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Feng S, Wu Z, Zheng X, Shao Z, Lin Q, Sun S. Abnormal levels of expression of microRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with traumatic brain injury are induced by microglial activation and correlated with severity of injury. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:188. [PMID: 38504296 PMCID: PMC10953077 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01790-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia play a crucial role in regulating the progression of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In specific, microglia can self-activate and secrete various substances that exacerbate or alleviate the neuroimmune response to TBI. In addition, microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the functional regulation of microglia. However, molecular markers that reflect the dynamics of TBI have not yet been found in peripheral tissues. METHODS Paired samples of peripheral blood were collected from patients with TBI before and after treatment. Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to identify the main pathways and biological functions of TBI-related miRNAs in the samples. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide-treated human microglia were used to construct a cellular immune-activation model. This was combined with analysis of peripheral blood samples to screen for highly expressed miRNAs derived from activated microglia after TBI treatment. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of these miRNAs, allowing their relationship with the severity of TBI to be examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to analyse the clinical utility of these miRNAs for determining the extent of TBI. RESULTS Sequencing results showed that 37 miRNAs were differentially expressed in peripheral blood samples from patients with TBI before and after treatment, with 17 miRNAs being upregulated and 20 miRNAs being downregulated after treatment. The expression profiles of these miRNAs were verified in microglial inflammation models and in the abovementioned peripheral blood samples. The results showed that hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-193b-3p were highly expressed in the peripheral blood of patients with TBI after treatment and that the expression levels of these miRNAs were correlated with the patients' scores on the Glasgow Coma Scale. ROC curve analysis revealed that abnormally high levels of expression of hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-193b-3p in peripheral blood have some clinical utility for distinguishing different extents of TBI and thus could serve as biomarkers of TBI. CONCLUSION Abnormally high levels of expression of hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-193b-3p in the peripheral blood of patients with TBI were due to the activation of microglia and correlated with the severity of TBI. This discovery may help to increase understanding of the molecular pathology of TBI and guide the development of new strategies for TBI therapy based on microglial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qingdao Huangdao District People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266400, China
| | - Zhangying Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Qingdao Huangdao District People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266400, China
| | - Xianping Zheng
- Intensive Care Unit, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255024, China
| | - Zhiwei Shao
- Intensive Care Unit, Qingdao Huangdao District People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266400, China
| | - Qiang Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Shoutian Sun
- Department of Emergency, Zibo Central Hospital, No. 54 Gongqingtuan Road, Zhangdian District, Zibo, 255024, China.
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Rivi V, Rigillo G, Toscano Y, Benatti C, Blom JMC. Narrative Review of the Complex Interaction between Pain and Trauma in Children: A Focus on Biological Memory, Preclinical Data, and Epigenetic Processes. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1217. [PMID: 37508714 PMCID: PMC10378710 DOI: 10.3390/children10071217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and collective impact of early adverse experiences, trauma, and pain continue to increase. This underscores the urgent need for translational efforts between clinical and preclinical research to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective therapeutic approaches. As our understanding of these issues improves from studies in children and adolescents, we can create more precise preclinical models and ultimately translate our findings back to clinical practice. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for addressing the complex and wide-ranging effects of these experiences on individuals and society. This narrative review aims to (1) define pain and trauma experiences in childhood and adolescents, (2) discuss the relationship between pain and trauma, (3) consider the role of biological memory, (4) decipher the relationship between pain and trauma using preclinical data, and (5) examine the role of the environment by introducing the importance of epigenetic processes. The ultimate scope is to better understand the wide-ranging effects of trauma, abuse, and chronic pain on children and adolescents, how they occur, and how to prevent or mitigate their effects and develop effective treatment strategies that address both the underlying causes and the associated physiological and psychological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Rigillo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ylenia Toscano
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Johanna Maria Catharina Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Micale V, Di Bartolomeo M, Di Martino S, Stark T, Dell'Osso B, Drago F, D'Addario C. Are the epigenetic changes predictive of therapeutic efficacy for psychiatric disorders? A translational approach towards novel drug targets. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108279. [PMID: 36103902 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of mental disorders is not fully understood and accumulating evidence support that clinical symptomatology cannot be assigned to a single gene mutation, but it involves several genetic factors. More specifically, a tight association between genes and environmental risk factors, which could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, may play a role in the development of mental disorders. Several data suggest that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and interference of microRNA (miRNA) or long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) may modify the severity of the disease and the outcome of the therapy. Indeed, the study of these mechanisms may help to identify patients particularly vulnerable to mental disorders and may have potential utility as biomarkers to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. This article summarizes the most relevant preclinical and human data showing how epigenetic modifications can be central to the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant and/or antipsychotic agents, as possible predictor of drugs response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Tibor Stark
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Scientific Core Unit Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, Milan, Italy, Department of Mental Health, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Zhang P, Li Y, Wang K, Huang J, Su BB, Xu C, Wang Z, Tan S, Yang F, Tan Y. Altered DNA methylation of CYP2E1 gene in schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:253. [PMID: 36494682 PMCID: PMC9733323 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01404-8] [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: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND About 20-30% of patients with schizophrenia develop tardive dyskinesia (TD). Oxidative stress is one potential causes of TD. CYP2E1 is considered as an oxidative stress-related gene, however, no study has been reported on the DNA methylation levels of the CYP2E1 in schizophrenia or TD. METHODS A total of 35 schizophrenia patients with TD, 35 schizophrenia patients without TD (NTD), and 35 health controls (HCs) were collected in Beijing, China. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. The promoter methylation levels of CYP2E1 were detected using pyrosequencing. The generalized linear model (GLM) was used to examine the methylation levels of three CpG sites among three diagnostic groups (TD vs. NTD vs. HC). RESULTS The average methylation levels were 8.8 ± 10.0, 14.5 ± 11.9 and 15.1 ± 11.3 in TD, NTD and HC groups, respectively. The F-test in GLM revealed overall differences in the average of methylation levels of three CpG sites among three diagnostic groups (p = 0.0227) and in the third CpG site (p = 0.0026). Furthermore, the TD group had lower average methylation levels than HC and NTD groups (p = 0.0115 and 0.0268, respectively). Specifically, TD group showed lower methylation levels in the third CpG site than HC and NTD groups (p = 0.0012 and 0.0072, respectively). Additionally, associations of the methylation levels with clinical features in the TD group were observed using Spearman correlation analysis. CONCLUSION This study provides the first evidence of DNA methylation levels in the promoter of CYP2E1 gene associated with schizophrenia and TD. The abnormal DNA methylation might serve as a potential mechanism for TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
| | - Yanli Li
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
| | - Kesheng Wang
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Family and Community Health, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Junchao Huang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
| | - Brenda Bin Su
- grid.449717.80000 0004 5374 269XDepartment of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Affairs, University of Texas Rio Grande Valle, Brownsville, TX USA
| | - Chun Xu
- grid.449717.80000 0004 5374 269XDepartment of Health and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Affairs, University of Texas Rio Grande Valle, Brownsville, TX USA
| | - Zhiren Wang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
| | - Shuping Tan
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
| | - Fude Yang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
| | - Yunlong Tan
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, 100096 China
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Piao YH, Cui Y, Rami FZ, Li L, Karamikheirabad M, Kang SH, Kim SW, Kim JJ, Lee BJ, Chung YC. Methylome-wide Association Study of Patients with Recent-onset Psychosis. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 20:462-473. [PMID: 35879030 PMCID: PMC9329103 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.3.462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective Dysregulation of gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms may have a vital role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SZ). In this study, we investigated the association of altered methylation patterns with SZ symptoms and early trauma in patients and healthy controls. Methods The present study was conducted to identify methylation changes in CpG sites in peripheral blood associated with recent-onset (RO) psychosis using methylome-wide analysis. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol, exercise, and diet, were controlled. Results We identified 2,912 differentially methylated CpG sites in patients with RO psychosis compared to controls. Most of the genes associated with the top 20 differentially methylated sites had not been reported in previous methylation studies and were involved in apoptosis, autophagy, axonal growth, neuroinflammation, protein folding, etc. The top 15 significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways included the oxytocin signaling pathway, long-term depression pathway, axon guidance, endometrial cancer, long-term potentiation, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, and glutamatergic pathway, among others. In the patient group, significant associations of novel methylated genes with early trauma and psychopathology were observed. Conclusion Our results suggest an association of differential DNA methylation with the pathophysiology of psychosis and early trauma. Blood DNA methylation signatures show promise as biomarkers of future psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hong Piao
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Yin Cui
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Fatima Zahra Rami
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Maryam Karamikheirabad
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Shi Hyun Kang
- Department of Social Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jung Jin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bong Ju Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Young-Chul Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
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Ren Q, Zhang W, Li P, Zhou J, Li Z, Zhou Y, Li M. Upregulation of osteoprotegerin inhibits tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced apoptosis of human chondrocytes. Exp Ther Med 2022; 24:470. [PMID: 35747145 PMCID: PMC9204554 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrosis of the femoral head (NFH) is an orthopedic disease characterized by a severe lack of blood supply to the femoral head and a marked increase in intraosseous pressure. NFH is associated with numerous factors, such as alcohol consumption and hormone levels. The present study focused on the expression levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in NFH and the effect of OPG overexpression on chondrocyte apoptosis. The results demonstrated that OPG expression was markedly decreased in the femoral head of patients with NFH compared with normal femoral heads. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of OPG in human chondrocytes reversed the decrease in cell viability and the increase in reactive oxygen species production induced by an oxidative stress-inducing factor, tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assays revealed that OPG overexpression inhibited the apoptosis of chondrocytes. In addition, it was revealed that OPG exerted its anti-apoptotic effect mainly by promoting Bcl-2 expression and Akt phosphorylation and inhibiting caspase-3 cleavage and Bax expression. The present study revealed that OPG may be an important regulator of NFH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifeng Ren
- Department of Joint Surgery, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China
| | - Wenfei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Hematology, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China
| | - Jianli Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China
| | - Zhonghao Li
- Department of Joint Surgery, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Central Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361004, P.R. China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Joint Surgery, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China
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Srivastava A, Dada O, Qian J, Al-Chalabi N, Fatemi AB, Gerretsen P, Graff A, De Luca V. Epigenetics of Schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2021; 305:114218. [PMID: 34638051 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic psychotic disorder that contributes significantly to disability, affecting behavior, thought, and cognition. It has long been known that there is a heritable component to schizophrenia; studies in both the pre-genomic and post-genomic era, however, have failed to elucidate fully the genetic basis for this complex disease. Epigenetic processes - broadly, those which contribute to changes in gene expression without altering the genetic code itself - may help to understand better the mechanisms leading to development of SCZ. The objective of this review is to synthesize current knowledge of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in schizophrenia. Specifically, DNA methylation studies in both peripheral and post-mortem brain samples in SCZ are reviewed, as are epigenetic mechanisms including histone modification. The promising role of non-coding RNA including micro-RNA (miRNA) and its role as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker is outlined, as are epigenetic age acceleration and telomere shortening. Finally, we discuss limitations in current knowledge and propose future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ariel Graff
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
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Subtypes of schizophrenia identified by multi-omic measures associated with dysregulated immune function. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6926-6936. [PMID: 34588622 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01308-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are plausible molecular sources of phenotypic heterogeneity across schizophrenia patients. The current study investigated biological heterogeneity in schizophrenia using peripheral epigenetic profiles to delineate illness subtypes independent of their phenomenological manifestations. We applied epigenome-wide profiling with a DNA methylation array from blood samples of 63 schizophrenia patients and 59 healthy controls. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and k-means clustering were performed to identify DNA methylation-related patient subtypes. The validity of the partition was tested by assessing the profile of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires. The uniqueness of the identified subtypes in relation to brain structural and clinical measures were evaluated. Two distinct patterns of DNA methylation profiles were identified in patients. One subtype (60.3% of patients) showed relatively limited changes in methylation levels and cell composition compared to controls, while a second subtype (39.7% of patients) exhibited widespread methylation level alterations among genes enriched in immune cell activity, as well as a higher proportion of neutrophils and lower proportion of lymphocytes. Differentiation of the two patient subtypes was validated by TCR repertoires, which paralleled the partition based on DNA methylation profiles. The subtype with widespread methylation modifications had higher symptom severity, performed worse on cognitive measures, and displayed greater reductions in fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts and evidence of gray matter thickening compared to the other subtype. Identification of a distinct subtype of schizophrenia with unique molecular, cerebral, and clinical features provide a novel parcellation of the schizophrenia syndrome with potential to guide development of individualized therapeutics.
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Xing Y, Sun T, Li G, Xu G, Cheng J, Gao S. The role of BDNF exon I region methylation in the treatment of depression with sertraline and its clinical diagnostic value. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e23993. [PMID: 34528295 PMCID: PMC8605126 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is considered to be one of the best candidate genes for depression. However, whether sertraline treatment affects the methylation level of this gene remains unknown. Methods Fifty‐three patients with depression and 51 healthy controls were included in the study. The methylation level of BDNF exon I was determined in blood samples from these subjects. The Hamilton Depression Scale was used to evaluate the depression status of patients. Single nucleotide polymorphism detection was used for genotyping, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the methylation level of this locus in patients with depression. Results There was a significant difference in the methylation level of BDNF exon I between the control and depression groups. No effect of sertraline monotherapy on BDNF methylation was found in subjects with depression. Moreover, no interaction was found between BDNF genotype and the per cent methylation of BDNF exon I. However, methylation at this site was positively correlated with diurnal variation and retardation scores. Blood homocysteine concentrations were significantly reduced by sertraline treatment. No influence of genotype on serum BDNF concentration was found in subjects with depression. The ROC curve showed that methylation of BDNF exon I may be used to distinguish patients from healthy people, to a certain extent. Conclusion Methylation of BDNF exon I may be used as a biomarker of depression and may be a therapeutic target for previously untreated depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Xing
- Department of Affective Disorder, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ting Sun
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guangxue Li
- Department of Affective Disorder, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guoan Xu
- Department of Affective Disorder, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jia Cheng
- Department of Affective Disorder, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.,Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Shugui Gao
- Department of Affective Disorder, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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Chen Q, Li D, Jin W, Shi Y, Li Z, Ma P, Sun J, Chen S, Li P, Lin P. Research Progress on the Correlation Between Epigenetics and Schizophrenia. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:688727. [PMID: 34366776 PMCID: PMC8334178 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.688727] [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: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose of the Review Nowadays, the incidence of schizophrenia is noticeably increased. If left undiagnosed and untreated, it will lead to impaired social functions, repeated hospital admissions, decline in quality of life and life expectancy. However, the diagnosis of schizophrenia is complicated and challenging. Both genetic and environmental factors are considered as important contributors to the development and progression of this disorder. The environmental factors have been linked to changes in gene expression through epigenetic modulations, which have raised more and more research interests in recent years. This review article is to summarize the current findings and understanding of epigenetic modulation associated with pathogenesis of schizophrenia, aiming to provide useful information for further research in developing biomarkers for schizophrenia. Recent Findings Three major types of epigenetic modulations have been described in this article. Firstly, both DNA hypermethylation and hypomethylated have been associated with schizophrenia via analyzing post-mortem brain tissues and peripheral blood of patients. Specific changes of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs and long-chain non-coding RNAs, have been observed in central and peripheral samples of schizophrenia patients, indicating their significant diagnostic value for the disease, and may also potentially predict treatment response. The correlation between histone modification and schizophrenia, however, is largely unclear. Summary Epigenetic modulations, including DNA methylation, ncRNA transcriptional regulation and histone modification, play an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Therefore, tests of these epigenetic alterations may be utilized to assist in the diagnosis and determination of strategies of individualized treatment in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chen
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weifeng Jin
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Shi
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peijun Ma
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuzi Chen
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Li
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Lin
- Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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11
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Wang C, Li N, Liu Q, Su L, Wang S, Chen Y, Liu M, Lin H. The role of circRNA derived from RUNX2 in the serum of osteoarthritis and its clinical value. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e23858. [PMID: 34165827 PMCID: PMC8274987 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Circular RNA (circRNA) has been shown to affect the pathological process of osteoarthritis (OA) and is expected to become a potential marker for disease diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the association between circRNA derived from the gene of runt‐related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and OA risk. Methods The expression profile of RUNX2‐derived circRNAs in serum of OA patients was detected. Then, the cytological localization of screened differential circRNAs was studied. Luciferase (LUC) reporter assay was used to identify the microRNA (miRNA) sponge capacity of the circRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis was used to construct the functional pathway of this circRNA‐miRNAs network. And then, the diagnostic value of RUNX2‐derived circRNAs in OA was evaluated. Results RUNX2‐derived hsa_circ_0005526 (circ_RUNX2) is significantly highly expressed in OA serum and mainly located in the cytoplasm within the cartilage cell by sponging multiple miRNAs (miR‐498, miR‐924, miR‐361‐3p, and miR‐665). Bioinformatics analysis showed ECM‐receptor interaction pathway ranked the most significant pathway of circ_RUNX2‐miRNAs regulatory network in KEGG database. The ROC curve showed that there may be good diagnostic value of serum circ_RUNX2 in OA. Conclusion RUNX2‐derived circ_RUNX2 may be involved in OA development via ECM‐receptor interaction pathways and may be used as potential clinical indicator of OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyun Wang
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Nanzhu Li
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lianbin Su
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Sisheng Wang
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yongfa Chen
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Maosheng Liu
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Huirong Lin
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
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12
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Fageera W, Chaumette B, Fortier MÈ, Grizenko N, Labbe A, Sengupta SM, Joober R. Association between COMT methylation and response to treatment in children with ADHD. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 135:86-93. [PMID: 33453563 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COMT had been considered a promising candidate gene in pharmacogenetic studies in ADHD; yet the findings from these studies have been inconsistent. Part of these inconsistencies could be related to epigenetic mechanisms (including DNA methylation). Here we investigated the role of genetic variants of the COMT gene on the methylation levels of CpG sites in the same gene and explored the effect of methylation on methylphenidate (MPH) and placebo (PBO) response in children with ADHD. METHODS Two hundred and thirty children with ADHD (6-12 years) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with MPH. Univariate analysis was performed to examine the associations between genotypes in the COMT gene and DNA methylation in the same genetic loci. Association between the DNA methylation of 11 CpG sites and PBO/MPH responses were then assessed using spearman's correlation analysis in 212 children. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to test the interaction between these factors while accounting for sex. RESULTS Associations were observed between specific genetic variants and methylation level of cg20709110. Homozygous genotypes of GG (rs6269), CC (rs4633), GG (rs4818), Val/Val (rs4680) and the haplotype (ACCVal/GCGVal) were significantly associated with higher level of methylation. This CpG showed a significant correlation with placebo response (r = -0.15, P = 0.045) according to the teachers' evaluation, and a close-to significance correlation with response to MPH according to parents' evaluation (r = -0.134, p = 0.051). Regression analysis showed that in the model including rs4818, sex and DNA methylation of cg20709110 contributed significantly to treatment response. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results could provide evidence for the effect of genetic variations on methylation level and the involvement of the epigenetic variation of COMT loci in modulating the response to treatment in ADHD. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00483106.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weam Fageera
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Boris Chaumette
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neurosciences of Paris, Paris, France; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Fortier
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Natalie Grizenko
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aurelie Labbe
- Department of Decision Sciences, HEC Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sarojini M Sengupta
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ridha Joober
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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13
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Epigenomic Dysregulation in Schizophrenia: In Search of Disease Etiology and Biomarkers. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081837. [PMID: 32764320 PMCID: PMC7463953 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with a complex array of signs and symptoms that causes very significant disability in young people. While schizophrenia has a strong genetic component, with heritability around 80%, there is also a very significant range of environmental exposures and stressors that have been implicated in disease development and neuropathology, such as maternal immune infection, obstetric complications, childhood trauma and cannabis exposure. It is postulated that epigenetic factors, as well as regulatory non-coding RNAs, mediate the effects of these environmental stressors. In this review, we explore the most well-known epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation and histone modification, along with emerging RNA mediators of epigenomic state, including miRNAs and lncRNAs, and discuss their collective potential for involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia implicated through the postmortem analysis of brain tissue. Given that peripheral tissues, such as blood, saliva, and olfactory epithelium have the same genetic composition and are exposed to many of the same environmental exposures, we also examine some studies supporting the application of peripheral tissues for epigenomic biomarker discovery in schizophrenia. Finally, we provide some perspective on how these biomarkers may be utilized to capture a signature of past events that informs future treatment.
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14
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Smigielski L, Jagannath V, Rössler W, Walitza S, Grünblatt E. Epigenetic mechanisms in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: a systematic review of empirical human findings. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1718-1748. [PMID: 31907379 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0601-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are highly debilitating psychiatric conditions that lack a clear etiology and exhibit polygenic inheritance underlain by pleiotropic genes. The prevailing explanation points to the interplay between predisposing genes and environmental exposure. Accumulated evidence suggests that epigenetic regulation of the genome may mediate dynamic gene-environment interactions at the molecular level by modulating the expression of psychiatric phenotypes through transcription factors. This systematic review summarizes the current knowledge linking schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to epigenetics, based on PubMed and Web of Science database searches conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Three groups of mechanisms in case-control studies of human tissue (i.e., postmortem brain and bio-fluids) were considered: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding miRNAs. From the initial pool of 3,204 records, 152 studies met our inclusion criteria (11,815/11,528, 233/219, and 2,091/1,827 cases/controls for each group, respectively). Many of the findings revealed associations with epigenetic modulations of genes regulating neurotransmission, neurodevelopment, and immune function, as well as differential miRNA expression (e.g., upregulated miR-34a, miR-7, and miR-181b). Overall, actual evidence moderately supports an association between epigenetics and schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, heterogeneous results and cross-tissue extrapolations call for future work. Integrating epigenetics into systems biology may critically enhance research on psychosis and thus our understanding of the disorder. This may have implications for psychiatry in risk stratification, early recognition, diagnostics, precision medicine, and other interventional approaches targeting epigenetic fingerprints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Smigielski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Vinita Jagannath
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) R&D Innovation Centre, London, UK
| | - Wulf Rössler
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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15
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Wu S, Wang P, Tao R, Yang P, Yu X, Li Y, Shao Q, Nie F, Ha J, Zhang R, Tian Y, Ma J. Schizophrenia‑associated microRNA‑148b‑3p regulates COMT and PRSS16 expression by targeting the ZNF804A gene in human neuroblastoma cells. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:1429-1439. [PMID: 32626976 PMCID: PMC7339789 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) has been identified by genome-wide association studies as a robust risk gene in schizophrenia, but how ZNF804A contributes to schizophrenia and its upstream regulation remains unknown. Previous studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRs) are key factors that regulate the expression levels of their target genes. The present study revealed significantly increased expression of miR-148b-3p in the peripheral blood of patients with first-onset schizophrenia compared with healthy controls, and bioinformatics analysis predicted that the ZNF804A gene is a target of miR-148b-3p. Therefore, the present study investigated the possible upstream regulation of ZNF804A by miR-148b-3p in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line, and assessed the implications for schizophrenia. The results revealed significantly reversed expression levels of miR-148b-3p (P=0.0051) and ZNF804A (P=0.0218) in the peripheral blood of patients with first-onset schizophrenia compared with healthy individuals. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that miR-148b-3p directly targeted ZNF804A via binding to conserved target sites in the 3′-untranslated region of ZNF804A mRNA, where it inhibited the endogenous expression of ZNF804A at both the mRNA (P=0.048) and protein levels (P=0.013) in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, miR-148b-3p was revealed to regulate the expression levels of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and serine protease 16 (PRSS16) by targeting ZNF804A in SH-SY5Y cells. Collectively, the present results indicated that there was a direct upstream regulation of the schizophrenia risk gene ZNF804A by miR-148b-3p, which contributed to the regulation of the downstream genes COMT and PRSS16. Thus, the miR-148b-3p/ZNF804A/COMT/PRSS16 pathway may play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and may serve as a potential target in drug discovery and gene therapy for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Pengjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Ran Tao
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Pengbo Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xiaorui Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Ye Li
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Qiuya Shao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Fayi Nie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Jing Ha
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Translational Medicine Center, Hong Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China
| | - Ye Tian
- Medical Research Center, Xi'an No. 3 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, P.R. China
| | - Jie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
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16
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Hu J, Zhu H, Xu G, Chen Z, Li L, Wang S, Deng H, Bao X, Shen Z. Significant association between DHFR promoter methylation and ischemic stroke in a Chinese hypertensive population. J Clin Lab Anal 2020; 34:e23322. [PMID: 32319147 PMCID: PMC7439332 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23322] [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: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective DHFR encodes dihydrofolate reductase, a major enzyme in the metabolism of folate, and is a candidate gene for ischemic stroke (IS). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between DHFR promoter methylation and IS in a Chinese population with primary hypertension. Methods Quantitative methylation‐specific PCR was used to measure the level of DHFR promoter methylation. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between DHFR promoter methylation and IS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of DHFR promoter methylation for IS. Results The level of methylation of the DHFR promoter in the IS group was significantly lower than that in the hypertensive group (median [interquartile range]: 9.11 [2.81‐16.20] vs 24.94 [7.16‐56.45], P < .001). DHFR promoter methylation and homocysteine (Hcy) levels were both related to IS, with an ORs (95% CI) of 0.976 (0.967‐0.984) and 1.057 (1.027‐1.108), respectively. The areas under the curve for the diagnosis of DHFR promoter hypomethylation in IS were 0.603 (95% CI, 0.527‐0.678) in men and 0.754 (95% CI, 0.693‐0.815) in women. A dual‐luciferase reporter assay revealed that the target sequence in the DHFR promoter upregulated gene expression. Conclusion There is a significant association between methylation of the DHFR promoter and IS in this Chinese hypertensive population. Hypomethylation of the DHFR promoter may serve as a novel marker for the diagnosis of IS in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingcen Hu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Gynecology & Obstetrics Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Guodong Xu
- Medical Record Statistics Room, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhu Chen
- HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Lian Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Shuyu Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hongxia Deng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaoming Bao
- HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China.,Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhisen Shen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, China
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17
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Snyder MA, Gao WJ. NMDA receptor hypofunction for schizophrenia revisited: Perspectives from epigenetic mechanisms. Schizophr Res 2020; 217:60-70. [PMID: 30979669 PMCID: PMC7258307 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with cognitive deficits manifesting during early stages of the disease. Evidence suggests that genetic factors in combination with environmental insults lead to complex changes to glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic systems. In particular, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a major glutamate receptor subtype, is implicated in both the disease progression and symptoms of SZ. NMDARs are critical for synaptic plasticity and cortical maturation, as well as learning and memory processes. In fact, any deviation from normal NMDAR expression and function can have devastating consequences. Surprisingly, there is little evidence from human patients that direct mutations of NMDAR genes contribute to SZ. One intriguing hypothesis is that epigenetic changes, which could result from early insults, alter protein expression and contribute to the NMDAR hypofunction found in SZ. Epigenetics is referred to as modifications that alter gene transcription without changing the DNA sequence itself. In this review, we first discuss how epigenetic changes to NMDAR genes could contribute to NMDAR hypofunction. We then explore how NMDAR hypofunction may contribute to epigenetic changes in other proteins or genes that lead to synaptic dysfunction and symptoms in SZ. We argue that NMDAR hypofunction occurs in early stage of the disease, and it may consequentially initiate GABA and dopamine deficits. Therefore, targeting NMDAR dysfunction during the early stages would be a promising avenue for prevention and therapeutic intervention of cognitive and social deficits that remain untreatable. Finally, we discuss potential questions regarding the epigenetic of SZ and future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Snyder
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8M5,Correspondence: Wen-Jun Gao, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, Phone: (215) 991-8907, Fax: (215) 843-9802, ; Melissa A. Snyder, Ph.D.,
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, United States of America.
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18
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A Novel Schizophrenia Diagnostic Model Based on Statistically Significant Changes in Gene Methylation in Specific Brain Regions. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:8047146. [PMID: 32104705 PMCID: PMC7037884 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8047146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective The present study identified methylation patterns of schizophrenia- (SCZ-) related genes in different brain regions and used them to construct a novel DNA methylation-based SCZ diagnostic model. Methods Four DNA methylation datasets representing different brain regions were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The common differentially methylated genes (CDMGs) in all datasets were identified to perform functional enrichment analysis. The differential methylation sites of 10 CDMGs involved in the largest numbers of neurological or psychiatric-related biological processes were used to construct a DNA methylation-based diagnostic model for SCZ in the respective datasets. Results A total of 849 CDMGs were identified in the four datasets, but the methylation sites as well as degree of methylation differed across the brain regions. Functional enrichment analysis showed CDMGs were significantly involved in biological processes associated with neuronal axon development, intercellular adhesion, and cell morphology changes and, specifically, in PI3K-Akt, AMPK, and MAPK signaling pathways. Four DNA methylation-based classifiers for diagnosing SCZ were constructed in the four datasets, respectively. The sample recognition efficiency of the classifiers showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.00 in three datasets and >0.9 in one dataset. Conclusion DNA methylation patterns in SCZ vary across different brain regions, which may be a useful epigenetic characteristic for diagnosing SCZ. Our novel model based on SCZ-gene methylation shows promising diagnostic power.
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19
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Jiang S, Postovit L, Cattaneo A, Binder EB, Aitchison KJ. Epigenetic Modifications in Stress Response Genes Associated With Childhood Trauma. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:808. [PMID: 31780969 PMCID: PMC6857662 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be referred to by other terms (e.g., early life adversity or stress and childhood trauma) and have a lifelong impact on mental and physical health. For example, childhood trauma has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The heritability of ACE-related phenotypes such as PTSD, depression, and resilience is low to moderate, and, moreover, is very variable for a given phenotype, which implies that gene by environment interactions (such as through epigenetic modifications) may be involved in the onset of these phenotypes. Currently, there is increasing interest in the investigation of epigenetic contributions to ACE-induced differential health outcomes. Although there are a number of studies in this field, there are still research gaps. In this review, the basic concepts of epigenetic modifications (such as methylation) and the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the stress response are outlined. Examples of specific genes undergoing methylation in association with ACE-induced differential health outcomes are provided. Limitations in this field, e.g., uncertain clinical diagnosis, conceptual inconsistencies, and technical drawbacks, are reviewed, with suggestions for advances using new technologies and novel research directions. We thereby provide a platform on which the field of ACE-induced phenotypes in mental health may build.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shui Jiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lynne Postovit
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatric Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Katherine J. Aitchison
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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20
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Thomas M, Banet N, Wallisch A, Glowacz K, Becker-Sadzio J, Gundel F, Nieratschker V. Differential COMT DNA methylation in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: Genotype matters. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:1295-1300. [PMID: 31587837 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Differential DNA methylation in peripheral tissues has been associated with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Alterations have been found in several genes, among them the Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. COMT is a known neuropsychiatric candidate gene, which contains a genotype variant (Val108/158Met) that affects protein function and has been found associated with several psychiatric disorders. In addition, this variant also affects COMT DNA methylation. However, in previous epigenetic studies, the DNA methylation results have not always been controlled for genotype, even though overrepresentation of the Met allele has been frequently reported in cohorts of BPD patients. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether alteration of COMT DNA methylation in BPD patients is indeed associated with mental health status or merely influenced by a differential distribution of the COMT genotype between BPD patients and healthy control individuals. We found significant group differences, as well as a strong effect of genotype on COMT DNA methylation. While the direction of effect was different compared to a previous study, our study supports the finding of altered COMT DNA methylation in patients with BPD and reinforces the need to include genotype information in future DNA methylation studies of COMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Nora Banet
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Annalena Wallisch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Katarzyna Glowacz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Julia Becker-Sadzio
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Friederike Gundel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Nieratschker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
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21
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Huang X, Li D, Zhao Q, Zhang C, Ren B, Yue L, Du B, Godfrey O, Wang X, Zhang W. Association between BHMT and CBS gene promoter methylation with the efficacy of folic acid therapy in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia. J Hum Genet 2019; 64:1227-1235. [PMID: 31558761 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-019-0672-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Both betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) are major enzymes in the metabolism of plasma homocysteine (Hcy). Abnormal methylation levels of BHMT and CBS are positively associated with Hcy levels. The present study is performed to explore the association between the methylation levels in the promoter regions of the BHMT and CBS genes and the efficacy of folic acid therapy in patient with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). A prospective cohort study recruiting HHcy (Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/L) patients was performed. The subjects were treated with oral folic acid (5 mg/d) for 90 days, and the patients were divided into the success group (Hcy < 15 μmol/L) and the failure group (Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/L) according to their Hcy levels after treatment. In the logistic regression model with adjusted covariates, the patients with lower total methylation levels in the BHMT and CBS promoter regions exhibited 1.627-fold and 1.671-fold increased risk of treatment failure compared with higher methylation individuals, respectively. Similarly, subjects who had lower methylation levels (<methylation mean) in BHMT CpG1 had 1.792 times higher risks. Stratified analysis by sex found that lower CBS methylation levels were associated with a 2.128-fold increased risk for treatment failure in males with HHcy. Lower levels of BHMT or CBS promoter total methylation might be associated with increased the risk of treatment failure. These studies suggest that lower levels of BHMT and CBS methylation are all predictors of failure in folic acid therapy for HHcy. However, due to some limitations of this study, such as the small number of the loci tested, further large-scale studies are necessary to verify our observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Dankang Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Qinglin Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Chengda Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Bingnan Ren
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Limin Yue
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Binghui Du
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Opolot Godfrey
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiliang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
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Ying X, Chen Y, Zheng Z, Duan S. Gout in males: a possible role for COMT hypomethylation. Clin Rheumatol 2019; 38:2865-2871. [PMID: 31165340 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-019-04607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gout is a common inflammatory disease, and the prevalence of gout in men is significantly higher than in women. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) regulates dopamine activity and metabolism, thereby participating in the uric acid metabolism, which in turn affects the occurrence of gout. Our study aimed to investigate the association between COMT methylation and gout in men. METHODS This study involved 57 male gout patients and 103 age-matched healthy men. We used quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (qMSP) to determine DNA methylation levels in the blood. The COMT methylation level was represented by the percentage of methylation reference (PMR). RESULTS Our results showed that COMT methylation levels were significantly lower in gout patients than in the control group (median PMR 9.50 vs 31.34, p = 3E-5). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.701 (95% CI 0.611-0.790, p = 2.7E-5) with a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 68.4%. CONCLUSION Our study found that there was a significant correlation between COMT hypomethylation and the risk of gout in males, and this provides an epigenetic mechanism of COMT in gout. COMT hypomethylation might be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker for gout in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuru Ying
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Yanfei Chen
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Zhonghua Zheng
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
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Wang C, Xu G, Wen Q, Peng X, Chen H, Zhang J, Xu S, Zhang C, Zhang M, Ma J, Hui Z, Wu G, Ma M. CBS promoter hypermethylation increases the risk of hypertension and stroke. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2019; 74:e630. [PMID: 30916171 PMCID: PMC6438132 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2019/e630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cystathionine β-synthase is a major enzyme in the metabolism of plasma homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia is positively associated with hypertension and stroke. The present study was performed to examine the possible effects of Cystathionine β-synthase promoter methylation on the development of hypertension and stroke. METHODS Using quantitative methylation-specific PCR, we determined the Cystathionine β-synthase methylation levels in 218 healthy individuals and 132 and 243 age- and gender-matched stroke and hypertensive patients, respectively. The relative changes in Cystathionine β-synthase promoter methylation were analyzed using the 2-ΔΔCt method. The percent of the methylated reference of Cystathionine β-synthase was used to represent the Cystathionine β-synthase promoter methylation levels. RESULTS In this study, the Cystathionine β-synthase promoter methylation levels of hypertensive and stroke participants were both higher than that of the healthy individuals (median percentages of the methylated reference were 50.61%, 38.05% and 30.53%, respectively, all p<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that Cystathionine β-synthase promoter hypermethylation increased the risk of hypertension [odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI)=1.035 (1.025-1.045)] and stroke [OR (95% CI)=1.015 (1.003-1.028)]. The area under the curve of Cystathionine β-synthase promoter methylation was 0.844 (95% CI: 0.796-0.892) in male patients with hypertension and 0.722 (95% CI: 0.653-0.799) in male patients with stroke. CONCLUSION Cystathionine β-synthase promoter hypermethylation increases the risk of hypertension and stroke, especially in male patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Wang
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral research station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jinan University, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Cardiology. The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Shenzhen, China
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guodong Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Qi Wen
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaolin Peng
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongen Chen
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shan Xu
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunhui Zhang
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianping Ma
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhaohui Hui
- Shenzhen Xili People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guifu Wu
- Department of Cardiology. The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Shenzhen, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mail: /
| | - Min Ma
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jinan University, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mail: /
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Addiction co-occurs with distinct pathological personality traits, other psychiatric disorders or symptoms and cognitive impairment, which are known as dual disorders or co-occurring disorders. This symptomatic high concurrency suggests that both conditions are in some ways causally linked. Research is ongoing to identify distinctive neurobehavioral mechanisms and endophenotypes that predispose individuals to compulsive drug use and other mental disorders. Research is also providing new revelations about the diverse effects of substances on individuals, including differences according to sex. Today we know that the same substance may give rise to different behavioral, affective, cognitive, and sensory effects across different individuals. METHODS This state-of the art review tends to address the concept of precision psychiatry and dual disorders. The PubMed database was searched for the last 15 years to identify those articles that reported neurobiological perspectives on dual disorders, addiction and other mental disorders, precision medicine, and precision psychiatry. RESULTS There has been considerable progress made in recent years in relation to the study of addiction and dual disorders. The concept of dual disorders attempts to capture not only the persistence of substance use and substance seeking but also the evident vulnerability of specific subpopulations to switch from controlled to compulsive drug use. Precision medicine is focused on identifying this individual vulnerability to illness as much as the individual response to treatment. Psychiatry is fully committed to this goal. Regarding addiction, essential precision medicine advances will be possible if concerted efforts are made in the discovery of biological variations and environmental factors that contribute to individual vulnerability to addictive disorders and dual disorders, together with the identification of moderators of treatment response. CONCLUSIONS Here we survey the discoveries, future research directions, and translational relevance of the concept of precision psychiatry for dual disorders. The review may offer new perspectives on this issue and highlight a new way to see and to think about dual disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Szerman
- a Servicio de Psiquiatría , Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañon , Madrid , Spain
| | - Lola Peris
- b Research Unit and Dual Disorders Program, Centre Neuchâtelois de Psychiatrie (CNP) , Neuchâtel , Switzerland
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25
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Kular L, Kular S. Epigenetics applied to psychiatry: Clinical opportunities and future challenges. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018; 72:195-211. [PMID: 29292553 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are clinically heterogeneous and debilitating chronic diseases resulting from a complex interplay between gene variants and environmental factors. Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications, instruct the cell/tissue to correctly interpret external signals and adjust its functions accordingly. Given that epigenetic modifications are sensitive to environment, stable, and reversible, epigenetic studies in psychiatry could represent a promising approach to better understanding and treating disease. In the present review, we aim to discuss the clinical opportunities and challenges arising from the epigenetic research in psychiatry. Using selected examples, we first recapitulate key findings supporting the role of adverse life events, alone or in combination with genetic risk, in epigenetic programming of neuropsychiatric systems. Epigenetic studies further report encouraging findings about the use of methylation changes as diagnostic markers of disease phenotype and predictive tools of progression and response to treatment. Then we discuss the potential of using targeted epigenetic pharmacotherapy, combined with psychosocial interventions, for future personalized medicine for patients. Finally, we review the methodological limitations that could hinder interpretation of epigenetic data in psychiatry. They mainly arise from heterogeneity at the individual and tissue level and require future strategies in order to reinforce the biological relevance of epigenetic data and its translational use in psychiatry. Overall, we suggest that epigenetics could provide new insights into a more comprehensive interpretation of mental illness and might eventually improve the nosology, treatment, and prevention of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Kular
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Kular
- Adult Psychiatry Unit of Laval Secteur Est, Laval, France
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