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Daskalakis NP, Iatrou A, Chatzinakos C, Jajoo A, Snijders C, Wylie D, DiPietro CP, Tsatsani I, Chen CY, Pernia CD, Soliva-Estruch M, Arasappan D, Bharadwaj RA, Collado-Torres L, Wuchty S, Alvarez VE, Dammer EB, Deep-Soboslay A, Duong DM, Eagles N, Huber BR, Huuki L, Holstein VL, Logue ΜW, Lugenbühl JF, Maihofer AX, Miller MW, Nievergelt CM, Pertea G, Ross D, Sendi MSE, Sun BB, Tao R, Tooke J, Wolf EJ, Zeier Z, Berretta S, Champagne FA, Hyde T, Seyfried NT, Shin JH, Weinberger DR, Nemeroff CB, Kleinman JE, Ressler KJ. Systems biology dissection of PTSD and MDD across brain regions, cell types, and blood. Science 2024; 384:eadh3707. [PMID: 38781393 PMCID: PMC11203158 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh3707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The molecular pathology of stress-related disorders remains elusive. Our brain multiregion, multiomic study of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) included the central nucleus of the amygdala, hippocampal dentate gyrus, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Genes and exons within the mPFC carried most disease signals replicated across two independent cohorts. Pathways pointed to immune function, neuronal and synaptic regulation, and stress hormones. Multiomic factor and gene network analyses provided the underlying genomic structure. Single nucleus RNA sequencing in dorsolateral PFC revealed dysregulated (stress-related) signals in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. Analyses of brain-blood intersections in >50,000 UK Biobank participants were conducted along with fine-mapping of the results of PTSD and MDD genome-wide association studies to distinguish risk from disease processes. Our data suggest shared and distinct molecular pathology in both disorders and propose potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos P. Daskalakis
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Artemis Iatrou
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Chris Chatzinakos
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA
- VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, USA
| | - Aarti Jajoo
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Clara Snijders
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dennis Wylie
- Center for Biomedical Research Support, The University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Christopher P. DiPietro
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ioulia Tsatsani
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health, and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | | | - Cameron D. Pernia
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Marina Soliva-Estruch
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health, and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Dhivya Arasappan
- Center for Biomedical Research Support, The University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Rahul A. Bharadwaj
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Leonardo Collado-Torres
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Stefan Wuchty
- Departments of Computer Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Victor E. Alvarez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
- National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Brain Bank, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory School of Medicine; Atlanta GA, 30329, USA
| | - Amy Deep-Soboslay
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Duc M. Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory School of Medicine; Atlanta GA, 30329, USA
| | - Nick Eagles
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Bertrand R. Huber
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Brain Bank, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Louise Huuki
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Vincent L Holstein
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Μark W. Logue
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Justina F. Lugenbühl
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health, and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Adam X. Maihofer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego; La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Center for Excellence in Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
| | - Mark W. Miller
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Caroline M Nievergelt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego; La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Center for Excellence in Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
| | - Geo Pertea
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Deanna Ross
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Mohammad S. E Sendi
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Ran Tao
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - James Tooke
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Erika J. Wolf
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Zane Zeier
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | | | - Sabina Berretta
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Thomas Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Nicholas T. Seyfried
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory School of Medicine; Atlanta GA, 30329, USA
| | - Joo Heon Shin
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Daniel R. Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Charles B. Nemeroff
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Joel E. Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development; Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- McLean Hospital; Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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2
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Pitrez PR, Monteiro LM, Borgogno O, Nissan X, Mertens J, Ferreira L. Cellular reprogramming as a tool to model human aging in a dish. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1816. [PMID: 38418829 PMCID: PMC10902382 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46004-5] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The design of human model systems is highly relevant to unveil the underlying mechanisms of aging and to provide insights on potential interventions to extend human health and life span. In this perspective, we explore the potential of 2D or 3D culture models comprising human induced pluripotent stem cells and transdifferentiated cells obtained from aged or age-related disorder-affected donors to enhance our understanding of human aging and to catalyze the discovery of anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Pitrez
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luis M Monteiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIUC-institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão, Coimbra, 3030-789, Portugal
| | - Oliver Borgogno
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xavier Nissan
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic diseases, Evry cedex, France
| | - Jerome Mertens
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Lino Ferreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Bourassa KJ, Garrett ME, Caspi A, Dennis M, Hall KS, Moffitt TE, Taylor GA, Ashley-Koch AE, Beckham JC, Kimbrel NA. Posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, and accelerated biological aging among post-9/11 veterans. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:4. [PMID: 38184702 PMCID: PMC10771513 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02704-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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
People who experience trauma and develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at increased risk for poor health. One mechanism that could explain this risk is accelerated biological aging, which is associated with the accumulation of chronic diseases, disability, and premature mortality. Using data from 2309 post-9/11 United States military veterans who participated in the VISN 6 MIRECC's Post-Deployment Mental Health Study, we tested whether PTSD and trauma exposure were associated with accelerated rate of biological aging, assessed using a validated DNA methylation (DNAm) measure of epigenetic aging-DunedinPACE. Veterans with current PTSD were aging faster than those who did not have current PTSD, β = 0.18, 95% CI [0.11, 0.27], p < .001. This effect represented an additional 0.4 months of biological aging each year. Veterans were also aging faster if they reported more PTSD symptoms, β = 0.13, 95% CI [0.09, 0.16], p < 0.001, or higher levels of trauma exposure, β = 0.09, 95% CI [0.05, 0.13], p < 0.001. Notably, veterans with past PTSD were aging more slowly than those with current PTSD, β = -0.21, 95% CI [-0.35, -0.07], p = .003. All reported results accounted for age, gender, self-reported race/ethnicity, and education, and remained when controlling for smoking. Our findings suggest that an accelerated rate of biological aging could help explain how PTSD contributes to poor health and highlights the potential benefits of providing efficacious treatment to populations at increased risk of trauma and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Bourassa
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA.
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA.
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA.
| | | | - Avshalom Caspi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Center for the Study of Population Health & Aging, Duke University Population Research Institute, Durham, USA
| | - Michelle Dennis
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US
| | - Katherine S Hall
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University, Durham, USA
| | - Terrie E Moffitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Center for the Study of Population Health & Aging, Duke University Population Research Institute, Durham, USA
| | - Gregory A Taylor
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | | | - Jean C Beckham
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US
| | - Nathan A Kimbrel
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US
- VA Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
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Wolf EJ, Miller MW, Hawn SE, Zhao X, Wallander SE, McCormick B, Govan C, Rasmusson A, Stone A, Schichman SA, Logue MW. Longitudinal study of traumatic-stress related cellular and cognitive aging. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:494-504. [PMID: 37967663 PMCID: PMC10843744 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic stress is associated with both accelerated epigenetic age and increased risk for dementia. Accelerated epigenetic age might link symptoms of traumatic stress to dementia-associated biomarkers, such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins, neurofilament light (NFL), and inflammatory molecules. We tested this hypothesis using longitudinal data obtained from 214 trauma-exposed military veterans (85 % male, mean age at baseline: 53 years, 75 % White) who were assessed twice over the course of an average of 5.6 years. Cross-lagged panel mediation models evaluated measures of lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder and internalizing and externalizing comorbidity (assessed at Time 1; T1) in association with T1 epigenetic age (per the GrimAge algorithm) and T1 plasma markers of neuropathology along with bidirectional temporal paths between T1 and T2 epigenetic age and the plasma markers. Results revealed that a measure of externalizing comorbidity was associated with accelerated epigenetic age (β = 0.30, p <.01), which in turn, was associated with subsequent increases in Aβ-40 (β = 0.20, p <.001), Aβ-42 (β = 0.18, p <.001), and interleukin-6 (β = 0.18, p <.01). T1 advanced epigenetic age and the T1 neuropathology biomarkers NFL and glial fibrillary acidic protein predicted worse performance on T2 neurocognitive tasks assessing working memory, executive/attentional control, and/or verbal memory (ps = 0.03 to 0.009). Results suggest that advanced GrimAge is predictive of subsequent increases in neuropathology and inflammatory biomarkers as well as worse cognitive function, highlighting the clinical significance of this biomarker with respect to cognitive aging and brain health over time. The finding that advanced GrimAge mediated the association between psychiatric comorbidity and future neuropathology is important for understanding potential pathways to neurodegeneration and early identification of those at greatest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sage E Hawn
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Old Dominion University, Department of Psychology, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Xiang Zhao
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara E Wallander
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Beth McCormick
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine Govan
- MAVERIC Central Biorepository, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann Rasmusson
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annjanette Stone
- Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory, Research Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Steven A Schichman
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Genetics, Boston, MA, USA
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Katrinli S, Smith AK, Drury SS, Covault J, Ford JD, Singh V, Reese B, Johnson A, Scranton V, Fall P, Briggs-Gowan M, Grasso DJ. Cumulative stress, PTSD, and emotion dysregulation during pregnancy and epigenetic age acceleration in Hispanic mothers and their newborn infants. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2231722. [PMID: 37433036 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2231722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy can exacerbate or prompt the onset of stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is associated with heightened stress responsivity and emotional dysregulation, as well as increased risk of chronic disorders and mortality. Further, maternal PTSD is associated with gestational epigenetic age acceleration in newborns, implicating the prenatal period as a developmental time period for the transmission of effects across generations. Here, we evaluated the associations between PTSD symptoms, maternal epigenetic age acceleration, and infant gestational epigenetic age acceleration in 89 maternal-neonatal dyads. Trauma-related experiences and PTSD symptoms in mothers were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy. The MethylationEPIC array was used to generate DNA methylation data from maternal and neonatal saliva samples collected within 24 h of infant birth. Maternal epigenetic age acceleration was calculated using Horvath's multi-tissue clock, PhenoAge and GrimAge. Gestational epigenetic age was estimated using the Haftorn clock. Maternal cumulative past-year stress (GrimAge: p = 3.23e-04, PhenoAge: p = 9.92e-03), PTSD symptoms (GrimAge: p = 0.019), and difficulties in emotion regulation (GrimAge: p = 0.028) were associated with accelerated epigenetic age in mothers. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with lower gestational epigenetic age acceleration in neonates (p = 0.032). Overall, our results suggest that maternal cumulative past-year stress exposure and trauma-related symptoms may increase the risk for age-related problems in mothers and developmental problems in their newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyma Katrinli
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stacy S Drury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Julian D Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Vijender Singh
- Computational Biology Core, University of Connecticut, School of Medicine, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Bo Reese
- Center for Genome Innovation, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Amy Johnson
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Victoria Scranton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Pamela Fall
- Clinical Research Center Core Laboratory, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Margaret Briggs-Gowan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Damion J Grasso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
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Zannas AS, Linnstaedt SD, An X, Stevens JS, Harnett NG, Roeckner AR, Oliver KI, Rubinow DR, Binder EB, Koenen KC, Ressler KJ, McLean SA. Epigenetic aging and PTSD outcomes in the immediate aftermath of trauma. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7170-7179. [PMID: 36951141 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723000636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychological trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with advanced epigenetic age. However, whether epigenetic aging measured at the time of trauma predicts the subsequent development of PTSD outcomes is unknown. Moreover, the neural substrates underlying posttraumatic outcomes associated with epigenetic aging are unclear. METHODS We examined a multi-ancestry cohort of women and men (n = 289) who presented to the emergency department (ED) after trauma. Blood DNA was collected at ED presentation, and EPIC DNA methylation arrays were used to assess four widely used metrics of epigenetic aging (HorvathAge, HannumAge, PhenoAge, and GrimAge). PTSD symptoms were evaluated longitudinally at the time of ED presentation and over the ensuing 6 months. Structural and functional neuroimaging was performed 2 weeks after trauma. RESULTS After covariate adjustment and correction for multiple comparisons, advanced ED GrimAge predicted increased risk for 6-month probable PTSD diagnosis. Secondary analyses suggested that the prediction of PTSD by GrimAge was driven by worse trajectories for intrusive memories and nightmares. Advanced ED GrimAge was also associated with reduced volume of the whole amygdala and specific amygdala subregions, including the cortico-amygdaloid transition and the cortical and accessory basal nuclei. CONCLUSIONS Our findings shed new light on the relation between biological aging and trauma-related phenotypes, suggesting that GrimAge measured at the time of trauma predicts PTSD trajectories and is associated with relevant brain alterations. Furthering these findings has the potential to enhance early prevention and treatment of posttraumatic psychiatric sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S Zannas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Stress Initiative, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Xinming An
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa R Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Katelyn I Oliver
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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7
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Vera-Chang MN, Danforth JM, Stuart M, Goodarzi AA, Brand M, Richardson RB. Profound DNA methylomic differences between single- and multi-fraction alpha irradiations of lung fibroblasts. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:174. [PMID: 37891670 PMCID: PMC10612361 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01564-z] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alpha (α)-radiation is a ubiquitous environmental agent with epigenotoxic effects. Human exposure to α-radiation at potentially harmful levels can occur repetitively over the long term via inhalation of naturally occurring radon gas that accumulates in enclosed spaces, or as a result of a single exposure from a nuclear accident. Alterations in epigenetic DNA methylation (DNAm) have been implicated in normal aging and cancer pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the effects of aberrations in the methylome of human lung cells following exposure to single or multiple α-irradiation events on these processes remain unexplored. RESULTS We performed genome-wide DNAm profiling of human embryonic lung fibroblasts from control and irradiated cells using americium-241 α-sources. Cells were α-irradiated in quadruplicates to seven doses using two exposure regimens, a single-fraction (SF) where the total dose was given at once, and a multi-fraction (MF) method, where the total dose was equally distributed over 14 consecutive days. Our results revealed that SF irradiations were prone to a decrease in DNAm levels, while MF irradiations mostly increased DNAm. The analysis also showed that the gene body (i.e., exons and introns) was the region most altered by both the SF hypomethylation and the MF hypermethylation. Additionally, the MF irradiations induced the highest number of differentially methylated regions in genes associated with DNAm biomarkers of aging, carcinogenesis, and cardiovascular disease. The DNAm profile of the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes suggests that the fibroblasts manifested a defensive response to the MF α-irradiation. Key DNAm events of ionizing radiation exposure, including changes in methylation levels in mitochondria dysfunction-related genes, were mainly identified in the MF groups. However, these alterations were under-represented, indicating that the mitochondria undergo adaptive mechanisms, aside from DNAm, in response to radiation-induced oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS We identified a contrasting methylomic profile in the lung fibroblasts α-irradiated to SF compared with MF exposures. These findings demonstrate that the methylome response of the lung cells to α-radiation is highly dependent on both the total dose and the exposure regimen. They also provide novel insights into potential biomarkers of α-radiation, which may contribute to the development of innovative approaches to detect, prevent, and treat α-particle-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn N Vera-Chang
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada
| | - John M Danforth
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, Robson DNA Science Centre, Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marilyne Stuart
- Environment and Waste Technologies Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada
| | - Aaron A Goodarzi
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, Robson DNA Science Centre, Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marjorie Brand
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Richard B Richardson
- Radiobiology and Health Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, K0J 1J0, Canada.
- McGill Medical Physics Unit, Cedars Cancer Centre-Glen Site, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
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8
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Iannuzzi V, Sarno S, Sazzini M, Abondio P, Sala C, Bacalini MG, Gentilini D, Calzari L, Masciotta F, Garagnani P, Castellani G, Moretti E, Dasso MC, Sevini F, Franceschi ZA, Franceschi C, Pettener D, Luiselli D, Giuliani C. Epigenetic aging differences between Wichí and Criollos from Argentina: Insights from genomic history and ecology. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:397-414. [PMID: 37954982 PMCID: PMC10632719 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad034] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Epigenetic estimators based on DNA methylation levels have emerged as promising biomarkers of human aging. These estimators exhibit natural variations across human groups, but data about indigenous populations remain underrepresented in research. This study aims to investigate differences in epigenetic estimators between two distinct human populations, both residing in the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, the Native-American Wichí, and admixed Criollos who are descendants of intermarriages between Native Americans and the first European colonizers, using a population genetic approach. Methodology We analyzed 24 Wichí (mean age: 39.2 ± 12.9 yo) and 24 Criollos (mean age: 41.1 ± 14.0 yo) for DNA methylation levels using the Infinium MethylationEPIC (Illumina) to calculate 16 epigenetic estimators. Additionally, we examined genome-wide genetic variation using the HumanOmniExpress BeadChip (Illumina) to gain insights into the genetic history of these populations. Results Our results indicate that Native-American Wichí are epigenetically older compared to Criollos according to five epigenetic estimators. Analyses within the Criollos population reveal that global ancestry does not influence the differences observed, while local (chromosomal) ancestry shows positive associations between specific SNPs located in genomic regions over-represented by Native-American ancestry and measures of epigenetic age acceleration (AgeAccelHannum). Furthermore, we demonstrate that differences in population ecologies also contribute to observed epigenetic differences. Conclusions and implications Overall, our study suggests that while the genomic history may partially account for the observed epigenetic differences, non-genetic factors, such as lifestyle and ecological factors, play a substantial role in the variability of epigenetic estimators, thereby contributing to variations in human epigenetic aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Iannuzzi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Sazzini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate), Interdepartmental Centre, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Abondio
- Department of Cultural Heritage (DBC), University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Claudia Sala
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Davide Gentilini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciano Calzari
- Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Masciotta
- Department of Statistical Sciences ‘Paolo Fortunati’, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gastone Castellani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Edgardo Moretti
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental de Cuyo, CCT CONICET, Argentina
| | - Maria Cristina Dasso
- Centro de Investigaciones en Antropología Filosófica y Cultural (CIAFIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federica Sevini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Franceschi
- Laboratory of Systems Medicine of Healthy Aging and Department of Applied Mathematics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Davide Pettener
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Department of Cultural Heritage (DBC), University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Cristina Giuliani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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9
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Freilich CD. How does loneliness "get under the skin" to become biologically embedded? BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2023; 68:115-148. [PMID: 37800557 PMCID: PMC10843517 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2023.2260742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is linked to declining physical health across cardiovascular, inflammatory, metabolic, and cognitive domains. As a result, loneliness is increasingly being recognized as a public health threat, though the mechanisms that have been studied do not yet explain all loneliness-related health risk. Potential mechanisms include loneliness having 1.) direct, causal impacts on health, possibly maintained by epigenetic modification, 2.) indirect effects mediated through health-limiting behaviors, and 3.) artifactual associations perhaps related to genetic overlap and reverse causation. In this scoping review, we examine the evidence surrounding each of these pathways, with a particular emphasis on emerging research on epigenetic effects, in order to evaluate how loneliness becomes biologically embedded. We conclude that there are significant gaps in our knowledge of how psychosocial stress may lead to physiological changes, so more work is needed to understand if, how, and when loneliness has a direct influence on health. Hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical axis disruptions that lead to changes in gene expression through methylation and the activity of transcription factor proteins are one promising area of research but are confounded by a number of unmeasured factors. Therefore, wok is needed using causally informative designs, such as twin and family studies and intensively longitudinal diary studies.
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10
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Muhie S, Gautam A, Misganaw B, Yang R, Mellon SH, Hoke A, Flory J, Daigle B, Swift K, Hood L, Doyle FJ, Wolkowitz OM, Marmar CR, Ressler K, Yehuda R, Hammamieh R, Jett M. Integrated analysis of proteomics, epigenomics and metabolomics data revealed divergent pathway activation patterns in the recent versus chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:303-316. [PMID: 37516387 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolomics, proteomics and DNA methylome assays, when done in tandem from the same blood sample and analyzed together, offer an opportunity to evaluate the molecular basis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) course and pathogenesis. We performed separate metabolomics, proteomics, and DNA methylome assays on blood samples from two well-characterized cohorts of 159 active duty male participants with relatively recent onset PTSD (<1.5 years) and 300 male veterans with chronic PTSD (>7 years). Analyses of the multi-omics datasets from these two independent cohorts were used to identify convergent and distinct molecular profiles that might constitute potential signatures of severity and progression of PTSD and its comorbid conditions. Molecular signatures indicative of homeostatic processes such as signaling and metabolic pathways involved in cellular remodeling, neurogenesis, molecular safeguards against oxidative stress, metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids, regulation of normal immune response, post-transcriptional regulation, cellular maintenance and markers of longevity were significantly activated in the active duty participants with recent PTSD. In contrast, we observed significantly altered multimodal molecular signatures associated with chronic inflammation, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, and cellular attritions in the veterans with chronic PTSD. Activation status of signaling and metabolic pathways at the early and late timepoints of PTSD demonstrated the differential molecular changes related to homeostatic processes at its recent and multi-system syndromes at its chronic phase. Molecular alterations in the recent PTSD seem to indicate some sort of recalibration or compensatory response, possibly directed in mitigating the pathological trajectory of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seid Muhie
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; The Geneva Foundation, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Aarti Gautam
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Burook Misganaw
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Vysnova Inc. Landover, MD 20785, USA
| | - Ruoting Yang
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Synthia H Mellon
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Allison Hoke
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Janine Flory
- Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10468, USA
| | - Bernie Daigle
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Computer Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Kevin Swift
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Leroy Hood
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Francis J Doyle
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02134, USA
| | - Owen M Wolkowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Charles R Marmar
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kerry Ressler
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10468, USA
| | - Rasha Hammamieh
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Marti Jett
- US Army Medical Research and Development Command, HQ, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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11
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Womersley JS, du Plessis M, Greene MC, van den Heuwel LL, Kinyanda E, Seedat S. Advances in the molecular neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder from global contexts: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e62. [PMID: 37854422 PMCID: PMC10579657 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Trauma exposure is prevalent globally and is a defining event for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterised by intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviours, hypervigilance and negative alterations in cognition and mood. Exposure to trauma elicits a range of physiological responses which can interact with environmental factors to confer relative risk or resilience for PTSD. This systematic review summarises the findings of longitudinal studies examining biological correlates predictive of PTSD symptomology. Databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science) were systematically searched using relevant keywords for studies published between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. English language studies were included if they were original research manuscripts or meta-analyses of cohort investigations that assessed longitudinal relationships between one or more molecular-level measures and either PTSD status or symptoms. Eighteen of the 1,042 records identified were included. Studies primarily included military veterans/personnel, individuals admitted to hospitals after acute traumatic injury, and women exposed to interpersonal violence or rape. Genomic, inflammation and endocrine measures were the most commonly assessed molecular markers and highlighted processes related to inflammation, stress responding, and learning and memory. Quality assessments were done using the Systematic Appraisal of Quality in Observational Research, and the majority of studies were rated as being of high quality, with the remainder of moderate quality. Studies were predominantly conducted in upper-income countries. Those performed in low- and middle-income countries were not broadly representative in terms of demographic, trauma type and geographic profiles, with three out of the four studies conducted assessing only female participants, rape exposure and South Africa, respectively. They also did not generate multimodal data or use machine learning or multilevel modelling, potentially reflecting greater resource limitations in LMICs. Research examining molecular contributions to PTSD does not adequately reflect the global burden of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Morne du Plessis
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - M Claire Greene
- Program on Forced Migration and Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leigh L van den Heuwel
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Eugene Kinyanda
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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12
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Protsenko E, Wolkowitz OM, Yaffe K. Associations of stress and stress-related psychiatric disorders with GrimAge acceleration: review and suggestions for future work. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:142. [PMID: 37130894 PMCID: PMC10154294 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The notion of "biological aging" as distinct from chronological aging has been of increasing interest in psychiatry, and many studies have explored associations of stress and psychiatric illness with accelerated biological aging. The "epigenetic clocks" are one avenue of this research, wherein "biological age" is estimated using DNA methylation data from specific CpG dinucleotide sites within the human genome. Many iterations of the epigenetic clocks have been developed, but the GrimAge clock continues to stand out for its ability to predict morbidity and mortality. Several studies have now explored associations of stress, PTSD, and MDD with GrimAge acceleration (GrimAA). While stress, PTSD, and MDD are distinct psychiatric entities, they may share common mechanisms underlying accelerated biological aging. Yet, no one has offered a review of the evidence on associations of stress and stress-related psychopathology with GrimAA. In this review, we identify nine publications on associations of stress, PTSD, and MDD with GrimAA. We find that results are mixed both within and across each of these exposures. However, we also find that analytic methods - and specifically, the choice of covariates - vary widely between studies. To address this, we draw upon popular methods from the field of clinical epidemiology to offer (1) a systematic framework for covariate selection, and (2) an approach to results reporting that facilitates analytic consensus. Although covariate selection will differ by the research question, we encourage researchers to consider adjustment for tobacco, alcohol use, physical activity, race, sex, adult socioeconomic status, medical comorbidity, and blood cell composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Protsenko
- Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
- Department Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Owen M Wolkowitz
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kristine Yaffe
- Department Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
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13
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Yusupov N, Dieckmann L, Erhart M, Sauer S, Rex-Haffner M, Kopf-Beck J, Brückl TM, Czamara D, Binder EB. Transdiagnostic evaluation of epigenetic age acceleration and burden of psychiatric disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023:10.1038/s41386-023-01579-3. [PMID: 37069357 PMCID: PMC10354057 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01579-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Different psychiatric disorders as well as exposure to adverse life events have individually been associated with multiple age-related diseases and mortality. Age acceleration in different epigenetic clocks can serve as biomarker for such risk and could help to disentangle the interplay of psychiatric comorbidity and early adversity on age-related diseases and mortality. We evaluated five epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge and DunedinPoAm) in a transdiagnostic psychiatric sample using epigenome-wide DNA methylation data from peripheral blood of 429 subjects from two studies at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. Burden of psychiatric disease, represented by a weighted score, was significantly associated with biological age acceleration as measured by GrimAge and DunedinPoAm (R2-adj. 0.22 and 0.33 for GrimAge and DunedinPoAm, respectively), but not the other investigated clocks. The relation of burden of psychiatric disease appeared independent of differences in socioeconomic status and medication. Our findings indicate that increased burden of psychiatric disease may associate with accelerated biological aging. This highlights the importance of medical management of patients with multiple psychiatric comorbidities and the potential usefulness of specific epigenetic clocks for early detection of risk and targeted intervention to reduce mortality in psychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natan Yusupov
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany.
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany.
| | - Linda Dieckmann
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Mira Erhart
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Susann Sauer
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
| | - Monika Rex-Haffner
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
| | - Johannes Kopf-Beck
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tanja M Brückl
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
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14
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Katrinli S, King AP, Duval ER, Smith AK, Rajaram N, Liberzon I, Rauch SAM. DNA methylation GrimAge acceleration in US military veterans with PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:773-780. [PMID: 36725867 PMCID: PMC10066228 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01537-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation might mediate gene expression effects of trauma underlying PTSD symptoms, or effects of PTSD on related health problems. PTSD is associated with all-cause morbidity and premature mortality, suggesting accelerated biological aging. We measured genome-wide DNA methylation (Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip) in whole blood in a treatment study for combat-related PTSD - "PROGrESS", a multisite RCT comparing sertraline plus enhanced medication management (SERT + EMM), prolonged exposure (PE) therapy plus placebo (PE + PLB), and the combination (SERT + PE). DNA methylation was measured in 140 US military veterans who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan (112 current PTSD cases enrolled in a PTSD treatment study and 28 veterans without PTSD history controls), and also 59 non-trauma exposed controls at baseline posttreatment (24 weeks after baseline). Increased DNA methylation GrimAge acceleration (p = 8.8e-09) was observed in patients with PTSD compared to a pooled control group (trauma exposed and non-trauma exposed), suggesting a higher risk of premature mortality in those with PTSD. There was no difference in GrimAge acceleration between combat trauma and non-trauma exposed controls. No treatment-related changes in GrimAge acceleration were found in within-subject comparisons of PTSD patients pre- to post-treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyma Katrinli
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anthony P King
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, and Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Elizabeth R Duval
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory University, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nirmala Rajaram
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Israel Liberzon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Texas A&M Health, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Sheila A M Rauch
- Emory University, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Atlanta VA Healthcare System GA, Atlanta, GA, USA
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15
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA. Turning Back the Clock: A Retrospective Single-Blind Study on Brain Age Change in Response to Nutraceuticals Supplementation vs. Lifestyle Modifications. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030520. [PMID: 36979330 PMCID: PMC10046544 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing consensus that chronological age (CA) is not an accurate indicator of the aging process and that biological age (BA) instead is a better measure of an individual's risk of age-related outcomes and a more accurate predictor of mortality than actual CA. In this context, BA measures the "true" age, which is an integrated result of an individual's level of damage accumulation across all levels of biological organization, along with preserved resources. The BA is plastic and depends upon epigenetics. Brain state is an important factor contributing to health- and lifespan. METHODS AND OBJECTIVE Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG)-derived brain BA (BBA) is a suitable and promising measure of brain aging. In the present study, we aimed to show that BBA can be decelerated or even reversed in humans (N = 89) by using customized programs of nutraceutical compounds or lifestyle changes (mean duration = 13 months). RESULTS We observed that BBA was younger than CA in both groups at the end of the intervention. Furthermore, the BBA of the participants in the nutraceuticals group was 2.83 years younger at the endpoint of the intervention compared with their BBA score at the beginning of the intervention, while the BBA of the participants in the lifestyle group was only 0.02 years younger at the end of the intervention. These results were accompanied by improvements in mental-physical health comorbidities in both groups. The pre-intervention BBA score and the sex of the participants were considered confounding factors and analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the obtained results support the feasibility of the goal of this study and also provide the first robust evidence that halting and reversal of brain aging are possible in humans within a reasonable (practical) timeframe of approximately one year.
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Singewald N, Sartori SB, Reif A, Holmes A. Alleviating anxiety and taming trauma: Novel pharmacotherapeutics for anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109418. [PMID: 36623804 PMCID: PMC10372846 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders associated with psychological trauma, stress and anxiety are a highly prevalent and increasing cause of morbidity worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches, including medication, are effective in alleviating symptoms of anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at least in some individuals, but have unwanted side-effects and do not resolve underlying pathophysiology. After a period of stagnation, there is renewed enthusiasm from public, academic and commercial parties in designing and developing drug treatments for these disorders. Here, we aim to provide a snapshot of the current state of this field that is written for neuropharmacologists, but also practicing clinicians and the interested lay-reader. After introducing currently available drug treatments, we summarize recent/ongoing clinical assessment of novel medicines for anxiety and PTSD, grouped according to primary neurochemical targets and their potential to produce acute and/or enduring therapeutic effects. The evaluation of putative treatments targeting monoamine (including psychedelics), GABA, glutamate, cannabinoid, cholinergic and neuropeptide systems, amongst others, are discussed. We emphasize the importance of designing and clinically assessing new medications based on a firm understanding of the underlying neurobiology stemming from the rapid advances being made in neuroscience. This includes harnessing neuroplasticity to bring about lasting beneficial changes in the brain rather than - as many current medications do - produce a transient attenuation of symptoms, as exemplified by combining psychotropic/cognitive enhancing drugs with psychotherapeutic approaches. We conclude by noting some of the other emerging trends in this promising new phase of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Singewald
- Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Leopold Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Simone B Sartori
- Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Leopold Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Traumatic stress load and stressor reactivity score associated with accelerated gray matter maturation in youths indexed by normative models. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1137-1145. [PMID: 36575305 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01908-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how traumatic stress affects typical brain development during adolescence is critical to elucidate underlying mechanisms related to both maladaptive functioning and resilience after traumatic exposures. The current study aimed to map deviations from normative ranges of brain gray matter for youths with traumatic exposures. For each cortical and subcortical gray matter region, normative percentiles of variations were established using structural MRI from typically developing youths without any traumatic exposure (n = 245; age range = 8-23) from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC). The remaining PNC participants with neuroimaging data (n = 1129) were classified as either within the normative range (5-95%), delayed (>95%) or accelerated (<5%) maturational ranges for each region using the normative model. An averaged quantile regression index was calculated across all regions. Mediation models revealed that high traumatic stress load was positively associated with poorer cognitive functioning and greater psychopathology, and these associations were mediated by accelerated gray matter maturation. Furthermore, higher stressor reactivity scores, which represent a less resilient response under traumatic stress, were positively correlated with greater acceleration of gray matter maturation (r = 0.224, 95% CI = [0.17, 0.28], p < 0.001), suggesting that more accelerated maturation was linked to greater stressor response regardless of traumatic stress load. We conclude that traumatic stress is a source of deviation from normative brain development associated with poorer cognitive functioning and more psychopathology in the long run.
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18
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Boström ADE, Andersson P, Jamshidi E, Wilczek A, Nilsonne Å, Rask-Andersen M, Åsberg M, Jokinen J. Accelerated epigenetic aging in women with emotionally unstable personality disorder and a history of suicide attempts. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:66. [PMID: 36813766 PMCID: PMC9946998 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02369-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotional unstable personality disorder (EUPD; previously borderline personality disorder, BPD) is associated with excess natural-cause mortality, comorbid medical conditions, poor health habits and stress related epigenomic alterations. Previous studies demonstrated that GrimAge - a state-of-the-art epigenetic age (EA) estimator - strongly predicts mortality risk and physiological dysregulation. Herein, we utilize the GrimAge algorithm to investigate whether women with EUPD and a history of recent suicide attempts exhibit EA acceleration (EAA) in comparison to healthy controls. Genome-wide methylation patterns were measured using the Illumina Infinum Methylation Epic BeadChip in whole blood from 97 EUPD patients and 32 healthy controls. The control group was significantly older (p < 0.0001) and reported lesser exposure to violent behavior in both youth and adulthood (p < 0.0001). Groups were otherwise comparable regarding gender, BMI, or tobacco usage (p > 0.05). EA estimator DNAmGrimAge exceeded chronological age by 8.8 and 2.3 years in the EUPD and control group, respectively. Similarly, EAA marker AgeAccelGrim was substantially higher in EUPD subjects when compared to controls, in both univariate and multivariate analyzes (p < 0.00001). Tobacco usage conferred substantial within-group effects on the EA-chronological age difference, i.e., 10.74 years (SD = 4.19) compared to 6.00 years (SD = 3.10) in the non-user EUPD group (p < 0.00001). Notably, past alcohol and substance abuse, use of psychotropic medications, global assessment of functioning, self-reported exposure to violent behavior in youth and adulthood, later completed suicide (N = 8) and age at first suicide attempt did not predict EAA in the EUPD group (p > 0.05). These results underscore the importance of addressing medical health conditions along with low-cost preventative interventions aimed at improving somatic health outcomes in EUPD, such as efforts to support cessation of tobacco use. The independency of GrimAge to other EA algorithms in this group of severely impaired EUPD patients, suggest it may have unique characteristics to evaluate risk of adverse health outcomes in context of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Desai E. Boström
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Andersson
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Centre for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Falun, Sweden
| | - Esmail Jamshidi
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alexander Wilczek
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsonne
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathias Rask-Andersen
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie Åsberg
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jussi Jokinen
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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Jung J, McCartney DL, Wagner J, Yoo J, Bell AS, Mavromatis LA, Rosoff DB, Hodgkinson CA, Sun H, Schwandt M, Diazgranados N, Smith AK, Michopoulos V, Powers A, Stevens J, Bradley B, Fani N, Walker RM, Campbell A, Porteous DJ, McIntosh AM, Horvath S, Marioni RE, Evans KL, Goldman D, Lohoff FW. Additive Effects of Stress and Alcohol Exposure on Accelerated Epigenetic Aging in Alcohol Use Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:331-341. [PMID: 36182531 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress contributes to premature aging and susceptibility to alcohol use disorder (AUD), and AUD itself is a factor in premature aging; however, the interrelationships of stress, AUD, and premature aging are poorly understood. METHODS We constructed a composite score of stress from 13 stress-related outcomes in a discovery cohort of 317 individuals with AUD and control subjects. We then developed a novel methylation score of stress (MS stress) as a proxy of composite score of stress comprising 211 CpGs selected using a penalized regression model. The effects of MS stress on health outcomes and epigenetic aging were assessed in a sample of 615 patients with AUD and control subjects using epigenetic clocks and DNA methylation-based telomere length. Statistical analysis with an additive model using MS stress and a MS for alcohol consumption (MS alcohol) was conducted. Results were replicated in 2 independent cohorts (Generation Scotland, N = 7028 and the Grady Trauma Project, N = 795). RESULTS Composite score of stress and MS stress were strongly associated with heavy alcohol consumption, trauma experience, epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), and shortened DNA methylation-based telomere length in AUD. Together, MS stress and MS alcohol additively showed strong stepwise increases in EAA. Replication analyses showed robust association between MS stress and EAA in the Generation Scotland and Grady Trauma Project cohorts. CONCLUSIONS A methylation-derived score tracking stress exposure is associated with various stress-related phenotypes and EAA. Stress and alcohol have additive effects on aging, offering new insights into the pathophysiology of premature aging in AUD and, potentially, other aspects of gene dysregulation in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeesun Jung
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Daniel L McCartney
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Josephin Wagner
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Joyce Yoo
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Andrew S Bell
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lucas A Mavromatis
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Daniel B Rosoff
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Colin A Hodgkinson
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hui Sun
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Melanie Schwandt
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nancy Diazgranados
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jennifer Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rosie M Walker
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Archie Campbell
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David J Porteous
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M McIntosh
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn L Evans
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Falk W Lohoff
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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20
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Reduced epigenetic age in older adults who volunteer. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 148:106000. [PMID: 36521251 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.106000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volunteering is associated with improved health and well-being outcomes, including a reduced risk of mortality. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the association between volunteering and healthy aging and longevity have not been well-established. We evaluated if volunteering was associated with reduced epigenetic age acceleration in older adults. METHODS We evaluated associations between volunteering and age acceleration, measured by 13 DNA methylation (DNAm) "epigenetic clocks" in 4011 older adults (Mage=69 years; SDage=10 years) who participated in the Health and Retirement Study. We assessed 9 first-generation clocks (Horvath, Hannum, Horvath Skin, Lin, Garagnani, Vidalbralo, Weidner, Yang, and Bocklandt, which predict chronological age) and 4 second-generation clocks (Zhang, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPoAm, which predict future disease or longevity). We quantified the total associations between volunteering and DNAm age acceleration as well as the extent to which these associations might be attributable to potential confounding by individual demographics (e.g., race), social demographics (e.g., income), health factors (e.g., diabetes), and health behaviors (e.g., smoking). RESULTS Volunteering was associated with reduced epigenetic age acceleration across 6 epigenetic clocks optimized for predicting health and longevity (False Discovery Rate [FDR] q < 0.0001 for epigenetic clocks: PhenoAge, GrimAge, DunedinPoAm, Zhang mortality, Yang mitotic; FDR q < 0.01: Hannum). These associations were mostly independent of demographic and health factors, but substantially attenuated after adjusting for health behaviors. CONCLUSION Volunteering was associated with reduced epigenetic age acceleration in 6 of 13 (mostly second-generation) epigenetic clocks. Results provide preliminary evidence that volunteering might provide health benefits through slower biological aging and implicate health behaviors as one potential mechanism of such effects.
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21
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Okazaki S, Kimura R, Otsuka I, Tomiwa K, Funabiki Y, Hagiwara M, Murai T, Hishimoto A. Epigenetic aging in Williams syndrome. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:1553-1562. [PMID: 35416284 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion at the 7q11.23 region and is characterized by diverse symptoms encompassing physical and cognitive features. WS was reported to be associated to altered DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns. However, due to the limited information from long-term studies, it remains unclear whether WS accelerates aging. Genome-wide DNAm profiles can serve as "epigenetic clocks" to help estimate biological aging along with age-related markers, such as plasma proteins and telomere length. METHODS We investigated GrimAge, DNAm-based telomere length (DNAmTL), and other epigenetic clocks in blood samples of 32 patients with WS and 32 healthy controls. RESULTS We observed a significant acceleration in GrimAge, DNAmTL, and other epigenetic clocks in patients with WS as compared with those of controls. In addition, several GrimAge components, such as adrenomedullin, growth differentiation factor-15, leptin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, were altered in patients with WS. CONCLUSIONS This study provides novel evidence supporting the hypothesis that WS may be associated to accelerated biological aging. A better understanding of the overall underlying biological effects of WS can provide new foundations for improved patient care; thus, long-term follow-up studies are still warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Okazaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ryo Kimura
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ikuo Otsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | | | - Yasuko Funabiki
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Hagiwara
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akitoyo Hishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
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22
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Takemura Y, Tanifuji T, Okazaki S, Shinko Y, Otsuka I, Horai T, Shirai T, Aso K, Yamamoto N, Hishimoto A. Epigenetic clock analysis in methamphetamine dependence. Psychiatry Res 2022; 317:114901. [PMID: 36244160 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is used worldwide and causes serious public health and social problems. MA affects the central nervous, cardiac, and immune systems, which causes neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular diseases and infection. Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation (DNAm), are associated with various clinical phenotypes of MA abuse. DNAm is related to biological aging and health risks; hence, we aimed to assess the changes in biological aging in MA dependence using the DNAm age and DNA methylation-based telomere length (DNAmTL). We used five measures of DNAm age (HorvathAge, HannumAge, SkinBloodAge, PhenoAge, and GrimAge), DNAmTL, and DNAm-based age-predictive factors (plasma proteins and blood cell composition). We compared patients with MA dependence and healthy controls (n = 24 each) using the DNAm profiles obtained from whole-blood samples. Patients with MA dependence showed significant acceleration in PhenoAge and GrimAge, as well as a trend for significant acceleration in DNAmTL. Following adjustment for confounding factors, MA dependence was significantly associated with accelerations in PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DNAmTL, as well as alterations in DNAm-based age-predictive factors (beta-2-microglobulin, granulocytes, and naive cluster of differentiation 4+ T cells). Our results suggested an acceleration of biological aging and specific changes in the DNAm of age- predictive factors in MA dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Takemura
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Fukko-kai Tarumi Hospital, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takaki Tanifuji
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Satoshi Okazaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
| | - Yutaka Shinko
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Ikuo Otsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Tadasu Horai
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Shirai
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Katsuro Aso
- Department of Psychiatry, Fukko-kai Tarumi Hospital, Kobe, Japan
| | - Noriya Yamamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Fukko-kai Tarumi Hospital, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akitoyo Hishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
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Dimensions of childhood adversity differentially affect biological aging in major depression. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:431. [PMID: 36195591 PMCID: PMC9532396 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02198-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences have been consistently linked with physical and mental health disorders in adulthood that may be mediated, in part, via the effects of such exposures on biological aging. Using recently developed "epigenetic clocks", which provide an estimate of biological age, several studies have demonstrated a link between the cumulative exposure to childhood adversities and accelerated epigenetic aging. However, not all childhood adversities are equivalent and less is known about how distinct dimensions of childhood adversity relate to epigenetic aging metrics. Using two measures of childhood adversity exposure, we assess how the dimensions of Maltreatment and Household Dysfunction relate to epigenetic aging using two "second-generation" clocks, GrimAge and PhenoAge, in a cohort of unmedicated somatically healthy adults with moderate to severe major depression (n = 82). Our results demonstrate that the dimension of Maltreatment is associated with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) using the PhenoAge but not the GrimAge clock. This association was observed using both the Childhood Trauma questionnaire (CTQ; β = 0.272, p = 0.013) and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire (β = 0.307, p = 0.005) and remained significant when adjusting for exposure to the dimension of Household Dysfunction (β = 0.322, p = 0.009). In contrast, the dimension of Household Dysfunction is associated with epigenetic age deceleration (β = -0.194, p = 0.083) which achieved significance after adjusting for exposure to the dimension of Maltreatment (β = -0.304, p = 0.022). This study is the first to investigate these effects among individuals with Major Depressive Disorder and suggests that these dimensions of adversity may be associated with disease via distinct biological mechanisms.
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Hawn SE, Zhao X, Sullivan DR, Logue M, Fein-Schaffer D, Milberg W, McGlinchey R, Miller MW, Wolf EJ. For whom the bell tolls: psychopathological and neurobiological correlates of a DNA methylation index of time-to-death. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:406. [PMID: 36153327 PMCID: PMC9509393 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02164-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychopathology is a risk factor for accelerated biological aging and early mortality. We examined associations between broad underlying dimensions of psychopathology (reflecting internalizing and externalizing psychiatric symptoms), PTSD, and age-adjusted GrimAge ("GrimAge residuals"), a DNA methylation biomarker of mortality risk relative to age. We also examined neurobiological correlates of GrimAge residuals, including neurocognitive functioning, blood-based biomarkers (of inflammation, neuropathology, metabolic disease), and cortical thickness. Data from two independent trauma-exposed military cohorts (n = 647 [62.9% male, Mage = 52], n = 434 [90% male, Mage = 32]) were evaluated using linear regression models to test associations between GrimAge residuals, psychopathology, and health correlates. Externalizing psychopathology significantly predicted GrimAge residuals in both cohorts (ps < 0.028). PTSD predicted GrimAge residuals in the younger (p = 0.001) but not the older cohort. GrimAge residuals were associated with several neurobiological variables available in the younger cohort, including cognitive disinhibition (padj = 0.021), poorer memory recall (padj = 0.023), cardiometabolic pathology (padj < 0.001), oxidative stress (padj = 0.003), astrocyte damage (padj = 0.021), inflammation (C-reactive protein: padj < 0.001; IL-6: padj < 0.001), and immune functioning (padj < 0.001). A subset of inflammatory and neuropathology analytes were available in the older cohort and showed associations with GrimAge residuals (IL-6: padj < 0.001; TNF-α: padj < 0.001). GrimAge residuals were also associated with reduced cortical thickness in right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (padj = 0.018) and left fusiform gyrus (padj = 0.030), which are related to emotion regulation and facial recognition, respectively. Psychopathology may be a common risk factor for elevated mortality risk. GrimAge could help identify those at risk for adverse health outcomes and allow for early disease identification and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sage E Hawn
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Mills Godwin Bldg (134A), Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Xiang Zhao
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danielle R Sullivan
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Logue
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Genetics, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dana Fein-Schaffer
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William Milberg
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Regina McGlinchey
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
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25
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Differences in DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Within Twin Pairs Discordant for Cancer. Twin Res Hum Genet 2022; 25:171-179. [PMID: 36073160 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2022.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation-based age acceleration (DNAmAA) is associated with cancer, with both cancer tissue and blood showing increased DNAmAA. We aimed to investigate whether DNAmAA is associated with cancer risk within twin pairs discordant for cancer, and whether DNAmAA has the potential to serve as a biomarker for such. The study included 47 monozygotic and 48 same-sex-dizygotic cancer-discordant twin pairs from the Finnish Twin Cohort study with blood samples available between 17 and 31 years after the cancer diagnosis. We studied all cancers (95 pairs), then separately breast cancer (24 pairs) and all sites other than breast cancer (71 pairs). DNAmAA was calculated for seven models: Horvath, Horvath intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration, Hannum, Hannum intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration, Hannum extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration, PhenoAge and GrimAge. Within-pair differences in DNAmAA were analyzed by paired t tests and linear regression. Twin pairs sampled before cancer diagnosis did not differ significantly in DNAmAA. However, the within-pair differences in DNAmAA before cancer diagnosis increased significantly the closer the cancer diagnosis was, and this acceleration extended for years after the diagnosis. Pairs sampled after the diagnosis differed for DNAmAA with the Horvath models capturing cancer diagnosis-associated DNAmAA across all three cancer groupings. The results suggest that DNAmAA in blood is associated with cancer diagnosis. This may be due to epigenetic alterations in relation to cancer, its treatment or associated lifestyle changes. Based on the current study, the biomarker potential of DNAmAA in blood appears to be limited.
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Svoboda LK, Perera BPU, Morgan RK, Polemi KM, Pan J, Dolinoy DC. Toxicoepigenetics and Environmental Health: Challenges and Opportunities. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:1293-1311. [PMID: 35876266 PMCID: PMC9812000 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The rapidly growing field of toxicoepigenetics seeks to understand how toxicant exposures interact with the epigenome to influence disease risk. Toxicoepigenetics is a promising field of environmental health research, as integrating epigenetics into the field of toxicology will enable a more thorough evaluation of toxicant-induced disease mechanisms as well as the elucidation of the role of the epigenome as a biomarker of exposure and disease and possible mediator of exposure effects. Likewise, toxicoepigenetics will enhance our knowledge of how environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, and diet interact to influence health. Ultimately, an understanding of how the environment impacts the epigenome to cause disease may inform risk assessment, permit noninvasive biomonitoring, and provide potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention. However, the translation of research from this exciting field into benefits for human and animal health presents several challenges and opportunities. Here, we describe four significant areas in which we see opportunity to transform the field and improve human health by reducing the disease burden caused by environmental exposures. These include (1) research into the mechanistic role for epigenetic change in environment-induced disease, (2) understanding key factors influencing vulnerability to the adverse effects of environmental exposures, (3) identifying appropriate biomarkers of environmental exposures and their associated diseases, and (4) determining whether the adverse effects of environment on the epigenome and human health are reversible through pharmacologic, dietary, or behavioral interventions. We then highlight several initiatives currently underway to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie K Svoboda
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Bambarendage P U Perera
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Rachel K Morgan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Katelyn M Polemi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Junru Pan
- Department Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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27
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Peruzzolo TL, Pinto JV, Roza TH, Shintani AO, Anzolin AP, Gnielka V, Kohmann AM, Marin AS, Lorenzon VR, Brunoni AR, Kapczinski F, Passos IC. Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3150-3163. [PMID: 35477973 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01564-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with persistent, low-degree inflammation, which could explain the increased prevalence of autoimmune conditions and accelerated aging among patients. The aim of the present study is to assess which inflammatory and oxidative stress markers are associated with PTSD. We carried out a meta-analytic and meta-regression analysis based on a systematic review of studies comparing inflammatory and oxidative stress markers between patients with PTSD and controls. We undertook meta-analyses whenever values of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were available in two or more studies. Overall, 28,008 abstracts were identified, and 54 studies were included, with a total of 8394 participants. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Concentrations of C-reactive protein (SMD = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.21 to 1.06; p = 0.0031; k = 12), interleukin 6 (SMD = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.36 to 1.52; p = 0.0014; k = 32), and tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.55; p = 0.0080; k = 24) were significantly increased in patients with PTSD in comparison with healthy controls. Interleukin 1β levels almost reached the threshold for significance (SMD = 1.20; 95% CI: -0.04 to 2.44; p = 0.0569; k = 15). No oxidative stress marker was associated with PTSD. These findings may explain why PTSD is associated with accelerated aging and illnesses in which immune activation has a key role, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In addition, they pointed to the potential role of inflammatory markers as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Lauxen Peruzzolo
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Jairo Vinícius Pinto
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Thiago Henrique Roza
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Augusto Ossamu Shintani
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Anzolin
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Gnielka
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André Moura Kohmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Amanda Salvador Marin
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Vitória Ruschel Lorenzon
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André Russowsky Brunoni
- Centro de Pesquisas Clínicas e Epidemiológicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.,Departamentos de Clínica Médica e Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.,Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Psiquiatria (IMBION), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Flávio Kapczinski
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ives Cavalcante Passos
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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28
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Jokinen J, Andersson P, Chatzittofis A, Savard J, Rask-Andersen M, Åsberg M, Boström ADE. Accelerated epigenetic aging in suicide attempters uninfluenced by high intent-to-die and choice of lethal methods. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:224. [PMID: 35654772 PMCID: PMC9163048 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01998-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide attempts (SA) are associated with excess non-suicidal mortality, putatively mediated in part by premature cellular senescence. Epigenetic age (EA) estimators of biological age have been previously demonstrated to strongly predict physiological dysregulation and mortality risk. Herein, we investigate if violent SA with high intent-to-die is predictive of epigenetics-derived estimates of biological aging. The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip in whole blood of 88 suicide attempters. Subjects were stratified into two groups based on the putative risk of later committed suicide (low- [n = 58] and high-risk [n = 30]) in dependency of SA method (violent or non-violent) and/or intent-to-die (high/low). Estimators of intrinsic and extrinsic EA acceleration, one marker optimized to predict physiological dysregulation (DNAmPhenoAge/AgeAccelPheno) and one optimized to predict lifespan (DNAmGrimAge/AgeAccelGrim) were investigated for associations to severity of SA, by univariate and multivariate analyses. The study was adequately powered to detect differences of 2.2 years in AgeAccelGrim in relation to SA severity. Baseline DNAmGrimAge exceeded chronological age by 7.3 years on average across all samples, conferring a mean 24.6% increase in relation to actual age. No individual EA acceleration marker was differentiated by suicidal risk group (p > 0.1). Thus, SA per se but not severity of SA is related to EA, implicating that excess non-suicidal mortality in SA is unrelated to risk of committed suicide. Preventative healthcare efforts aimed at curtailing excess mortality after SA may benefit from acting equally powerful to recognize somatic comorbidities irrespective of the severity inherent in the act itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Jokinen
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ,grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Andersson
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Centre for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Falun, Sweden
| | - Andreas Chatzittofis
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ,grid.6603.30000000121167908Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Josephine Savard
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mathias Rask-Andersen
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie Åsberg
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adrian Desai E. Boström
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ,grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Women’s and Children’s Health/Neuropediatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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29
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Ressler KJ, Berretta S, Bolshakov VY, Rosso IM, Meloni EG, Rauch SL, Carlezon WA. Post-traumatic stress disorder: clinical and translational neuroscience from cells to circuits. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:273-288. [PMID: 35352034 PMCID: PMC9682920 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00635-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a maladaptive and debilitating psychiatric disorder, characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, negative emotions and thoughts, and hyperarousal in the months and years following exposure to severe trauma. PTSD has a prevalence of approximately 6-8% in the general population, although this can increase to 25% among groups who have experienced severe psychological trauma, such as combat veterans, refugees and victims of assault. The risk of developing PTSD in the aftermath of severe trauma is determined by multiple factors, including genetics - at least 30-40% of the risk of PTSD is heritable - and past history, for example, prior adult and childhood trauma. Many of the primary symptoms of PTSD, including hyperarousal and sleep dysregulation, are increasingly understood through translational neuroscience. In addition, a large amount of evidence suggests that PTSD can be viewed, at least in part, as a disorder that involves dysregulation of normal fear processes. The neural circuitry underlying fear and threat-related behaviour and learning in mammals, including the amygdala-hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex circuit, is among the most well-understood in behavioural neuroscience. Furthermore, the study of threat-responding and its underlying circuitry has led to rapid progress in understanding learning and memory processes. By combining molecular-genetic approaches with a translational, mechanistic knowledge of fear circuitry, transformational advances in the conceptual framework, diagnosis and treatment of PTSD are possible. In this Review, we describe the clinical features and current treatments for PTSD, examine the neurobiology of symptom domains, highlight genomic advances and discuss translational approaches to understanding mechanisms and identifying new treatments and interventions for this devastating syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry J Ressler
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sabina Berretta
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vadim Y Bolshakov
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabelle M Rosso
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward G Meloni
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Rauch
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William A Carlezon
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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30
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Mehta D, Bruenig D, Pierce J, Sathyanarayanan A, Stringfellow R, Miller O, Mullens AB, Shakespeare-Finch J. Recalibrating the epigenetic clock after exposure to trauma: The role of risk and protective psychosocial factors. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 149:374-381. [PMID: 34823878 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic aging is associated with a plethora of negative health outcomes and increased mortality. Yet, the dynamicity of epigenetic age after exposure to trauma and the factors that influence epigenetic age are not fully understood. This research evaluated longitudinal changes in epigenetic age before and after exposure to work-related trauma among paramedicine students. We further investigated psychological and social risk (psychological distress, posttraumatic stress disorder/PTSD symptom severity, professional quality of life) and protective factors (social support and organisational membership) that drive epigenetic aging at both time points. METHODS The study comprised of 80 samples of University paramedicine students including 40 individuals at two time points - t0 (baseline) and t1 (post-trauma exposure). Epigenome-wide analysis was performed from t0 and t1 saliva using the Illumina EPIC arrays that cover >860k probes. Data analysis was performed using R via generalized regression models. The epigenetic age was calculated based on the Horvath algorithm, GrimAge and SkinBloodAge were calculated using the Horvath online calculator, and p-value for significance was corrected using the FDR method for multiple testing corrections. RESULTS The epigenetic age at t0 and t1 were highly correlated with chronological age and with each other (r = 0.84-0.94). Baseline epigenetic age and follow-up epigenetic age were significantly associated with risk factors of psychological distress and PTSD symptom severity. Among the protective factors, a sense of psychological organisational membership at the start of the paramedicine course as measured at baseline significantly reduced epigenetic age at baseline and post-trauma exposure. On the other hand, receiving social support acted as a protective factor only after exposure to trauma (follow-up), decreasing epigenetic aging at follow-up. GrimAge acceleration at follow-up was significantly associated with increased PTSD symptom severity at baseline and follow-up. Moreover, increased social support at baseline and follow-up was associated with reduced follow-up GrimAge acceleration. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that epigenetic aging is dynamic and changes after exposure to trauma. Additionally, results demonstrate that different risk and protective factors influence epigenetic aging at different times. In conclusion, the research identified risk and protective factors associated with epigenetic aging pre- and post-trauma exposure, with implications for health and well-being among individuals exposed to trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Mehta
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - John Pierce
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Anita Sathyanarayanan
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Rachel Stringfellow
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Olivia Miller
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Amy B Mullens
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Centre for Health Research, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland (USQ), 11 Salisbury Rd, Ipswich, QLD, 4305, Australia
| | - Jane Shakespeare-Finch
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
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31
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Natural disaster and immunological aging in a nonhuman primate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2121663119. [PMID: 35131902 PMCID: PMC8872742 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121663119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Survivors of extreme adverse events, including natural disasters, often exhibit chronic inflammation and early onset of age-related diseases. Adversity may therefore accelerate aging via the immune system, which is sensitive to lived experiences. We tested if experiencing a hurricane was associated with immune gene expression in a population of free-ranging macaques. Exposure to Hurricane Maria broadly recapitulated age-associated molecular changes, including disruptions of protein folding genes, greater inflammatory immune cell marker gene expression, and older biological aging by an average of 2 y—approximately 7 to 8 y of the human lifespan. Together, our findings suggest that experiencing an extreme hurricane is associated with alterations in immune cell gene regulation similar to aging, potentially accelerating aspects of the aging process. Weather-related disasters are increasing in frequency and severity, leaving survivors to cope with ensuing mental, financial, and physical hardships. This adversity can exacerbate existing morbidities, trigger new ones, and increase the risk of mortality—features that are also characteristic of advanced age—inviting the hypothesis that extreme weather events may accelerate aging. To test this idea, we examined the impact of Hurricane Maria and its aftermath on immune cell gene expression in large, age-matched, cross-sectional samples from free-ranging rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) living on an isolated island. A cross section of macaques was sampled 1 to 4 y before (n = 435) and 1 y after (n = 108) the hurricane. Hurricane Maria was significantly associated with differential expression of 4% of immune-cell-expressed genes, and these effects were correlated with age-associated alterations in gene expression. We further found that individuals exposed to the hurricane had a gene expression profile that was, on average, 1.96 y older than individuals that were not—roughly equivalent to an increase in 7 to 8 y of a human life. Living through an intense hurricane and its aftermath was associated with expression of key immune genes, dysregulated proteostasis networks, and greater expression of inflammatory immune cell-specific marker genes. Together, our findings illuminate potential mechanisms through which the adversity unleashed by extreme weather and potentially other natural disasters might become biologically embedded, accelerate age-related molecular immune phenotypes, and ultimately contribute to earlier onset of disease and death.
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32
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Okazaki S, Kimura R, Otsuka I, Funabiki Y, Murai T, Hishimoto A. Epigenetic clock analysis and increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263478. [PMID: 35113965 PMCID: PMC8812940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication and behavioral problems. An increased risk of premature mortality has been observed in individuals with ASD. Therefore, we hypothesized that biological aging is accelerated in individuals with ASD. Recently, several studies have established genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles as ‘epigenetic clocks’ that can estimate biological aging. In addition, ASD has been associated with differential DNAm patterns. Methods We used two independent datasets from blood samples consisting of adult patients with high-functioning ASD and controls: the 1st cohort (38 ASD cases and 31 controls) and the 2nd cohort (6 ASD cases and 10 controls). We explored well-studied epigenetic clocks such as HorvathAge, HannumAge, SkinBloodAge, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DNAm-based telomere length (DNAmTL). In addition, we investigated seven DNAm-based age-related plasma proteins, including plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and smoking status, which are the components of GrimAge. Results Compared to controls, individuals with ASD in the 1st cohort, but not in the 2nd cohort, exhibited a trend for increased GrimAge acceleration and a significant increase of PAI-1 levels. A meta-analysis showed significantly increased PAI-1 levels in individuals with ASD compared to controls. Conclusion Our findings suggest there is no epigenetic age acceleration in the blood of individuals with ASD. However, this study provides novel evidence regarding increased plasma PAI-1 levels in individuals with high-functioning ASD. These findings suggest PAI-1 may be a biomarker for high-functioning ASD, however, larger studies based on epigenetic clocks and PAI-1 will be necessary to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Okazaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ryo Kimura
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ikuo Otsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yasuko Funabiki
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akitoyo Hishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
- * E-mail:
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33
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Clausen AN, Fercho KA, Monsour M, Disner S, Salminen L, Haswell CC, Rubright EC, Watts AA, Buckley MN, Maron-Katz A, Sierk A, Manthey A, Suarez-Jimenez B, Olatunji BO, Averill CL, Hofmann D, Veltman DJ, Olson EA, Li G, Forster GL, Walter H, Fitzgerald J, Théberge J, Simons JS, Bomyea JA, Frijling JL, Krystal JH, Baker JT, Phan KL, Ressler K, Han LKM, Nawijn L, Lebois LAM, Schmaal L, Densmore M, Shenton ME, van Zuiden M, Stein M, Fani N, Simons RM, Neufeld RWJ, Lanius R, van Rooij S, Koch SBJ, Bonomo S, Jovanovic T, deRoon-Cassini T, Ely TD, Magnotta VA, He X, Abdallah CG, Etkin A, Schmahl C, Larson C, Rosso IM, Blackford JU, Stevens JS, Daniels JK, Herzog J, Kaufman ML, Olff M, Davidson RJ, Sponheim SR, Mueller SC, Straube T, Zhu X, Neria Y, Baugh LA, Cole JH, Thompson PM, Morey RA. Assessment of brain age in posttraumatic stress disorder: Findings from the ENIGMA PTSD and brain age working groups. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2413. [PMID: 34907666 PMCID: PMC8785613 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with markers of accelerated aging. Estimates of brain age, compared to chronological age, may clarify the effects of PTSD on the brain and may inform treatment approaches targeting the neurobiology of aging in the context of PTSD. METHOD Adult subjects (N = 2229; 56.2% male) aged 18-69 years (mean = 35.6, SD = 11.0) from 21 ENIGMA-PGC PTSD sites underwent T1-weighted brain structural magnetic resonance imaging, and PTSD assessment (PTSD+, n = 884). Previously trained voxel-wise (brainageR) and region-of-interest (BARACUS and PHOTON) machine learning pipelines were compared in a subset of control subjects (n = 386). Linear mixed effects models were conducted in the full sample (those with and without PTSD) to examine the effect of PTSD on brain predicted age difference (brain PAD; brain age - chronological age) controlling for chronological age, sex, and scan site. RESULTS BrainageR most accurately predicted brain age in a subset (n = 386) of controls (brainageR: ICC = 0.71, R = 0.72, MAE = 5.68; PHOTON: ICC = 0.61, R = 0.62, MAE = 6.37; BARACUS: ICC = 0.47, R = 0.64, MAE = 8.80). Using brainageR, a three-way interaction revealed that young males with PTSD exhibited higher brain PAD relative to male controls in young and old age groups; old males with PTSD exhibited lower brain PAD compared to male controls of all ages. DISCUSSION Differential impact of PTSD on brain PAD in younger versus older males may indicate a critical window when PTSD impacts brain aging, followed by age-related brain changes that are consonant with individuals without PTSD. Future longitudinal research is warranted to understand how PTSD impacts brain aging across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Clausen
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Kelene A Fercho
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, US Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.,Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Molly Monsour
- Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Seth Disner
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lauren Salminen
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, California, USA
| | - Courtney C Haswell
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emily Clarke Rubright
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amanda A Watts
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - M Nicole Buckley
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Adi Maron-Katz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Anika Sierk
- University Medical Centre Charite, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez
- Columbia University Medical Center, Manhattan, New York, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bunmi O Olatunji
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christopher L Averill
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD, West Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David Hofmann
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Dick J Veltman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth A Olson
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gen Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Laboratory for Traumatic Stress Studies, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gina L Forster
- Brain Health Research Centre, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
| | | | | | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Imaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey S Simons
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Jessica A Bomyea
- UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry, San Deigo, California, USA.,VA San Diego Healthcare System Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Deigo, California, USA
| | - Jessie L Frijling
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John H Krystal
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD, West Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Justin T Baker
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - K Luan Phan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kerry Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura K M Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University Medical Center, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Nawijn
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lianne Schmaal
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
| | - Maria Densmore
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, Massachusetts, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry & Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Murray Stein
- UC San Diego Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, San Deigo, California, USA.,UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry, San Deigo, California, USA
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Raluca M Simons
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
| | - Richard W J Neufeld
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth Lanius
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sanne van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Saskia B J Koch
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Serena Bonomo
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Vincent A Magnotta
- Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Xiaofu He
- Columbia University Medical Center, Manhattan, New York, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chadi G Abdallah
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD, West Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Michael E, DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.,Menninger Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amit Etkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Isabelle M Rosso
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer Urbano Blackford
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Julia Herzog
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Milissa L Kaufman
- Division of Women's Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Miranda Olff
- ARQ National Psychotrauma Centrum, Diemen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard J Davidson
- Center for Healthy Minds, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Scott R Sponheim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Thomas Straube
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Xi Zhu
- Columbia University Medical Center, Manhattan, New York, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuval Neria
- Columbia University Medical Center, Manhattan, New York, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lee A Baugh
- Center for Brain and Behavior Research, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.,Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - James H Cole
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.,Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, California, USA
| | - Rajendra A Morey
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke University Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centrum, Diemen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University Medical Center, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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34
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Berg MT, Rogers EM, Lei MK, Simons RL. Losing Years Doing Time: Incarceration Exposure and Accelerated Biological Aging among African American Adults. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 62:460-476. [PMID: 34698583 DOI: 10.1177/00221465211052568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that incarceration exposure increases the prevalence of morbidity and premature mortality. This work is only beginning to examine whether the stressors of the incarceration experience become biologically embedded in ways that affect physiological deterioration. Using data from a longitudinal sample of 410 African American adults in the Family and Community Health Study and an epigenetic index of aging, this study tests the extent to which incarceration accelerates epigenetic aging and whether experiences with violence moderate this association. Results from models that adjust for selection effects suggest that incarceration exposure predicted accelerated aging, leaving formerly incarcerated African American individuals biologically older than their calendar age. Direct experiences with violence also exacerbated the effects of incarceration. These findings suggest that incarceration possibly triggers a stress response that affects a biological signature of physiological deterioration.
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35
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Harvanek ZM, Fogelman N, Xu K, Sinha R. Psychological and biological resilience modulates the effects of stress on epigenetic aging. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:601. [PMID: 34839356 PMCID: PMC8627511 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01735-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Our society is experiencing more stress than ever before, leading to both negative psychiatric and physical outcomes. Chronic stress is linked to negative long-term health consequences, raising the possibility that stress is related to accelerated aging. In this study, we examine whether resilience factors affect stress-associated biological age acceleration. Recently developed "epigenetic clocks" such as GrimAge have shown utility in predicting biological age and mortality. Here, we assessed the impact of cumulative stress, stress physiology, and resilience on accelerated aging in a community sample (N = 444). Cumulative stress was associated with accelerated GrimAge (P = 0.0388) and stress-related physiologic measures of adrenal sensitivity (Cortisol/ACTH ratio) and insulin resistance (HOMA). After controlling for demographic and behavioral factors, HOMA correlated with accelerated GrimAge (P = 0.0186). Remarkably, psychological resilience factors of emotion regulation and self-control moderated these relationships. Emotion regulation moderated the association between stress and aging (P = 8.82e-4) such that with worse emotion regulation, there was greater stress-related age acceleration, while stronger emotion regulation prevented any significant effect of stress on GrimAge. Self-control moderated the relationship between stress and insulin resistance (P = 0.00732), with high self-control blunting this relationship. In the final model, in those with poor emotion regulation, cumulative stress continued to predict additional GrimAge Acceleration even while accounting for demographic, physiologic, and behavioral covariates. These results demonstrate that cumulative stress is associated with epigenetic aging in a healthy population, and these associations are modified by biobehavioral resilience factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M. Harvanek
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Nia Fogelman
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Yale Stress Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Ke Xu
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA ,Department of Psychiatry, Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT USA
| | - Rajita Sinha
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Yale Stress Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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36
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Simpson DJ, Chandra T. Epigenetic age prediction. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13452. [PMID: 34415665 PMCID: PMC8441394 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced age is the main common risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration. Yet, more is known about the molecular basis of any of these groups of diseases than the changes that accompany ageing itself. Progress in molecular ageing research was slow because the tools predicting whether someone aged slowly or fast (biological age) were unreliable. To understand ageing as a risk factor for disease and to develop interventions, the molecular ageing field needed a quantitative measure; a clock for biological age. Over the past decade, a number of age predictors utilising DNA methylation have been developed, referred to as epigenetic clocks. While they appear to estimate biological age, it remains unclear whether the methylation changes used to train the clocks are a reflection of other underlying cellular or molecular processes, or whether methylation itself is involved in the ageing process. The precise aspects of ageing that the epigenetic clocks capture remain hidden and seem to vary between predictors. Nonetheless, the use of epigenetic clocks has opened the door towards studying biological ageing quantitatively, and new clocks and applications, such as forensics, appear frequently. In this review, we will discuss the range of epigenetic clocks available, their strengths and weaknesses, and their applicability to various scientific queries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Simpson
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tamir Chandra
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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37
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Higgins-Chen AT, Thrush KL, Levine ME. Aging biomarkers and the brain. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 116:180-193. [PMID: 33509689 PMCID: PMC8292153 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying biological aging is critical for understanding why aging is the primary driver of morbidity and mortality and for assessing novel therapies to counter pathological aging. In the past decade, many biomarkers relevant to brain aging have been developed using various data types and modeling techniques. Aging involves numerous interconnected processes, and thus many complementary biomarkers are needed, each capturing a different slice of aging biology. Here we present a hierarchical framework highlighting how these biomarkers are related to each other and the underlying biological processes. We review those measures most studied in the context of brain aging: epigenetic clocks, proteomic clocks, and neuroimaging age predictors. Many studies have linked these biomarkers to cognition, mental health, brain structure, and pathology during aging. We also delve into the challenges and complexities in interpreting these biomarkers and suggest areas for further innovation. Ultimately, a robust mechanistic understanding of these biomarkers will be needed to effectively intervene in the aging process to prevent and treat age-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert T Higgins-Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Kyra L Thrush
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, 300 George St, Suite 501, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Morgan E Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, Suite LH 315A, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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38
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Srikulwong U, Phanchai W, Srepusharawoot P, Sakonsinsiri C, Puangmali T. Computational Insights into Molecular Adsorption Characteristics of Methylated DNA on Graphene Oxide for Multicancer Early Detection. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:6697-6708. [PMID: 34110832 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c02808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification involving the transfer of a methyl group to cytosine residues of a DNA molecule. Altered DNA methylation of certain genes is associated with several diseases including cancer. Nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO), offer great potential as sensing elements for methylated DNA (mDNA) detection due to their distinct properties. Understanding molecular interactions between mDNA and GO can make provision for developing a universal cancer screening test. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and density functional theory (DFT) calculation have been employed for investigating their detailed macro- and microscale interactions. Based upon the MD simulation, different adsorption levels of methylated and unmethylated DNAs on GO were represented by a contacting surface area (CSA), which depends on surrounding conditions (in water or a MgCl2 solution). In water, the CSAs of the methylated and unmethylated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) were ≈13 and ≈5 nm2, respectively, representing more preferable adsorption on GO for the methylated ssDNA. In the presence of divalent ions (Mg2+), the CSAs of both methylated and unmethylated DNA molecules were ≈8 nm2, suggesting that there was no significant difference in adsorption in a saline solution. To reveal the electrical property of GO covered by either methylated or unmethylated DNA, its electronic structure was investigated by the DFT calculation. The energy gaps of pristine graphene (pG) and GO adsorbed by 5-methylcytosine (5mC) were 1.6 and 12.9 meV, respectively, while cytosine adsorption resulted in lower energy gaps (1.2 meV for pG and 9.5 meV for GO). When comparing methylated DNA-covered GO with that covered with unmethylated DNA, remarkable differences in electrical conductivity, which were caused by the electronic structure of GO, were observed. These findings will provide a new route for an efficient detection method of DNA methylation, which can further be used to develop a universal cancer test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unnop Srikulwong
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Witthawat Phanchai
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Pornjuk Srepusharawoot
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Chadamas Sakonsinsiri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Theerapong Puangmali
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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39
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Kuan PF, Ren X, Clouston S, Yang X, Jonas K, Kotov R, Bromet E, Luft BJ. PTSD is associated with accelerated transcriptional aging in World Trade Center responders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:311. [PMID: 34031357 PMCID: PMC8144188 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with shortened lifespan and healthspan, which suggests accelerated aging. Emerging evidence suggests that methylation age may be accelerated in PTSD. It is important to examine whether transcriptional age is also accelerated because transcriptome is highly dynamic, associated with age-related outcomes, and may offer greater insight into the premature aging in PTSD. This study is the first reported investigation of the relationship between transcriptional age and PTSD. Using RNA-Seq data from our previous study on 324 World Trade Center responders (201 never had PTSD, 81 with current PTSD, and 42 with past PTSD), as well as a transcriptional age calculator (RNAAgeCalc) recently developed by our group, we found that responders with current PTSD, compared with responders without a PTSD diagnosis, showed accelerated transcriptional aging (p = 0.0077) after adjustment for chronological age and race. We compared our results to the epigenetic aging results computed from several epigenetic clock calculators on matching DNA methylation data. GrimAge methylation age acceleration was also associated with PTSD diagnosis (p = 0.0097), and the results remained significant after adjustment for the proportions of immune cell types. PhenoAge, Hannum, and Horvath methylation age acceleration were not reliably related to PTSD. Both epigenetic and transcriptional aging may provide biological insights into the mechanisms underpinning aging in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Fen Kuan
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Xu Ren
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Sean Clouston
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Katherine Jonas
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Roman Kotov
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Evelyn Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Book University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Benjamin J. Luft
- grid.36425.360000 0001 2216 9681Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
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"GrimAge," an epigenetic predictor of mortality, is accelerated in major depressive disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:193. [PMID: 33820909 PMCID: PMC8021561 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01302-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with premature mortality and is an independent risk factor for a broad range of diseases, especially those associated with aging, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the pathophysiology underlying increased rates of somatic disease in MDD remains unknown. It has been proposed that MDD represents a state of accelerated cellular aging, and several measures of cellular aging have been developed in recent years. Among such metrics, estimators of biological age based on predictable age-related patterns of DNA methylation (DNAm), so-called 'epigenetic clocks', have shown particular promise for their ability to capture accelerated aging in psychiatric disease. The recently developed DNAm metric known as 'GrimAge' is unique in that it was trained on time-to-death data and has outperformed its predecessors in predicting both morbidity and mortality. Yet, GrimAge has not been investigated in MDD. Here we measured GrimAge in 49 somatically healthy unmedicated individuals with MDD and 60 age-matched healthy controls. We found that individuals with MDD exhibited significantly greater GrimAge relative to their chronological age ('AgeAccelGrim') compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001), with a median of 2 years of excess cellular aging. This difference remained significant after controlling for sex, current smoking status, and body-mass index (p = 0.015). These findings are consistent with prior suggestions of accelerated cellular aging in MDD, but are the first to demonstrate this with an epigenetic metric predictive of premature mortality.
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Epigenetic biotypes of post-traumatic stress disorder in war-zone exposed veteran and active duty males. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:4300-4314. [PMID: 33339956 PMCID: PMC8550967 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00966-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a heterogeneous condition evidenced by the absence of objective physiological measurements applicable to all who meet the criteria for the disorder as well as divergent responses to treatments. This study capitalized on biological diversity observed within the PTSD group observed following epigenome-wide analysis of a well-characterized Discovery cohort (N = 166) consisting of 83 male combat exposed veterans with PTSD, and 83 combat veterans without PTSD in order to identify patterns that might distinguish subtypes. Computational analysis of DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles identified two PTSD biotypes within the PTSD+ group, G1 and G2, associated with 34 clinical features that are associated with PTSD and PTSD comorbidities. The G2 biotype was associated with an increased PTSD risk and had higher polygenic risk scores and a greater methylation compared to the G1 biotype and healthy controls. The findings were validated at a 3-year follow-up (N = 59) of the same individuals as well as in two independent, veteran cohorts (N = 54 and N = 38), and an active duty cohort (N = 133). In some cases, for example Dopamine-PKA-CREB and GABA-PKC-CREB signaling pathways, the biotypes were oppositely dysregulated, suggesting that the biotypes were not simply a function of a dimensional relationship with symptom severity, but may represent distinct biological risk profiles underpinning PTSD. The identification of two novel distinct epigenetic biotypes for PTSD may have future utility in understanding biological and clinical heterogeneity in PTSD and potential applications in risk assessment for active duty military personnel under non-clinician-administered settings, and improvement of PTSD diagnostic markers.
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