime PTSD. Insecure attachment was significantly associated with lifetime PTSD, which, in turn, are both positively associated with war exposure. These findings may have implications for patient care, as they constitute a strong argument that attachment-focused therapies could well be necessary 40 years after trauma.
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30
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Petrowski K, Wichmann S, Pyrc J, Steudte-Schmiedgen S, Kirschbaum C. Hair cortisol predicts avoidance behavior and depressiveness after first-time and single-event trauma exposure in motor vehicle crash victims. Stress 2020; 23:567-576. [PMID: 31939338 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1714585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of cortisol as a premorbid vulnerability factor for trauma sequelae remains unclear. Furthermore, the onset of long-term endocrine changes in response to first-time trauma as a function of later psychopathology is not clarified yet. Thus the predictive value of pre- and post-traumatic hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) for psychological trauma sequelae was investigated in response to motor vehicle crash (MVC). A total of N= 62 MVC survivors participated in this study (46 females, mean age (SD): 43.94(12.95)). Subsequent trauma sequelae were measured with a structured clinical interview and self-report questionnaires to evaluate psychological symptoms (pre-MVC and three months post-MVC). Hair strands were taken immediately after MVC and three months post-MVC, reflecting cumulative cortisol secretion over the three-month period before and after the MVC. A total of 22.6% of the participants developed a trauma sequela with an affective disorder (14.5%) and/or anxiety disorder (16.1%). We observed a significant main effect of group and diagnosis × time interaction with an increase of HCC in those individuals who presented a subsequent psychiatric disorder. Regression analyses revealed that post-MVC increased HCC were significantly predictive of higher levels of subsequent depressiveness, and that pre-MVC increased HCC were predictive of higher levels of subsequent avoidance behavior. Our findings demonstrate that individual differences in long-term cortisol secretion in response to a first-time traumatic event (MVC) contribute to subsequent psychopathology. Specifically, higher long-term cortisol secretion before and after first-time MVC was a risk factor for subsequent development of avoidance behavior and depressiveness, respectively.Lay summaryHigher cortisol secretion and stress experience before a motor vehicle crash was a risk factor for subsequent development of psychological symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Petrowski
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Susann Wichmann
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jaroslav Pyrc
- Department of Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Technische Universität Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Linnstaedt SD, Zannas AS, McLean SA, Koenen KC, Ressler KJ. Literature review and methodological considerations for understanding circulating risk biomarkers following trauma exposure. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1986-1999. [PMID: 31863020 PMCID: PMC7305050 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to traumatic events is common. While many individuals recover following trauma exposure, a substantial subset develop adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS) such as posttraumatic stress, major depression, and regional or widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain. APNS cause substantial burden to the individual and to society, causing functional impairment and physical disability, risk for suicide, lost workdays, and increased health care costs. Contemporary treatment is limited by an inability to identify individuals at high risk of APNS in the immediate aftermath of trauma, and an inability to identify optimal treatments for individual patients. Our purpose is to provide a comprehensive review describing candidate blood-based biomarkers that may help to identify those at high risk of APNS and/or guide individual intervention decision-making. Such blood-based biomarkers include circulating biological factors such as hormones, proteins, immune molecules, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, mRNA, and noncoding RNA expression signatures, while we do not review genetic and epigenetic biomarkers due to other recent reviews of this topic. The current state of the literature on circulating risk biomarkers of APNS is summarized, and key considerations and challenges for their discovery and translation are discussed. We also describe the AURORA study, a specific example of current scientific efforts to identify such circulating risk biomarkers and the largest study to date focused on identifying risk and prognostic factors in the aftermath of trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anthony S Zannas
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
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A validated predictive algorithm of post-traumatic stress course following emergency department admission after a traumatic stressor. Nat Med 2020; 26:1084-1088. [PMID: 32632194 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-0951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Annually, approximately 30 million patients are discharged from the emergency department (ED) after a traumatic event1. These patients are at substantial psychiatric risk, with approximately 10-20% developing one or more disorders, including anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)2-4. At present, no accurate method exists to predict the development of PTSD symptoms upon ED admission after trauma5. Accurate risk identification at the point of treatment by ED services is necessary to inform the targeted deployment of existing treatment6-9 to mitigate subsequent psychopathology in high-risk populations10,11. This work reports the development and validation of an algorithm for prediction of post-traumatic stress course over 12 months using two independently collected prospective cohorts of trauma survivors from two level 1 emergency trauma centers, which uses routinely collectible data from electronic medical records, along with brief clinical assessments of the patient's immediate stress reaction. Results demonstrate externally validated accuracy to discriminate PTSD risk with high precision. While the predictive algorithm yields useful reproducible results on two independent prospective cohorts of ED patients, future research should extend the generalizability to the broad, clinically heterogeneous ED population under conditions of routine medical care.
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Somvanshi PR, Mellon SH, Yehuda R, Flory JD, Makotkine I, Bierer L, Marmar C, Jett M, Doyle FJ. Role of enhanced glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity in inflammation in PTSD: insights from computational model for circadian-neuroendocrine-immune interactions. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2020; 319:E48-E66. [PMID: 32315214 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00398.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Although glucocorticoid resistance contributes to increased inflammation, individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) sensitivity along with increased inflammation. It is not clear how inflammation coexists with a hyperresponsive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. To understand this better, we developed and analyzed an integrated mathematical model for the HPA axis and the immune system. We performed mathematical simulations for a dexamethasone (DEX) suppression test and IC50-dexamethasone for cytokine suppression by varying model parameters. The model analysis suggests that increasing the steepness of the dose-response curve for GR activity may reduce anti-inflammatory effects of GRs at the ambient glucocorticoid levels, thereby increasing proinflammatory response. The adaptive response of proinflammatory cytokine-mediated stimulatory effects on the HPA axis is reduced due to dominance of the GR-mediated negative feedback on the HPA axis. To verify these hypotheses, we analyzed the clinical data on neuroendocrine variables and cytokines obtained from war-zone veterans with and without PTSD. We observed significant group differences for cortisol and ACTH suppression tests, proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, promoter methylation of GR gene, and IC50-DEX for lysozyme suppression. Causal inference modeling revealed significant associations between cortisol suppression and post-DEX cortisol decline, promoter methylation of human GR gene exon 1F (NR3C1-1F), IC50-DEX, and proinflammatory cytokines. We noted significant mediation effects of NR3C1-1F promoter methylation on inflammatory cytokines through changes in GR sensitivity. Our findings suggest that increased GR sensitivity may contribute to increased inflammation; therefore, interventions to restore GR sensitivity may normalize inflammation in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod R Somvanshi
- Harvard John Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Synthia H Mellon
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Janine D Flory
- Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Iouri Makotkine
- Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Linda Bierer
- Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Charles Marmar
- Department of Psychiatry, New York Langone Medical School, New York, New York
| | - Marti Jett
- Integrative Systems Biology, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research (USACEHR), Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Francis J Doyle
- Harvard John Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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The role of glucocorticoid receptors in the induction and prevention of hippocampal abnormalities in an animal model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2125-2137. [PMID: 32333135 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05523-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Since the precise mechanisms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remain unknown, effective treatment interventions have not yet been established. Numerous clinical studies have led to the hypothesis that elevated glucocorticoid levels in response to extreme stress might trigger a pathophysiological cascade which consequently leads to functional and morphological changes in the hippocampus. OBJECTIVES To elucidate the pathophysiology of PTSD, we examined the alteration of hippocampal gene expression through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the single prolonged stress (SPS) paradigm, a rat model of PTSD. METHODS We measured nuclear GRs by western blot, and the binding of GR to the promoter of Bcl-2 and Bax genes by chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR as well as the expression of these 2 genes by RT-PCR in the hippocampus of SPS rats. In addition, we examined the preventive effects of a GR antagonist on SPS-induced molecular, morphological, and behavioral alterations (hippocampal gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, hippocampal apoptosis using TUNEL staining, impaired fear memory extinction (FME) using the contextual fear conditioning paradigm). RESULTS Exposure to SPS increased nuclear GR expression and GR binding to Bcl-2 gene, and decreased Bcl-2 mRNA expression. Administration of GR antagonist immediately after SPS prevented activation of the glucocorticoid cascade, hippocampal apoptosis, and impairment FME in SPS rats. CONCLUSION The activation of GRs in response to severe stress may trigger the pathophysiological cascade leading to impaired FME and hippocampal apoptosis. In contrast, administration of GR antagonist could be useful for preventing the development of PTSD.
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Engel S, van Zuiden M, Frijling JL, Koch SBJ, Nawijn L, Yildiz RLW, Schumacher S, Knaevelsrud C, Bosch JA, Veltman DJ, Olff M. Early posttraumatic autonomic and endocrine markers to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms after a preventive intervention with oxytocin. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1761622. [PMID: 32922686 PMCID: PMC7448939 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1761622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficient prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) needs to target individuals with an increased risk for adverse outcome after trauma. Prognostic or prescriptive biological markers assessed early posttrauma may inform personalized treatment recommendations. OBJECTIVE To test prognostic and prescriptive effects of early (posttraumatic) autonomic and endocrine markers on PTSD symptom development. METHOD Autonomic and endocrine markers were assessed within 12 days posttrauma and before treatment initiation within a randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating repeated oxytocin administration as preventive intervention for PTSD. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the effects of heart rate (variability), resting cortisol, morning cortisol and cortisol awakening response (CAR), cortisol suppression by dexamethasone and resting oxytocin on PTSD symptoms 1.5, 3 and 6 months posttrauma in men (n = 54), women using hormonal contraception (n = 27) and cycling women (n = 19). RESULTS We found significant prognostic effects of resting oxytocin and cortisol suppression. In women using hormonal contraception, higher oxytocin was associated with higher PTSD symptoms across follow-up. Stronger cortisol suppression by dexamethasone, reflecting increased glucocorticoid receptor feedback sensitivity, was associated with lower PTSD symptoms across follow-up in men, but with higher symptoms at 1.5 months in women using hormonal contraception. These effects were independent of treatment condition. No further significant prognostic or prescriptive effects were detected. CONCLUSION Our exploratory study indicates that resting oxytocin and glucocorticoid receptor feedback sensitivity early posttrauma are associated with subsequent PTSD symptom severity. Notably, prognostic effects depended on sex and hormonal contraception use, emphasizing the necessity to consider these factors in biomedical PTSD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinha Engel
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jessie L Frijling
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia B J Koch
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Nawijn
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rinde L W Yildiz
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Schumacher
- Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Knaevelsrud
- Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jos A Bosch
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick J Veltman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Miranda Olff
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen, The Netherlands
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Verbitsky A, Dopfel D, Zhang N. Rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder: behavioral assessment. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:132. [PMID: 32376819 PMCID: PMC7203017 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0806-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the etiology and expression of psychiatric disorders are complex, mammals show biologically preserved behavioral and neurobiological responses to valent stimuli which underlie the use of rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a complex phenotype that is difficult to model in rodents because it is diagnosed by patient interview and influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. However, given that PTSD results from traumatic experiences, rodent models can simulate stress induction and disorder development. By manipulating stress type, intensity, duration, and frequency, preclinical models reflect core PTSD phenotypes, measured through various behavioral assays. Paradigms precipitate the disorder by applying physical, social, and psychological stressors individually or in combination. This review discusses the methods used to trigger and evaluate PTSD-like phenotypes. It highlights studies employing each stress model and evaluates their translational efficacies against DSM-5, validity criteria, and criteria proposed by Yehuda and Antelman's commentary in 1993. This is intended to aid in paradigm selection by informing readers about rodent models, their benefits to the clinical community, challenges associated with the translational models, and opportunities for future work. To inform PTSD model validity and relevance to human psychopathology, we propose that models incorporate behavioral test batteries, individual differences, sex differences, strain and stock differences, early life stress effects, biomarkers, stringent success criteria for drug development, Research Domain Criteria, technological advances, and cross-species comparisons. We conclude that, despite the challenges, animal studies will be pivotal to advances in understanding PTSD and the neurobiology of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Verbitsky
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David Dopfel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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37
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Mehta D, Miller O, Bruenig D, David G, Shakespeare-Finch J. A Systematic Review of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Studies in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Growth, and Resilience. J Trauma Stress 2020; 33:171-180. [PMID: 31951051 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Most people will experience a traumatic event within their lifetime. One commonly recognized response to trauma exposure is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The biological underpinnings of PTSD, including epigenetic mechanisms of DNA methylation and gene expression, have been studied intensively. However, psychological posttrauma responses vary widely and can include positive outcomes, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG) and, more commonly, resilience. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the current DNA methylation and gene expression data with respect to three potential posttrauma responses: PTSD, PTG, and resilience. A literature search identified 486 studies, 51 of which were deemed eligible for inclusion (total N = 10,633). All included studies examined PTSD and consistently implicated DNA methylation and gene expression changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammatory genes. Ten studies acknowledged resilience as a posttrauma response, but only two studies examined epigenetics and gene expression using a scale to measure resilience. Low resilience was associated with gene expression patterns in immune and dopamine genes, and high resilience was associated with a blunted inflammatory response. No studies examined epigenetic or gene expression changes associated with PTG. These findings highlight a focus on pathogenic research, which has failed to adequately acknowledge and measure positive posttrauma outcomes of PTG and resilience. Future research should examine DNA methylation and gene expression changes associated with PTG and resilience in addition to PTSD in order to gain a more comprehensive picture of an individual's well-being following exposure to trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Mehta
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Olivia Miller
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Georgina David
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Jane Shakespeare-Finch
- School of Psychology and Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
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Cai N, Fňašková M, Konečná K, Fojtová M, Fajkus J, Coomber E, Watt S, Soranzo N, Preiss M, Rektor I. No Evidence of Persistence or Inheritance of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants. Front Genet 2020; 11:87. [PMID: 32211017 PMCID: PMC7069217 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA copy number has been previously shown to be elevated with severe and chronic stress, as well as stress-related pathology like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While experimental data point to likely recovery of mtDNA copy number changes after the stressful event, time needed for full recovery and whether it can be achieved are still unknown. Further, while it has been shown that stress-related mtDNA elevation affects multiple tissues, its specific consequences for oogenesis and maternal inheritance of mtDNA has never been explored. In this study, we used qPCR to quantify mtDNA copy number in 15 Holocaust survivors and 102 of their second- and third-generation descendants from the Czech Republic, many of whom suffer from PTSD, and compared them to controls in the respective generations. We found no significant difference in mtDNA copy number in the Holocaust survivors compared to controls, whether they have PTSD or not, and no significant elevation in descendants of female Holocaust survivors as compared to descendants of male survivors or controls. Our results showed no evidence of persistence or inheritance of mtDNA changes in Holocaust survivors, though that does not rule out effects in other tissues or mitigating mechanism for such changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Cai
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom.,European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Monika Fňašková
- Neuroscience Centre, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,1st Neurology Department, Hospital St Anne and School of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Klára Konečná
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Miloslava Fojtová
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Eve Coomber
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Watt
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Soranzo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Marek Preiss
- Neuroscience Centre, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ivan Rektor
- Neuroscience Centre, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms govern the transcription of the genome. Research with model systems reveals that environmental conditions can directly influence epigenetic mechanisms that are associated with interindividual differences in gene expression in brain and neural function. In this review, we provide a brief overview of epigenetic mechanisms and research with relevant rodent models. We emphasize more recent translational research programs in epigenetics as well as the challenges inherent in the integration of epigenetics into developmental and clinical psychology. Our objectives are to present an update with respect to the translational relevance of epigenetics for the study of psychopathology and to consider the state of current research with respect to its potential importance for clinical research and practice in mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran J O'Donnell
- Department of Psychiatry and Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada; .,Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1R4, Canada.,Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry and Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada; .,Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada.,Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 117609 Singapore.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore
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40
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González Ramírez C, Villavicencio Queijeiro A, Jiménez Morales S, Bárcenas López D, Hidalgo Miranda A, Ruiz Chow A, Tellez Cárdenas L, Guardado Estrada M. The NR3C1 gene expression is a potential surrogate biomarker for risk and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Res 2020; 284:112797. [PMID: 31982660 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which occurs after a traumatic event. The NR3C1 gene codes for the Glucocorticoid Receptor, which participate in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and is altered in PTSD patients. To evaluate whether the NR3C1 gene expression in peripheral blood could be useful as a diagnosis biomarker, a total of 32 PTSD patients and 59 healthy controls were analyzed with quantitative RT-PCR. Also, to assess if NR3C1 dysregulation is associated with hypocortisolism in PTSD patients, serum cortisol was quantified by ELISA in a subset of these samples. Significant NR3C1 over-expression was found in PTSD patients compared with controls, and this was higher in patients with acute PTSD. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) of NR3C1 gene expression was 0.797. The sensibility and specificity of NRC1 gene expression to diagnose PTSD was 62.5% and 89.8%, respectively. We also found that an up-regulation of NR3C1 increased the risk for being diagnosed with PTSD (OR= 12.8, 95%, CI 4-41.4). Finally, the NR3C1 gene expression was inversely related with serum cortisol in PTSD patients. The present results suggest that NR3C1 gene expression could be a promising biomarker for PTSD diagnosis and estimate the risk for disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia González Ramírez
- Laboratorio de Genética de la Licenciatura en Ciencia Forense, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
| | - Alexa Villavicencio Queijeiro
- Laboratorio de Genética de la Licenciatura en Ciencia Forense, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
| | | | - Diego Bárcenas López
- Laboratorio Genómica del Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico
| | | | - Angel Ruiz Chow
- Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Mexico
| | | | - Mariano Guardado Estrada
- Laboratorio de Genética de la Licenciatura en Ciencia Forense, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
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The behavioral and neurochemical effects of methylprednisolone or metyrapone in a post-traumatic stress disorder rat model. North Clin Istanb 2020; 6:327-333. [PMID: 31909376 PMCID: PMC6936935 DOI: 10.14744/nci.2019.69345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Mechanisms contributing to the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that involve several physiological systems, and the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is one of the most known systems in the PTSD pathophysiology. The present study investigates the potential effects of methylprednisolone, metyrapone and their association with the noradrenergic system within the rostral pons, a region containing the locus coeruleus (LC) in a rat model of PTSD induced with predator scent. METHODS: In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to the stress by exposure to the scent of dirty cat litter, which is a natural stressor of a predator. One week later, the rats were re-exposed to a situational reminder (clean cat litter). The rats were treated using either methylprednisolone, metyrapone or physiological saline before exposure to a situational reminder (n=8 in each group). Noradrenaline (NA) levels in the rostral pons homogenates were analysed using ELISA. RESULTS: The anxiety indices of the rats exposed to the trauma were found to be significantly higher than the anxiety indices of the control rats. Metyrapone produced a significant increase in the anxiety indices of the non-stressed rats, and methylprednisolone did not produce a change in the anxiety indices of the non-stressed rats. Methylprednisolone treatment suppressed the anxiety in the stressed rats. Metyrapone treatment increased the anxiety indices in the stressed rats but still being lower than that of the saline-treated stressed rats. Significant decrease in the freezing time was observed following the methylprednisolone treatment both in the stressed and non-stressed rats. NA content in the rostral pons of the stressed rats was significantly higher than that of the non-stressed rats. Methylprednisolone or metyrapone treatments decreased the NA content in the non-stressed rats as compared to the saline treatment. However, these decreases were not significant. CONCLUSION: In this study, findings suggest that stress may give rise to endocrine, autonomic and behavioural responses. The anxiety indices and NA levels in the rostral pons increased with the traumatic event. The methylprednisolone treatment may suppress anxiety through interactions between the LC and the HPA axis.
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Towards precision medicine for stress disorders: diagnostic biomarkers and targeted drugs. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:918-938. [PMID: 30862937 PMCID: PMC7192849 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The biological fingerprint of environmental adversity may be key to understanding health and disease, as it encompasses the damage induced as well as the compensatory reactions of the organism. Metabolic and hormonal changes may be an informative but incomplete window into the underlying biology. We endeavored to identify objective blood gene expression biomarkers for psychological stress, a subjective sensation with biological roots. To quantify the stress perception at a particular moment in time, we used a simple visual analog scale for life stress in psychiatric patients, a high-risk group. Then, using a stepwise discovery, prioritization, validation, and testing in independent cohort design, we were successful in identifying gene expression biomarkers that were predictive of high-stress states and of future psychiatric hospitalizations related to stress, more so when personalized by gender and diagnosis. One of the top biomarkers that survived discovery, prioritization, validation, and testing was FKBP5, a well-known gene involved in stress response, which serves as a de facto reassuring positive control. We also compared our biomarker findings with telomere length (TL), another well-established biological marker of psychological stress and show that newly identified predictive biomarkers such as NUB1, APOL3, MAD1L1, or NKTR are comparable or better state or trait predictors of stress than TL or FKBP5. Over half of the top predictive biomarkers for stress also had prior evidence of involvement in suicide, and the majority of them had evidence in other psychiatric disorders, providing a molecular underpinning for the effects of stress in those disorders. Some of the biomarkers are targets of existing drugs, of potential utility in patient stratification, and pharmacogenomics approaches. Based on our studies and analyses, the biomarkers with the best overall convergent functional evidence (CFE) for involvement in stress were FKBP5, DDX6, B2M, LAIR1, RTN4, and NUB1. Moreover, the biomarker gene expression signatures yielded leads for possible new drug candidates and natural compounds upon bioinformatics drug repurposing analyses, such as calcium folinate and betulin. Our work may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for stress disorders such as PTSD, that result in decreased quality of life and adverse outcomes, including addictions, violence, and suicide.
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Maguire DG, Ruddock MW, Milanak ME, Moore T, Cobice D, Armour C. Sleep, a Governor of Morbidity in PTSD: A Systematic Review of Biological Markers in PTSD-Related Sleep Disturbances. Nat Sci Sleep 2020; 12:545-562. [PMID: 32801980 PMCID: PMC7402856 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s260734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep disturbances (SD) are the most impactful and commonly reported symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, they are often resistant to primary PTSD therapies. Research has identified two distinct SDs highly prevalent in PTSD; insomnia and nightmares. Those who report SDs prior to a traumatic event are at greater risk for developing PTSD; highlighting that sleep potentially plays a role in PTSD's pathology. To further understand the pathobiological mechanisms that lead to the development of PTSD, it is first imperative to understand the interplay which exists between sleep and PTSD on a biological level. The aim of this systematic review is to determine if biological or physiological markers are related to SD in PTSD. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted on the electronic databases; Medline, Embase, AMED and PsycINFO, using Medical Subject Headings and associated keywords. RESULTS Sixteen studies were included in the final analyses. Physiological makers of autonomic function, and biochemical markers of HPA-axis activity; inflammatory processes; and trophic factor regulation were related to the severity of SDs in PTSD. CONCLUSION These findings add to the growing literature base supporting a central focus on sleep in research aiming to define the pathophysiological processes which result in PTSD, as well as emphasising the importance of specifically targeting sleep as part of a successful PTSD intervention strategy. Resolving SDs will not only reduce PTSD symptom severity and improve quality of life but will also reduce all-cause mortality, hospital admissions and lifetime healthcare costs for those with PTSD. Limitations of the current literature are discussed, and key recommendations future research must adhere to are made within.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Maguire
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Mark W Ruddock
- Randox Laboratories Ltd, Clinical Studies, Crumlin, County Antrim BT29 4QY, Northern Ireland
| | - Melissa E Milanak
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Tara Moore
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Diego Cobice
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Cherie Armour
- School of Psychology, David Keir Building, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5BN, Northern Ireland
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Lebow MA, Schroeder M, Tsoory M, Holzman-Karniel D, Mehta D, Ben-Dor S, Gil S, Bradley B, Smith AK, Jovanovic T, Ressler KJ, Binder EB, Chen A. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper "quantifies" stressors and increases male susceptibility to PTSD. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:178. [PMID: 31346158 PMCID: PMC6658561 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0509-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) selectively develops in some individuals exposed to a traumatic event. Genetic and epigenetic changes in glucocorticoid pathway sensitivity may be essential for understanding individual susceptibility to PTSD. This study focuses on PTSD markers in the glucocorticoid pathway, spotlighting glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ), a transcription factor encoded by the gene Tsc22d3 on the X chromosome. We propose that GILZ uniquely "quantifies" exposure to stressors experienced from late gestation to adulthood and that low levels of GILZ predispose individuals to PTSD in males only. GILZ mRNA and methylation were measured in 396 male and female human blood samples from the Grady Trauma Project cohort (exposed to multiple traumatic events). In mice, changes in glucocorticoid pathway genes were assessed following exposure to stressors at distinct time points: (i) CRF-induced prenatal stress (CRF-inducedPNS) with, or without, additional exposure to (ii) PTSD induction protocol in adulthood, which induces PTSD-like behaviors in a subset of mice. In humans, the number of traumatic events correlated negatively with GILZ mRNA levels and positively with % methylation of GILZ in males only. In male mice, we observed a threefold increase in the number of offspring exhibiting PTSD-like behaviors in those exposed to both CRF-inducedPNS and PTSD induction. This susceptibility was associated with reduced GILZ mRNA levels and epigenetic changes, not found in females. Furthermore, virus-mediated shRNA knockdown of amygdalar GILZ increased susceptibility to PTSD. Mouse and human data confirm that dramatic alterations in GILZ occur in those exposed to a stressor in early life, adulthood or both. Therefore, GILZ levels may help identify at-risk populations for PTSD prior to additional traumatic exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya A. Lebow
- 0000 0004 0604 7563grid.13992.30Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel ,0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Mariana Schroeder
- 0000 0004 0604 7563grid.13992.30Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel ,0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Tsoory
- 0000 0004 0604 7563grid.13992.30Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dorin Holzman-Karniel
- 0000 0004 0604 7563grid.13992.30Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Divya Mehta
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- 0000 0004 0604 7563grid.13992.30Department of Biological Services, Bioinformatics and Biological Computing Unit, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shosh Gil
- 0000 0004 0604 7563grid.13992.30Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bekh Bradley
- 0000 0004 0419 4084grid.414026.5Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA USA ,0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Alicia K. Smith
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany ,0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel. .,Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany.
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Spencer-Segal JL, Akil H. Glucocorticoids and resilience. Horm Behav 2019; 111:131-134. [PMID: 30448249 PMCID: PMC7384477 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
All organisms endure frequent challenges to homeostasis, or stressors, that require adaptation. Depending on the individual, the context, and the magnitude of stress, this active adaptation can lead to behavioral susceptibility or resilience. The latter is an under-appreciated consequence of stress, as the damaging effects of chronic stress and chronically elevated glucocorticoids have received much more attention. We suggest here that neural pathways promoting resilience are initiated at the time of stress, and that they involve glucocorticoid signaling. By focusing on the neurobiology of resilience induction and the identification of vulnerable individuals, we may be able to intervene in the future at the time of stress to promote positive adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L Spencer-Segal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America; Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America.
| | - Huda Akil
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
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van Zuiden M, Savas M, Koch SB, Nawijn L, Staufenbiel SM, Frijling JL, Veltman DJ, van Rossum EF, Olff M. Associations Among Hair Cortisol Concentrations, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Status, and Amygdala Reactivity to Negative Affective Stimuli in Female Police Officers. J Trauma Stress 2019; 32:238-248. [PMID: 30883913 PMCID: PMC6593697 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Measurement of hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) allows retrospective assessment of HPA axis regulation over prolonged periods of time. Currently, research investigating HCC in PTSD remains sparse. Previous cross-sectional studies have included only civilian populations, although it is known that trauma type moderates associations between PTSD status and HPA axis function. We investigated differences in HCC between trauma-exposed female police officers with current PTSD (n = 13) and without current and lifetime PTSD (n = 15). To investigate whether HCC was associated with neural correlates of PTSD, we additionally performed exploratory correlational analyses between HCC and amygdala reactivity to negative affective stimuli. We observed significantly lower HCC in participants with PTSD than in participants without PTSD, d = 0.89. Additionally, within participants with PTSD, we observed positive correlations between HCC and right amygdala reactivity to negative affective (vs. happy/neutral) faces, r = .806 (n = 11) and left amygdala reactivity to negative affective (vs. neutral) pictures, r = .663 (n = 10). Additionally, left amygdala reactivity to negative faces was positively correlated with HCC in trauma-exposed controls, r = .582 (n = 13). This indicates that lower HCC is associated with diminished amygdala differentiation between negative affective and neutral stimuli. Thus, we observed lower HCC in trauma-exposed noncivilian women with PTSD compared to those without PTSD, which likely reflects prolonged HPA axis dysregulation. Additionally, HCC was associated with hallmark neurobiological correlates of PTSD, providing additional insights into pathophysiological processes in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam University Medical Centers–Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Mesut Savas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical CenterUniversity Medical Center RotterdamRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Saskia B.J. Koch
- Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam University Medical Centers–Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University–NijmegenNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Laura Nawijn
- Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam University Medical Centers–Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Sabine M. Staufenbiel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical CenterUniversity Medical Center RotterdamRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Jessie L. Frijling
- Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam University Medical Centers–Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Dick J. Veltman
- Department of PsychiatryAmsterdam University Medical Centers–VU University Medical CenterAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth F.C. van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical CenterUniversity Medical Center RotterdamRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam University Medical Centers–Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands,Arq Psychotrauma Expert GroupDiementhe Netherlands
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Abstract
This review examines the putative link between glucocorticoid and hippocampal abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) sensitivity in PTSD may permit enhanced negative feedback inhibition of cortisol at the pituitary, hypothalamus, or other brain regions comprising the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and would be expected to affect other physiological systems that are regulated by glucocorticoids. Molecular and transcriptional studies of cortisol are consistent with the hypothesis that cortisol actions may be amplified in PTSD as a result of enhanced GR sensitivity in monocytes and some brain regions, although cortisol levels themselves are unchanged and oftentimes lower than normal. Concurrently, magnetic resonance imaging studies have demonstrated that individuals with PTSD have smaller hippocampal volume than individuals without PTSD. Initial hypotheses regarding the mechanism underlying hippocampal alterations in PTSD focused on elevated glucocorticoid levels in combination with extreme stress as the primary cause, but this explanation has not been well supported in human studies. Lack of data from neuroimaging studies preclude a firm link between PTSD onset and hippocampal volume changes. Rather, the available evidence is consistent with the possibility that smaller hippocampal volume (like reduced cortisol levels and enhanced GR sensitivity) may be a vulnerability factor for developing the disorder; limitations of hippocampal-based models of PTSD are described. We further review neuroimaging studies examining hippocampal structure and function following manipulation of glucocorticoid levels and also examining changes in the hippocampus in relationship to other brain regions. Evidence that the GR may be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of PTSD, especially for functions subserved by the hippocampus, is discussed. Implications of the current review for future research are described, with an emphasis on the need to integrate findings of glucocorticoid abnormalities with functional-imaging paradigms to formulate a comprehensive model of HPA-axis functioning in PTSD.
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Dunlop BW, Wong A. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in PTSD: Pathophysiology and treatment interventions. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:361-379. [PMID: 30342071 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Questions of how altered functioning of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis contribute to the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been the focus of extensive animal and human research. As a rule, results have been inconsistent across studies, likely due to a variety of confounding variables that have received inadequate attention. Important confounding factors include the effects of early life stress, biological sex, and the glucocorticoid used for interventions. In this manuscript we review: 1) the literature on identified abnormalities of HPA axis function in PTSD, both in terms of basal functioning and as part of challenge paradigms; 2) the role of HPA axis function pre- and immediately post-trauma as a risk factor for PTSD development; 3) the impact of HPA axis genes' allelic variants and epigenetic modifications on PTSD risk; 4) the contributions of HPA axis components to fear learning and extinction; and 5) therapeutic manipulations of the HPA axis to both prevent and treat PTSD, including the role of glucocorticoids as part of medication enhanced psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boadie W Dunlop
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Andrea Wong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two complex and debilitating psychiatric disorders that result in poor life and destructive behaviors against self and others. Currently, diagnosis is based on subjective rather than objective determinations leading to misdiagnose and ineffective treatments. Advances in novel neurobiological methods have allowed assessment of promising biomarkers to diagnose depression and PTSD, which offers a new means of appropriately treating patients. Areas covered: Biomarkers discovery in blood represents a fundamental tool to predict, diagnose, and monitor treatment efficacy in depression and PTSD. The potential role of altered HPA axis, epigenetics, NPY, BDNF, neurosteroid biosynthesis, the endocannabinoid system, and their function as biomarkers for mood disorders is discussed. Insofar, we propose the identification of a biomarker axis to univocally identify and discriminate disorders with large comorbidity and symptoms overlap, so as to provide a base of support for development of targeted treatments. We also weigh in on the feasibility of a future blood test for early diagnosis. Expert commentary: Potential biomarkers have already been assessed in patients' blood and need to be further validated through multisite large clinical trial stratification. Another challenge is to assess the relation among several interdependent biomarkers to form an axis that identifies a specific disorder and secures the best-individualized treatment. The future of blood-based tests for PTSD and depression is not only on the horizon but, possibly, already around the corner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Aspesi
- a The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Graziano Pinna
- a The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
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Yehuda R, Lehrner A. Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry 2018; 17:243-257. [PMID: 30192087 PMCID: PMC6127768 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reviews the research evidence concerning the intergenerational transmission of trauma effects and the possible role of epigenetic mechanisms in this transmission. Two broad categories of epigenetically mediated effects are highlighted. The first involves developmentally programmed effects. These can result from the influence of the offspring's early environmental exposures, including postnatal maternal care as well as in utero exposure reflecting maternal stress during pregnancy. The second includes epigenetic changes associated with a preconception trauma in parents that may affect the germline, and impact fetoplacental interactions. Several factors, such as sex-specific epigenetic effects following trauma exposure and parental developmental stage at the time of exposure, explain different effects of maternal and paternal trauma. The most compelling work to date has been done in animal models, where the opportunity for controlled designs enables clear interpretations of transmissible effects. Given the paucity of human studies and the methodological challenges in conducting such studies, it is not possible to attribute intergenerational effects in humans to a single set of biological or other determinants at this time. Elucidating the role of epigenetic mechanisms in intergenerational effects through prospective, multi-generational studies may ultimately yield a cogent understanding of how individual, cultural and societal experiences permeate our biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Yehuda
- James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx, NY, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amy Lehrner
- James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx, NY, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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