1
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Kundakovic M, Tickerhoof M. Epigenetic mechanisms underlying sex differences in the brain and behavior. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:18-35. [PMID: 37968206 PMCID: PMC10841872 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences are found across brain regions, behaviors, and brain diseases. Sexual differentiation of the brain is initiated prenatally but it continues throughout life, as a result of the interaction of three major factors: gonadal hormones, sex chromosomes, and the environment. These factors are thought to act, in part, via epigenetic mechanisms which control chromatin and transcriptional states in brain cells. In this review, we discuss evidence that epigenetic mechanisms underlie sex-specific neurobehavioral changes during critical organizational periods, across the estrous cycle, and in response to diverse environments throughout life. We further identify future directions for the field that will provide novel mechanistic insights into brain sex differences, inform brain disease treatments and women's brain health in particular, and apply to people across genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Kundakovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
| | - Maria Tickerhoof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
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2
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Morris-Blanco KC, Chokkalla AK, Kim T, Bhatula S, Bertogliat MJ, Gaillard AB, Vemuganti R. High-Dose Vitamin C Prevents Secondary Brain Damage After Stroke via Epigenetic Reprogramming of Neuroprotective Genes. Transl Stroke Res 2022; 13:1017-1036. [PMID: 35306630 PMCID: PMC9485293 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-022-01007-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin C has recently been identified as an epigenetic regulator by activating ten-eleven translocases (TETs), enzymes involved in generating DNA hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Currently, we investigated whether high-dose vitamin C promotes neuroprotection through epigenetic modulation of 5hmC, if there are sex-specific differences in outcome, and the therapeutic potential of vitamin C in stroke-related comorbidities in adult mice. Post-stroke treatment with ascorbate (reduced form), but not dehydroascorbate (oxidized form), increased TET3 activity and 5hmC levels and reduced infarct following focal ischemia. Hydroxymethylation DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing showed that ascorbate increased 5hmC across the genome and specifically in promoters of several stroke pathophysiology-related genes, particularly anti-inflammatory genes. Ascorbate also decreased markers of oxidative stress, mitochondrial fragmentation, and apoptosis in cortical peri-infarct neurons and promoted motor and cognitive functional recovery in both sexes via TET3. Furthermore, post-stroke ascorbate treatment reduced infarct volume and improved motor function recovery in aged, hypertensive and diabetic male and female mice. Delayed ascorbate treatment at 6 h of reperfusion was still effective at reducing infarct volume and motor impairments in adult mice. Collectively, this study shows that post-stroke treatment with high-dose ascorbate protects the brain through epigenetic reprogramming and may function as a robust therapeutic against stroke injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kahlilia C Morris-Blanco
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
- William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anil K Chokkalla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - TaeHee Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - Saivenkateshkomal Bhatula
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
- William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mario J Bertogliat
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - Alexis B Gaillard
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - Raghu Vemuganti
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mail code CSC-8660, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53792, USA.
- William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison, WI, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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3
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Papale LA, Madrid A, Zhang Q, Chen K, Sak L, Keleş S, Alisch RS. Gene by environment interaction mouse model reveals a functional role for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in neurodevelopmental disorders. Genome Res 2022; 32:266-279. [PMID: 34949667 PMCID: PMC8805724 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276137.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mouse knockouts of Cntnap2 show altered neurodevelopmental behavior, deficits in striatal GABAergic signaling, and a genome-wide disruption of an environmentally sensitive DNA methylation modification (5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC]) in the orthologs of a significant number of genes implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders. We tested adult Cntnap2 heterozygous mice (Cntnap2 +/-; lacking behavioral or neuropathological abnormalities) subjected to a prenatal stress and found that prenatally stressed Cntnap2 +/- female mice show repetitive behaviors and altered sociability, similar to the homozygote phenotype. Genomic profiling revealed disruptions in hippocampal and striatal 5hmC levels that are correlated to altered transcript levels of genes linked to these phenotypes (e.g., Reln, Dst, Trio, and Epha5). Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing and hippocampal nuclear lysate pull-down data indicated that 5hmC abundance alters the binding of the transcription factor CLOCK near the promoters of these genes (e.g., Palld, Gigyf1, and Fry), providing a mechanistic role for 5hmC in gene regulation. Together, these data support gene-by-environment hypotheses for the origins of mental illness and provide a means to identify the elusive factors contributing to complex human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - Kailei Chen
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Lara Sak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
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4
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Zhang Q, Hu Q, Wang J, Miao Z, Li Z, Zhao Y, Wan B, Allen EG, Sun M, Jin P, Xu X. Stress modulates Ahi1-dependent nuclear localization of Ten-Eleven Translocation Protein 2. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:2149-2160. [PMID: 34218273 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depression disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric diseases. Recent evidence supports that environmental stress affects gene expression and promotes the pathological process of depression through epigenetic mechanisms. Three Ten-Eleven Translocation (Tet) enzymes are epigenetic regulators of gene expression that promote 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) modification of genes. Here, we show that the loss of Tet2 can induce depression-like phenotypes in mice. Paradoxically, using the paradigms of chronic stress, such as chronic mild stress (CMS) and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), we found that depressive behaviors were associated with increased Tet2 expression but decreased global 5hmC level in hippocampus. We examined the genome-wide 5hmC profile in the hippocampus of Tet2 knockout mice and identified 651 dynamically hydroxymethylated regions, some of which overlapped with known depression-associated loci. We further showed that chronic stress could induce the abnormal nuclear translocation of Tet2 protein from cytosol. Through Tet2 immunoprecipitation and mass spectrum analyses, we identified a cellular trafficking protein, Abelson helper integration site-1 (Ahi1), which could interact with Tet2 protein. Ahi1 knockout or knockdown caused the accumulation of Tet2 in cytosol. The reduction of Ahi1 protein under chronic stress explained the abnormal Ahi1-dependent nuclear translocation of Tet2. These findings together provide the evidence for a critical role of modulating Tet2 nuclear translocation in regulating stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Departments of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Qicheng Hu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Junjie Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Zhigang Miao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuwen Zhao
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bo Wan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Emily G Allen
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Miao Sun
- The Institute of Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Departments of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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5
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Kawatake-Kuno A, Murai T, Uchida S. The Molecular Basis of Depression: Implications of Sex-Related Differences in Epigenetic Regulation. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:708004. [PMID: 34276306 PMCID: PMC8282210 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.708004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Although the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD remain poorly understood, aberrant neuroplasticity mediated by the epigenetic dysregulation of gene expression within the brain, which may occur due to genetic and environmental factors, may increase the risk of this disorder. Evidence has also been reported for sex-related differences in the pathophysiology of MDD, with female patients showing a greater severity of symptoms, higher degree of functional impairment, and more atypical depressive symptoms. Males and females also differ in their responsiveness to antidepressants. These clinical findings suggest that sex-dependent molecular and neural mechanisms may underlie the development of depression and the actions of antidepressant medications. This review discusses recent advances regarding the role of epigenetics in stress and depression. The first section presents a brief introduction of the basic mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs. The second section reviews their contributions to neural plasticity, the risk of depression, and resilience against depression, with a particular focus on epigenetic modulators that have causal relationships with stress and depression in both clinical and animal studies. The third section highlights studies exploring sex-dependent epigenetic alterations associated with susceptibility to stress and depression. Finally, we discuss future directions to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD, which would contribute to optimized and personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Kawatake-Kuno
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shusaku Uchida
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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6
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Floriou-Servou A, von Ziegler L, Waag R, Schläppi C, Germain PL, Bohacek J. The Acute Stress Response in the Multiomic Era. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:1116-1126. [PMID: 33722387 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Studying the stress response is a major pillar of neuroscience research not only because stress is a daily reality but also because the exquisitely fine-tuned bodily changes triggered by stress are a neuroendocrinological marvel. While the genome-wide changes induced by chronic stress have been extensively studied, we know surprisingly little about the complex molecular cascades triggered by acute stressors, the building blocks of chronic stress. The acute stress (or fight-or-flight) response mobilizes organismal energy resources to meet situational demands. However, successful stress coping also requires the efficient termination of the stress response. Maladaptive coping-particularly in response to severe or repeated stressors-can lead to allostatic (over)load, causing wear and tear on tissues, exhaustion, and disease. We propose that deep molecular profiling of the changes triggered by acute stressors could provide molecular correlates for allostatic load and predict healthy or maladaptive stress responses. We present a theoretical framework to interpret multiomic data in light of energy homeostasis and activity-dependent gene regulation, and we review the signaling cascades and molecular changes rapidly induced by acute stress in different cell types in the brain. In addition, we review and reanalyze recent data from multiomic screens conducted mainly in the rodent hippocampus and amygdala after acute psychophysical stressors. We identify challenges surrounding experimental design and data analysis, and we highlight promising new research directions to better understand the stress response on a multiomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Floriou-Servou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas von Ziegler
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Waag
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christa Schläppi
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Luc Germain
- Computational Neurogenomics, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Laboratory of Statistical Bioinformatics, Department for Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Johannes Bohacek
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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7
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Alberca CD, Papale LA, Madrid A, Gianatiempo O, Cánepa ET, Alisch RS, Chertoff M. Perinatal protein malnutrition results in genome-wide disruptions of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at regions that can be restored to control levels by an enriched environment. Epigenetics 2020; 16:1085-1101. [PMID: 33172347 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1841871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal malnutrition remains one of the major adversities affecting brain development and long-term mental health outcomes, increasing the risk to develop anxiety and depressive disorders. We have previously shown that malnutrition-induced anxiety-like behaviours can be rescued by a social and sensory stimulation (enriched environment) in male mice. Here, we expand these findings to adult female mice and profiled genome-wide ventral hippocampal 5hmC levels related to malnutrition-induced anxiety-like behaviours and their rescue by an enriched environment. This approach revealed 508 differentially hydroxymethylated genes associated with protein malnutrition and that several genes (N = 34) exhibited a restored 5hmC abundance to control levels following exposure to an enriched environment, including genes involved in neuronal functions like dendrite outgrowth, axon guidance, and maintenance of neuronal circuits (e.g. Fltr3, Itsn1, Lman1, Lsamp, Nav, and Ror1) and epigenetic mechanisms (e.g. Hdac9 and Dicer1). Sequence motif predictions indicated that 5hmC may be modulating the binding of transcription factors for several of these transcripts, suggesting a regulatory role for 5hmC in response to perinatal malnutrition and exposure to an enriched environment. Together, these findings establish a role for 5hmC in early-life malnutrition and reveal genes linked to malnutrition-induced anxious behaviours that are mitigated by an enriched environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina D Alberca
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Octavio Gianatiempo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - CONICET (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eduardo T Cánepa
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - CONICET (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mariela Chertoff
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - CONICET (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Kochmanski J, Bernstein AI. The Impact of Environmental Factors on 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in the Brain. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:109-120. [PMID: 32020534 PMCID: PMC7809708 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00268-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aims of this review are to evaluate the methods used to measure 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), and then summarize the available data investigating the impact of environmental factors on 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the brain. RECENT FINDINGS Recent research has shown that some environmental factors, including exposure to exogenous chemicals, stress, altered diet, and exercise, are all associated with 5-hmC variation in the brain. However, due to a lack of specificity in the methods used to generate a majority of the available data, it cannot be determined whether environment-induced changes in 5-hmC occur in specific biological pathways. Environment appears to shape 5-hmC levels in the brain, but the available literature is hampered by limitations in measurement methods. The field of neuroepigenetics needs to adopt new tools to increase the specificity of its data and enhance biological interpretation of exposure-related changes in 5-hmC. This will help improve understanding of the potential roles for environmental factors and 5-hmC in neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kochmanski
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Grand Rapids Research Center, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Alison I Bernstein
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Grand Rapids Research Center, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
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9
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Brivio E, Lopez JP, Chen A. Sex differences: Transcriptional signatures of stress exposure in male and female brains. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12643. [PMID: 31989757 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
More than two-thirds of patients suffering from stress-related disorders are women but over two-thirds of suicide completers are men. These are just some examples of the many sex differences in the prevalence and manifestations of stress-related disorders, such as major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders, which have been extensively documented in clinical research. Nonetheless, the molecular origins of this sex dimorphism are still quite obscure. In response to this lack of knowledge, the NIH recently advocated implementing sex as biological variable in the design of preclinical studies across disciplines. As a result, a newly emerging field within psychiatry is trying to elucidate the molecular causes underlying the clinically described sex dimorphism. Several studies in rodents and humans have already identified many stress-related genes that are regulated by acute and chronic stress in a sex-specific fashion. Furthermore, current transcriptomic studies have shown that pathways and networks in male and female individuals are not equally affected by stress exposure. In this review, we give an overview of transcriptional studies designed to understand how sex influences stress-specific transcriptomic changes in rodent models, as well as human psychiatric patients, highlighting the use of different methodological techniques. Understanding which mechanisms are more affected in males, and which in females, may lead to the identification of sex-specific mechanisms, their selective contribution to stress susceptibility, and their role in the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Brivio
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Juan Pablo Lopez
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurological Diseases, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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10
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Epigenetics and meditation. Curr Opin Psychol 2019; 28:76-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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11
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Younis RM, Taylor RM, Beardsley PM, McClay JL. The ANKS1B gene and its associated phenotypes: focus on CNS drug response. Pharmacogenomics 2019; 20:669-684. [PMID: 31250731 PMCID: PMC6912848 DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2019-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ANKS1B gene was a top finding in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of antipsychotic drug response. Subsequent GWAS findings for ANKS1B include cognitive ability, educational attainment, body mass index, response to corticosteroids and drug dependence. We review current human association evidence for ANKS1B, in addition to functional studies that include two published mouse knockouts. The several GWAS findings in humans indicate that phenotypically relevant variation is segregating at the ANKS1B locus. ANKS1B shows strong plausibility for involvement in CNS drug response because it encodes a postsynaptic effector protein that mediates long-term changes to neuronal biology. Forthcoming data from large biobanks should further delineate the role of ANKS1B in CNS drug response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabha M Younis
- Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Rachel M Taylor
- Center for Military Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MA 20910, USA
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Center for Biomarker Research & Personalized Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Joseph L McClay
- Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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12
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Differentially Methylated Genes in Saliva are linked to Childhood Stress. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10785. [PMID: 30018309 PMCID: PMC6050255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29107-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic and severe stress exposure in early childhood is associated with the development of psychiatric disorders. Yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. Here, we profile molecular marks (DNA methylation and gene expression) throughout the human genome to determine the associations between childhood stress exposure and gene regulation. To do so, we collected saliva tissue from prepubertal girls (mean age 10.9 ± 1.26 years) who had experienced different levels of childhood adversity, ranging from mild to severe. We found 122 differentially methylated genes (FDR P-value < 0.05) associated with high childhood stress exposures that affect brain development. Of these differentially methylated genes, 12 also differed in gene expression. To further investigate the potential effects of stress exposure on gene regulation, we examined the DNA sequences flanking all the differentially methylated loci. This analysis revealed enrichment of known binding sites for transcription factors, suggesting that DNA methylation may regulate gene expression by mediating transcription factor binding on these genes. Together, these findings indicate a possible neuromolecular mechanism linking children’s social experiences with risk for anxiety and depressive disorders.
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13
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Boswell WT, Boswell M, Walter DJ, Navarro KL, Chang J, Lu Y, Savage MG, Shen J, Walter RB. Exposure to 4100K fluorescent light elicits sex specific transcriptional responses in Xiphophorus maculatus skin. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 208:96-104. [PMID: 28965926 PMCID: PMC5876067 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It has been reported that exposure to artificial light may affect oxygen intake, heart rate, absorption of vitamins and minerals, and behavioral responses in humans. We have reported specific gene expression responses in the skin of Xiphophorus fish after exposure to ultraviolet light (UV), as well as, both broad spectrum and narrow waveband visible light. In regard to fluorescent light (FL), we have shown that male X. maculatus exposed to 4100K FL (i.e. "cool white") rapidly suppress transcription of many genes involved with DNA replication and repair, chromosomal segregation, and cell cycle progression in skin. We have also detailed sex specific transcriptional responses of Xiphophorus skin after exposure to UVB. However, investigation of gender differences in global gene expression response after exposure to 4100K FL has not been reported, despite common use of this FL source for residential, commercial, and animal facility illumination. Here, we compare RNA-Seq results analyzed to assess changes in the global transcription profiles of female and male X. maculatus skin in response to 4100K FL exposure. Our results suggest 4100K FL exposure incites a sex-biased genetic response including up-modulation of inflammation in females and down modulation of DNA repair/replication in males. In addition, we identify clusters of genes that become oppositely modulated in males and females after FL exposure that are principally involved in cell death and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T Boswell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Mikki Boswell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Dylan J Walter
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Kaela L Navarro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Jordan Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Yuan Lu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Markita G Savage
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
| | - Jianjun Shen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, TX 78957, USA.
| | - Ronald B Walter
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
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14
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Dick A, Provencal N. Central Neuroepigenetic Regulation of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 158:105-127. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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15
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Iurato S, Carrillo-Roa T, Arloth J, Czamara D, Diener-Hölzl L, Lange J, Müller-Myhsok B, Binder EB, Erhardt A. "DNA Methylation signatures in panic disorder". Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:1287. [PMID: 29249830 PMCID: PMC5802688 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Panic disorder (PD) affects about four million Europeans, with women affected twice as likely as men, causing substantial suffering and high economic costs. The etiopathogenesis of PD remains largely unknown, but both genetic and environmental factors contribute to risk. An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) was conducted to compare medication-free PD patients (n = 89) with healthy controls (n = 76) stratified by gender. Replication was sought in an independent sample (131 cases, 169 controls) and functional analyses were conducted in a third sample (N = 71). DNA methylation was assessed in whole blood using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. One genome-wide association surviving FDR of 5% (cg07308824, P = 1.094 × 10-7, P-adj = 0.046) was identified in female PD patients (N = 49) compared to controls (N = 48). The same locus, located in an enhancer region of the HECA gene, was also hypermethylated in female PD patients in the replication sample (P = 0.035) and the significance of the association improved in the meta-analysis (P-adj = 0.004). Methylation at this CpG site was associated with HECA mRNA expression in another independent female sample (N = 71) both at baseline (P = 0.046) and after induction by dexamethasone (P = 0.029). Of 15 candidates, 5 previously reported as associated with PD or anxiety traits also showed differences in DNA methylation after gene-wise correction and included SGK1, FHIT, ADCYAP1, HTR1A, HTR2A. Our study examines epigenome-wide differences in peripheral blood for PD patients. Our results point to possible sex-specific methylation changes in the HECA gene for PD but overall highlight that this disorder is not associated with extensive changes in DNA methylation in peripheral blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Iurato
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
| | - Tania Carrillo-Roa
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Janine Arloth
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Darina Czamara
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Diener-Hölzl
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Jennifer Lange
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Bertram Müller-Myhsok
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- 0000 0000 9497 5095grid.419548.5Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany ,0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Angelika Erhardt
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
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16
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Alisch RS, Van Hulle C, Chopra P, Bhattacharyya A, Zhang SC, Davidson RJ, Kalin NH, Goldsmith HH. A multi-dimensional characterization of anxiety in monozygotic twin pairs reveals susceptibility loci in humans. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:1282. [PMID: 29225348 PMCID: PMC5802687 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0047-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiology of individual differences in human anxiousness is complex and includes contributions from genetic, epigenetic (i.e., DNA methylation) and environmental factors. Past genomic approaches have been limited in their ability to detect human anxiety-related differences in these factors. To overcome these limitations, we employed both a multi-dimensional characterization method, to select monozygotic twin pairs discordant for anxiety, and whole genome DNA methylation sequencing. This approach revealed 230 anxiety-related differentially methylated loci that were annotated to 183 genes, including several known stress-related genes such as NAV1, IGF2, GNAS, and CRTC1. As an initial validation of these findings, we tested the significance of an overlap of these data with anxiety-related differentially methylated loci that we previously reported from a key neural circuit of anxiety (i.e., the central nucleus of the amygdala) in young monkeys and found a significant overlap (P-value < 0.05) of anxiety-related differentially methylated genes, including GNAS, SYN3, and JAG2. Finally, sequence motif predictions of all the human differentially methylated regions indicated an enrichment of five transcription factor binding motifs, suggesting that DNA methylation may regulate gene expression by mediating transcription factor binding of these transcripts. Together, these data demonstrate environmentally sensitive factors that may underlie the development of human anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid S. Alisch
- 0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
| | - Carol Van Hulle
- 0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
| | - Pankaj Chopra
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- 0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- 0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
| | - Richard J. Davidson
- 0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,Center for Healthy Minds, Madison, WI USA
| | - Ned H. Kalin
- 0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
| | - H. Hill Goldsmith
- 0000 0001 2167 3675grid.14003.36Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA ,0000 0001 0701 8607grid.28803.31Departments of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
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17
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Variation in global DNA hydroxymethylation with age associated with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2017; 257:497-500. [PMID: 28841512 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
To improve understanding of DNA hydroxymethylation (5hmC) and methylation (5mC) in the development of schizophrenia, this study examined global 5hmC and 5mC levels in peripheral blood DNA of 264 patients with schizophrenia and 221 controls and observed increased 5mC levels in the patients and increased 5hmC levels in male patients but decreased levels in female patients as compared with the controls. The 5mC level displayed a gender-dependent positive correlation with age and the 5hmC level displayed a correlation with age positively in controls but negatively in patients, and their role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia remains to be elucidated.
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Papale LA, Madrid A, Li S, Alisch RS. Early-life stress links 5-hydroxymethylcytosine to anxiety-related behaviors. Epigenetics 2017; 12:264-276. [PMID: 28128679 PMCID: PMC5398765 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2017.1285986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental stress contributes to the development of psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety. While even acute stress alters gene expression, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes remain largely unknown. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a novel environmentally sensitive DNA modification that is highly enriched in the brain and is associated with active transcription of neuronal genes. Here we examined behavioral and molecular alterations in adult mice that experienced an early-life stress before weaning (postnatal day 12 to 18) and found anxiety-like behaviors in adult female mice that were accompanied by correlated disruptions of hypothalamic 5hmC and gene expression in 118 genes, revealing potentially functional 5hmC (i.e., gene regulation). These genes are known and potentially novel stress-related targets, including Nr3c2, Nrxn1, Nfia, and Clip1, that have a significant enrichment for neuronal ontological functions, such as neuronal development and differentiation. Sequence motif predictions indicated that 5hmC may regulate gene expression by mediating transcription factor binding and alternative splicing of many of these transcripts. Together, these findings represent a critical step toward understanding the effects of early environment on the neuromolecular mechanisms that underlie the risk to develop anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligia A Papale
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,b Neuroscience Training Program , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Sisi Li
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,b Neuroscience Training Program , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Reid S Alisch
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
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Grzybek M, Golonko A, Walczak M, Lisowski P. Epigenetics of cell fate reprogramming and its implications for neurological disorders modelling. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 99:84-120. [PMID: 27890672 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) proceeds in a stepwise manner with reprogramming factors binding and epigenetic composition changes during transition to maintain the epigenetic landscape, important for pluripotency. There arises a question as to whether the aberrant epigenetic state after reprogramming leads to epigenetic defects in induced stem cells causing unpredictable long term effects in differentiated cells. In this review, we present a comprehensive view of epigenetic alterations accompanying reprogramming, cell maintenance and differentiation as factors that influence applications of hiPSCs in stem cell based technologies. We conclude that sample heterogeneity masks DNA methylation signatures in subpopulations of cells and thus believe that beside a genetic evaluation, extensive epigenomic screening should become a standard procedure to ensure hiPSCs state before they are used for genome editing and differentiation into neurons of interest. In particular, we suggest that exploitation of the single-cell composition of the epigenome will provide important insights into heterogeneity within hiPSCs subpopulations to fast forward development of reliable hiPSC-based analytical platforms in neurological disorders modelling and before completed hiPSC technology will be implemented in clinical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Grzybek
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Golonko
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Marta Walczak
- Department of Animal Behavior, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
| | - Pawel Lisowski
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland; iPS Cell-Based Disease Modelling Group, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
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20
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Discovery and replication of a peripheral tissue DNA methylation biosignature to augment a suicide prediction model. Clin Epigenetics 2016; 8:113. [PMID: 27822318 PMCID: PMC5093988 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0279-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents in the USA, and rates are rising. Methods to identify individuals at risk are essential for implementing prevention strategies, and the development of a biomarker can potentially improve prediction of suicidal behaviors. Prediction of our previously reported SKA2 biomarker for suicide and PTSD is substantially improved by questionnaires assessing perceived stress or anxiety and is therefore reliant on psychological assessment. However, such stress-related states may also leave a biosignature that could equally improve suicide prediction. In genome-wide DNA methylation data, we observed significant overlap between waking cortisol-associated and suicide-associated DNA methylation in blood and the brain, respectively. Results Using a custom bioinformatic brain to blood discovery algorithm, we derived a DNA methylation biosignature that interacts with SKA2 methylation to improve the prediction of suicidal ideation in our existing suicide prediction model across both blood and saliva data sets. This biosignature was independently validated in the Grady Trauma Project cohort and interacted with HPA axis metrics in the same cohort. The biosignature showed a relationship with immune status by its correlation with myeloid-derived cell proportions in all data sets and with IL-6 measures in a prospective postpartum depression cohort. Three probes showed significant correlations with the biosignature: cg08469255 (DDR1), cg22029879 (ARHGEF10), and cg24437859 (SHP1), of which SHP1 methylation correlated with immune measures. Conclusions We conclude that this biosignature interacts with SKA2 methylation to improve suicide prediction and may represent a biological state of immune and HPA axis modulation that mediates suicidal behavior. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-016-0279-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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