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Aljabali AAA, Alkaraki AK, Gammoh O, Tambuwala MM, Mishra V, Mishra Y, Hassan SS, El-Tanani M. Deciphering Depression: Epigenetic Mechanisms and Treatment Strategies. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:638. [PMID: 39194576 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Depression, a significant mental health disorder, is under intense research scrutiny to uncover its molecular foundations. Epigenetics, which focuses on controlling gene expression without altering DNA sequences, offers promising avenues for innovative treatment. This review explores the pivotal role of epigenetics in depression, emphasizing two key aspects: (I) identifying epigenetic targets for new antidepressants and (II) using personalized medicine based on distinct epigenetic profiles, highlighting potential epigenetic focal points such as DNA methylation, histone structure alterations, and non-coding RNA molecules such as miRNAs. Variations in DNA methylation in individuals with depression provide opportunities to target genes that are associated with neuroplasticity and synaptic activity. Aberrant histone acetylation may indicate that antidepressant strategies involve enzyme modifications. Modulating miRNA levels can reshape depression-linked gene expression. The second section discusses personalized medicine based on epigenetic profiles. Analyzing these patterns could identify biomarkers associated with treatment response and susceptibility to depression, facilitating tailored treatments and proactive mental health care. Addressing ethical concerns regarding epigenetic information, such as privacy and stigmatization, is crucial in understanding the biological basis of depression. Therefore, researchers must consider these issues when examining the role of epigenetics in mental health disorders. The importance of epigenetics in depression is a critical aspect of modern medical research. These findings hold great potential for novel antidepressant medications and personalized treatments, which would significantly improve patient outcomes, and transform psychiatry. As research progresses, it is expected to uncover more complex aspects of epigenetic processes associated with depression, enhance our comprehension, and increase the effectiveness of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa A A Aljabali
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
| | - Almuthanna K Alkaraki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
| | - Omar Gammoh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, P.O. Box 566, Irbid 21163, Jordan
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- College of Pharmacy, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah P.O. Box 11172, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vijay Mishra
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
| | - Yachana Mishra
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
| | - Sk Sarif Hassan
- Department of Mathematics, Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya, Maligram, Paschim Medinipur 721140, West Bengal, India
| | - Mohamed El-Tanani
- College of Pharmacy, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah P.O. Box 11172, United Arab Emirates
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Senaratne DNS, Thakkar B, Smith BH, Hales TG, Marryat L, Colvin LA. The impact of adverse childhood experiences on multimorbidity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med 2024; 22:315. [PMID: 39143489 PMCID: PMC11325707 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03505-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been implicated in the aetiology of a range of health outcomes, including multimorbidity. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to identify, synthesise, and quantify the current evidence linking ACEs and multimorbidity. METHODS We searched seven databases from inception to 20 July 2023: APA PsycNET, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. We selected studies investigating adverse events occurring during childhood (< 18 years) and an assessment of multimorbidity in adulthood (≥ 18 years). Studies that only assessed adverse events in adulthood or health outcomes in children were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-E tool. Meta-analysis of prevalence and dose-response meta-analysis methods were used for quantitative data synthesis. This review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023389528). RESULTS From 15,586 records, 25 studies were eligible for inclusion (total participants = 372,162). The prevalence of exposure to ≥ 1 ACEs was 48.1% (95% CI 33.4 to 63.1%). The prevalence of multimorbidity was 34.5% (95% CI 23.4 to 47.5%). Eight studies provided sufficient data for dose-response meta-analysis (total participants = 197,981). There was a significant dose-dependent relationship between ACE exposure and multimorbidity (p < 0.001), with every additional ACE exposure contributing to a 12.9% (95% CI 7.9 to 17.9%) increase in the odds for multimorbidity. However, there was heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 = 76.9%, Cochran Q = 102, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesise the literature on ACEs and multimorbidity, showing a dose-dependent relationship across a large number of participants. It consolidates and enhances an extensive body of literature that shows an association between ACEs and individual long-term health conditions, risky health behaviours, and other poor health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhaneesha N S Senaratne
- Chronic Pain Research Group, Division of Population Health & Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
| | - Bhushan Thakkar
- Chronic Pain Research Group, Division of Population Health & Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Blair H Smith
- Chronic Pain Research Group, Division of Population Health & Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Tim G Hales
- Institute of Academic Anaesthesia, Division of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Louise Marryat
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Lesley A Colvin
- Chronic Pain Research Group, Division of Population Health & Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
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Apsley AT, Ye Q, Caspi A, Chiaro C, Etzel L, Hastings WJ, Heim CC, Kozlosky J, Noll JG, Schreier HMC, Shenk CE, Sugden K, Shalev I. Cross-Tissue Comparison of Epigenetic Aging Clocks in Humans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.16.603774. [PMID: 39071385 PMCID: PMC11275734 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.16.603774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic clocks are a common group of tools used to measure biological aging - the progressive deterioration of cells, tissues and organs. Epigenetic clocks have been trained almost exclusively using blood-based tissues but there is growing interest in estimating epigenetic age using less-invasive oral-based tissues (i.e., buccal or saliva) in both research and commercial settings. However, differentiated cell types across body tissues exhibit unique DNA methylation landscapes and age-related alterations to the DNA methylome. Applying epigenetic clocks derived from blood-based tissues to estimate epigenetic age of oral-based tissues may introduce biases. We tested the within-person comparability of common epigenetic clocks across five tissue types: buccal epithelial, saliva, dry blood spots, buffy coat (i.e., leukocytes), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We tested 284 distinct tissue samples from 83 individuals aged 9-70 years. Overall, there were significant within-person differences in epigenetic clock estimates from oral-based versus blood-based tissues, with average differences of almost 30 years observed in some age clocks. In addition, most epigenetic clock estimates of blood-based tissues exhibited low correlation with estimates from oral-based tissues despite controlling for cellular proportions and other technical factors. Our findings indicate that application of blood-derived epigenetic clocks in oral-based tissues may not yield comparable estimates of epigenetic age, highlighting the need for careful consideration of tissue type when estimating epigenetic age.
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Chang OD, Meier HCS, Maguire-Jack K, Davis-Kean P, Mitchell C. Childhood Maltreatment and Longitudinal Epigenetic Aging: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2421877. [PMID: 39073816 PMCID: PMC11287393 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Child physical and emotional abuse and neglect may affect epigenetic signatures of accelerated aging several years after the exposure. Objective To examine the longitudinal outcomes of early-childhood and midchildhood exposures to maltreatment on later childhood and adolescent profiles of epigenetic accelerated aging. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (enrolled 1998-2000), a US birth cohort study with available DNA methylation (DNAm) data at ages 9 and 15 years (assayed between 2017 and 2020) and phenotypic data at birth (wave 1), and ages 3 (wave 3), 5 (wave 4), 9 (wave 5), and 15 (wave 6) years. Data were analyzed between June 18 and December 10, 2023. Exposures Emotional aggression, physical assault, emotional neglect, and physical neglect via the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale at ages 3 and 5 years. Main Outcomes and Measures Epigenetic accelerated aging (DNAmAA) was measured using 3 machine learning-derived surrogates of aging (GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE) and 2 machine learning-derived surrogates of age (Horvath and PedBE), residualized for age in months. Results A total of 1971 children (992 [50.3%] male) representative of births in large US cities between 1998 and 2000 were included. Physical assault at age 3 years was positively associated with DNAmAA for PhenoAge (β = 0.073; 95% CI, 0.019-0.127), and emotional aggression at age 3 years was negatively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (β = -0.107; 95% CI, -0.162 to -0.052). Emotional neglect at age 5 years was positively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (β = 0.051; 95% CI, 0.006-0.097). Cumulative exposure to physical assault between ages 3 and 5 years was positively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (β = 0.063; 95% CI, 0.003-0.123); emotional aggression was negatively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (β = -0.104; 95% CI, -0.165 to -0.043). The association of these measures with age 15 years PhenoAge DNAmAA was almost fully mediated by age 9 years PhenoAge DNAm age acceleration. Similar patterns were found for GrimAge, DunedinPACE, and PhenoAge, but only those for PhenoAge remained after adjustments for multiple comparisons. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, altered patterns of DNAmAA were sensitive to the type and timing of child maltreatment exposure and appeared to be associated with more proximate biological embedding of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia D. Chang
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | | | | | - Pamela Davis-Kean
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Cuyvers B, Ein-Dor T, Houbrechts M, Freson K, Goossens L, Van Den Noortgate W, van Leeuwen K, Bijttebier P, Claes S, Turner J, Chubar V, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Bosmans G. Exploring the role of OXTR gene methylation in attachment development: A longitudinal study. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22496. [PMID: 38689124 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22496] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The current study explored longitudinally whether oxytocin receptor gene methylation (OXTRm) changes moderated the association between parental sensitivity changes and children's attachment changes over three waves. Six hundred six Flemish children (10-12 years, 42.8%-44.8% boys) completed attachment measures and provided salivary OXTRm data on seven CpG sites. Their parents reported their sensitive parenting. Results suggest that OXTRm changes hardly link to attachment (in)security changes after the age of 10. Some support was found for interaction effects between parental sensitivity changes and OXTRm changes on attachment changes over time. Effects suggest that for children with increased OXTRm in the promotor region and decreased methylation in the inhibitor region over time, increased parental sensitivity was associated with increased secure attachment and decreased insecure attachment over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bien Cuyvers
- Clinical Psychology, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tsachi Ein-Dor
- Social Sciences, School of Psychology, Reichman University Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel
| | | | - Kathleen Freson
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Goossens
- School Psychology and Development in Context, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Karla van Leeuwen
- Family and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patricia Bijttebier
- School Psychology and Development in Context, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan Claes
- Research Group Psychiatry, UZ Leuven-KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Turner
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch sur Alzette, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Viktoria Chubar
- Research Group Psychiatry, UZ Leuven-KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg
- William James Center for Research, ISPA University Institute of sychological, Social and Life Sciences, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Attachment Research, the New School for Social Research, New York, USA
| | - Guy Bosmans
- Clinical Psychology, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
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Ding K, Lei M. From the early scars to the vicissitudes of old age: A bibliometric analysis revealing childhood adversity and aging. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107038. [PMID: 38609808 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adversity suffered in childhood may profoundly affect aging over the subsequent life cycle. The field of childhood adversity and aging has amassed a certain number of publications, but there are no bibliometric studies in this field. METHODS Publications in 10 years on childhood adversity and aging were searched in the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric tools were used to analyze and visualize these publications by country, institution, journal, author, keyword, research area, and co-citation. RESULTS Four hundred thirty-five publications were retrieved from 2014 to September 21, 2023, with a 4.9% annual growth rate. The United States (251), University of California, San Francisco (59), Elissa S. Epel (11), and Psychoneuroendocrinology (29) were the countries, institutions, authors, and journals contributing the highest number of publications in this field, respectively. "Early-life stress" (87), "depression" (82), "childhood trauma" (69), and "aging" (60) were the keywords that appeared more frequently. CONCLUSIONS This is the first bibliometric study on childhood adversity and aging. The United States dominates the field regarding publication numbers, research institutions, and researchers. Publications in this field are interdisciplinary, covering several critical subject areas and having far-reaching impacts, with gerontology, neurosciences, psychology, and psychiatry at the core.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixi Ding
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Ming Lei
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.
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7
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Gerra MC, Dallabona C, Cecchi R. Epigenetic analyses in forensic medicine: future and challenges. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:701-719. [PMID: 38242965 PMCID: PMC11003920 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03165-8] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The possibility of using epigenetics in forensic investigation has gradually risen over the last few years. Epigenetic changes with their dynamic nature can either be inherited or accumulated throughout a lifetime and be reversible, prompting investigation of their use across various fields. In forensic sciences, multiple applications have been proposed, such as the discrimination of monozygotic twins, identifying the source of a biological trace left at a crime scene, age prediction, determination of body fluids and tissues, human behavior association, wound healing progression, and determination of the post-mortem interval (PMI). Despite all these applications, not all the studies considered the impact of PMI and post-sampling effects on the epigenetic modifications and the tissue-specificity of the epigenetic marks.This review aims to highlight the substantial forensic significance that epigenetics could support in various forensic investigations. First, basic concepts in epigenetics, describing the main epigenetic modifications and their functions, in particular, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA, with a particular focus on forensic applications, were covered. For each epigenetic marker, post-mortem stability and tissue-specificity, factors that should be carefully considered in the study of epigenetic biomarkers in the forensic context, have been discussed. The advantages and limitations of using post-mortem tissues have been also addressed, proposing directions for these innovative strategies to analyze forensic specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carla Gerra
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 11a, Viale Delle Scienze 11a, 43124, Parma, PR, Italy
| | - Cristina Dallabona
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 11a, Viale Delle Scienze 11a, 43124, Parma, PR, Italy.
| | - Rossana Cecchi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, PR, Italy
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Rossi E, Cassioli E, Dani C, Marchesoni G, Monteleone AM, Wonderlich SA, Ricca V, Castellini G. The maltreated eco-phenotype of eating disorders: A new diagnostic specifier? A systematic review of the evidence and comprehensive description. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 160:105619. [PMID: 38462152 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence on the existence of a distinct phenotypic expression of Eating Disorders (EDs) associated with childhood maltreatment (CM), the so-called maltreated eco-phenotype of EDs. PRISMA standards were followed. Articles providing data about the characteristics of individuals with an ED reporting CM were included. Relevant results were extracted and summarized. A quality assessment was performed. A total of 1207 records were identified and screened, and 97 articles published between 1994 and 2023 were included. Findings revealed distinct biological and clinical features in patients with EDs reporting CM, including neuroanatomical changes, altered stress responses, ghrelin levels, inflammation markers, and gut microbiota composition. Clinically, CM correlated with severer eating behaviors, higher psychiatric comorbidity, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and risky behaviors. Additionally, CM was associated with poorer treatment outcomes, especially in general psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidities. This review highlighted the need to move towards an etiologically informed nosography, recognizing CM not merely as a risk factor, but also as an etiologic agent shaping different eco-phenotypic variants of EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Rossi
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Emanuele Cassioli
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristiano Dani
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giorgia Marchesoni
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Labaut L, Lage-Castellanos A, Rodrigo MJ, Herrero-Roldán S, Mitchell C, Fisher J, León I. Mother adversity and co-residence time impact mother-child similarity in genome-wide and gene-specific methylation profiles. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:44. [PMID: 38509601 PMCID: PMC10953278 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01655-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of adverse life events on physical and psychological health, with DNA methylation (DNAm) as a critical underlying mechanism, have been extensively studied. However, the epigenetic resemblance between mother and child in the context of neglectful caregiving, and whether it may be shaped by the emotional impact of maternal stressful events and the duration of co-residence (indexed by child age), remains unknown. The present study examined mother-child similarity in methylation profiles, considering the potential effect of mother adversity, mother empathy, neglect-control group, child age (an index of years of mother-child co-residence), and mother age. Using Illumina Epic arrays, we quantified DNAm in 115 mother-child saliva samples. We obtained a methylation similarity index by computing correlation coefficients between methylation profiles within dyads, for the entire epigenome, and five specific genes related to stress and empathy: NR3C1, FKPB5, OXTR, SCL6A4, and BDNF. RESULTS The methylation profiles of the mother-child familial pairs significantly correlated as compared to mother-child random pairs for the entire epigenome and NR3C1, FKBP5, OXTR and BDNF genes. Next, multiple linear regression models observed associations of mother adversity, child age, and neglect-control group on mother-child methylation similarity, only significant in mother-child familial pairs, after correcting for multiple comparisons. Higher mother adversity was associated with lower mother-child methylation similarity for the epigenome-wide analysis, for the BDNF gene, and in the neglect-control group for the OXTR gene. In turn, being an older child (longer co-residence) was associated with higher mother-child methylation similarity. CONCLUSIONS Mother adversity and co-residence time are modulating factors in the intergenerational methylation process that offer a window into development-dependent adaptations that can be affected by both hereditary and environmental factors, significantly observed only in biological dyads. A twofold implication for child well-being emerges, one is positive in that children of mothers exposed to life adversity or neglect did not necessarily inherit their methylation patterns. The other is concerning due to the influence of time spent living together, which affects similarity with the mother and potentially increases the risk of inheriting an epigenetic profile associated with future dysfunctional parenting patterns. This underscores the importance of the 'the earlier, the better' recommendation by the Child Protection System, which is not always followed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Labaut
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Campus de Guajara, Universidad de La Laguna, 38201, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Agustín Lage-Castellanos
- Department of NeuroInformatics, Cuban Center for Neuroscience, Havana, Cuba
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - María José Rodrigo
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Campus de Guajara, Universidad de La Laguna, 38201, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Silvia Herrero-Roldán
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Campus de Guajara, Universidad de La Laguna, 38201, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales Aplicadas y de la Comunicación, UNIE Universidad, Madrid, Spain
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| | - Jonah Fisher
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| | - Inmaculada León
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Campus de Guajara, Universidad de La Laguna, 38201, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
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10
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Garcia-Ruiz B, Jiménez E, Aranda S, Verdolini N, Gutiérrez-Zotes A, Sáez C, Losantos E, Alonso-Lana S, Fatjó-Vilas M, Sarró S, Torres L, Panicalli F, Bonnin CDM, Pomarol-Clotet E, Vieta E, Vilella E. Associations of altered leukocyte DDR1 promoter methylation and childhood trauma with bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior in euthymic patients. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02522-8. [PMID: 38503928 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02522-8] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Altered DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) have been found in the blood and brain of patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and the brain of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with changes in DNAm that in turn are related to suicidal behavior (SB) in patients with several psychiatric disorders. Here, using MassARRAY® technology, we studied 128 patients diagnosed with BD in remission and 141 healthy controls (HCs) to compare leukocyte DDR1 promoter DNAm patterns between patients and HCs and between patients with and without SB. Additionally, we investigated whether CT was associated with DDR1 DNAm and mediated SB. We found hypermethylation at DDR1 cg19215110 and cg23953820 sites and hypomethylation at cg14279856 and cg03270204 sites in patients with BD compared to HCs. Logistic regression models showed that hypermethylation of DDR1 cg23953820 but not cg19215110 and CT were risk factors for BD, while cg14279856 and cg03270204 hypomethylation were protective factors. In patients, CT was a risk factor for SB, but DDR1 DNAm, although associated with CT, did not mediate the association of CT with SB. This is the first study demonstrating altered leukocyte DDR1 promoter DNAm in euthymic patients with BD. We conclude that altered DDR1 DNAm may be related to immune and inflammatory mechanisms and could be a potential blood biomarker for the diagnosis and stratification of psychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Garcia-Ruiz
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Reus, Spain
| | - Esther Jiménez
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelon, Spain
| | - Selena Aranda
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Reus, Spain
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Norma Verdolini
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelon, Spain
- FIDMAG Research Foundation, Germanes Hospitalàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Zotes
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Reus, Spain
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Sáez
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Silvia Alonso-Lana
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- FIDMAG Research Foundation, Germanes Hospitalàries, Barcelona, Spain
- Research Center and Memory Clinic Fundació ACE, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Fatjó-Vilas
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- FIDMAG Research Foundation, Germanes Hospitalàries, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Sarró
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- FIDMAG Research Foundation, Germanes Hospitalàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Llanos Torres
- Hospital Mare de Déu de la Mercè, Unitat Polivalent, Germanes Hospitalàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesco Panicalli
- Benito Menni Complex Assistencial en Salut Mental, Germanes Hospitalàries, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caterina Del Mar Bonnin
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelon, Spain
| | - Edith Pomarol-Clotet
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- FIDMAG Research Foundation, Germanes Hospitalàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelon, Spain
| | - Elisabet Vilella
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain.
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain.
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Reus, Spain.
- Centro de investigación biomédica en red en salud mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Vinberg M, McIntyre RS, Giraldi A, Coello K. Struggling Can Also Show on the Inside: Current Knowledge of the Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Biomarkers in Mood Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:583-595. [PMID: 38496323 PMCID: PMC10944138 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s383322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The link between childhood maltreatment and mood disorders is complex and involves multiple bio-psycho-social factors that affect multiple molecular pathways. The present narrative review aims to clarify the current understanding of the impact of childhood maltreatment on biomarkers in patients with mood disorders and their first-degree relatives. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and hormones (eg the stress hormone cortisol), play a crucial role in regulating mood and emotion. Childhood maltreatment can alter and affect the levels and functioning of these neurotransmitters in the brain; further, childhood maltreatment can lead to structural and connectivity changes in the brain, hence contributing to the development of mood disorders and moderating illness presentation and modifying response to treatments. Childhood maltreatment information, therefore, appears mandatory in treatment planning and is a critical factor in therapeutic algorithms. Further research is needed to fully understand these pathways and develop new treatment modalities for individuals with mood disorders who have experienced childhood maltreatment and effective preventive interventions for individuals at risk of developing mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maj Vinberg
- Mental Health Centre Northern Zealand, the Early Multimodular Prevention, and Intervention Research Institution (EMPIRI) – Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Annamaria Giraldi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Sexological Clinic, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Klara Coello
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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12
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Sepers B, Verhoeven KJF, van Oers K. Early developmental carry-over effects on exploratory behaviour and DNA methylation in wild great tits ( Parus major). Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13664. [PMID: 38487391 PMCID: PMC10937296 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Adverse, postnatal conditions experienced during development are known to induce lingering effects on morphology, behaviour, reproduction and survival. Despite the importance of early developmental stress for shaping the adult phenotype, it is largely unknown which molecular mechanisms allow for the induction and maintenance of such phenotypic effects once the early environmental conditions are released. Here we aimed to investigate whether lasting early developmental phenotypic changes are associated with post-developmental DNA methylation changes. We used a cross-foster and brood size experiment in great tit (Parus major) nestlings, which induced post-fledging effects on biometric measures and exploratory behaviour, a validated personality trait. We investigated whether these post-fledging effects are associated with DNA methylation levels of CpG sites in erythrocyte DNA. Individuals raised in enlarged broods caught up on their developmental delay after reaching independence and became more explorative as days since fledging passed, while the exploratory scores of individuals that were raised in reduced broods remained stable. Although we previously found that brood enlargement hardly affected the pre-fledging methylation levels, we found 420 CpG sites that were differentially methylated between fledged individuals that were raised in small versus large sized broods. A considerable number of the affected CpG sites were located in or near genes involved in metabolism, growth, behaviour and cognition. Since the biological functions of these genes line up with the observed post-fledging phenotypic effects of brood size, our results suggest that DNA methylation provides organisms the opportunity to modulate their condition once the environmental conditions allow it. In conclusion, this study shows that nutritional stress imposed by enlarged brood size during early development associates with variation in DNA methylation later in life. We propose that treatment-associated DNA methylation differences may arise in relation to pre- or post-fledging phenotypic changes, rather than that they are directly induced by the environment during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernice Sepers
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology GroupWageningen University & Research (WUR)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Animal BehaviourBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Koen J. F. Verhoeven
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology GroupWageningen University & Research (WUR)WageningenThe Netherlands
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13
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Cao C, Chen M, Yang S, Xu Y, Gu J. Childhood maltreatment, multilocus HPA-axis genetic variation and adolescent comorbidity profiles of depressive and anxiety symptoms. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 149:106683. [PMID: 38335561 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a growing body of evidence showing both genetic and environmental influences on adolescent depression and anxiety, the involved comorbid mechanisms regarding gene-by-environment (G × E) interaction remain unclear. OBJECTIVE The current study was the first to investigate the extent to which multilocus hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis genetic variants moderated the association between childhood maltreatment and adolescent comorbid depression and anxiety. METHODS The participants were 827 Chinese Han adolescents (Mage = 16.45 ± 1.37 years; 50.2 % girls). A theory-driven multilocus genetic profile score (MGPS) was computed by calculating alleles of core HPA-axis genes (CRHR1, NR3C1, NR3C2, and FKBP5) associated with heightened stress reactivity. Childhood maltreatment was retrospectively collected using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Comorbidity profiles of self-reported adolescent depressive and anxiety symptoms were constructed via person-centered latent profile analysis. RESULTS Three heterogeneous comorbidity profiles of depressive and anxiety symptoms were identified: comorbid severe symptoms (9.7 %), comorbid moderate symptoms (46.4 %) and comorbid mild symptoms (43.9 %). The HPA-axis related MGPS significantly interacted with childhood maltreatment, especially emotional maltreatment (emotional abuse: OR = 1.14, 95 % CI [1.03, 1.26], p < .01; emotional neglect: OR = 1.07, 95 % CI [1.01, 1.13], p < .05), to distinguish the comorbid severe symptoms profile from the comorbid mild symptoms profile (OR = 1.03, 95 % CI [1.01, 1.06], p < .05). CONCLUSION The HPA-axis related genes showed an additive polygenic sensitivity toward childhood maltreatment, which might be one of the polygenic G × E mechanisms underlying adolescent comorbid depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Cao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
| | - Meijing Chen
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shan Yang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yajing Xu
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Junlian Gu
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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14
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Carvalho Silva R, Martini P, Hohoff C, Mattevi S, Bortolomasi M, Menesello V, Gennarelli M, Baune BT, Minelli A. DNA methylation changes in association with trauma-focused psychotherapy efficacy in treatment-resistant depression patients: a prospective longitudinal study. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2314913. [PMID: 38362742 PMCID: PMC10878335 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2314913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Stressful events increase the risk for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and trauma-focused psychotherapy can be useful for TRD patients exposed to early life stress (ELS). Epigenetic processes are known to be related to depression and ELS, but there is no evidence of the effects of trauma-focused psychotherapy on methylation alterations.Objective: We performed the first epigenome-wide association study to investigate methylation changes related to trauma-focused psychotherapies effects in TRD patients.Method: Thirty TRD patients assessed for ELS underwent trauma-focused psychotherapy, of those, 12 received trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, and 18 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). DNA methylation was profiled with Illumina Infinium EPIC array at T0 (baseline), after 8 weeks (T8, end of psychotherapy) and after 12 weeks (T12 - follow-up). We examined differentially methylated CpG sites and regions, as well as pathways analysis in association with the treatment.Results: Main results obtained have shown 110 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with a significant adjusted p-value area associated with the effects of trauma-focused psychotherapies in the entire cohort. Several annotated genes are related to inflammatory processes and psychiatric disorders, such as LTA, GFI1, ARID5B, TNFSF13, and LST1. Gene enrichment analyses revealed statistically significant processes related to tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor and TNF signalling pathway. Stratified analyses by type of trauma-focused psychotherapy showed statistically significant adjusted p-value area in 141 DMRs only for the group of patients receiving EMDR, with annotated genes related to inflammation and psychiatric disorders, including LTA, GFI1, and S100A8. Gene set enrichment analyses in the EMDR group indicated biological processes related to inflammatory response, particularly the TNF signalling pathway.Conclusion: We provide preliminary valuable insights into global DNA methylation changes associated with trauma-focused psychotherapies effects, in particular with EMDR treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Carvalho Silva
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Martini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Christa Hohoff
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefania Mattevi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Menesello
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Bernhard T. Baune
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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15
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Mohazzab-Hosseinian S, Garcia E, Wiemels J, Marconett C, Corona K, Howe CG, Foley H, Farzan SF, Bastain TM, Breton CV. Effect of parental adverse childhood experiences on intergenerational DNA methylation signatures from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and buccal mucosa. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:89. [PMID: 38342906 PMCID: PMC10859367 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02747-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, the effect of cumulative ACEs experienced on human maternal DNA methylation (DNAm) was estimated while accounting for interaction with domains of ACEs in prenatal peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental Stressors (MADRES) pregnancy cohort. The intergenerational transmission of ACE-associated DNAm was also explored used paired maternal (N = 120) and neonatal cord blood (N = 69) samples. Replication in buccal samples was explored in the Children's Health Study (CHS) among adult parental (N = 31) and pediatric (N = 114) samples. We used a four-level categorical indicator variable for ACEs exposure: none (0 ACEs), low (1-3 ACEs), moderate (4-6 ACEs), and high (>6 ACEs). Effects of ACEs on maternal DNAm (N = 240) were estimated using linear models. To evaluate evidence for intergenerational transmission, mediation analysis (N = 60 mother-child pairs) was used. Analysis of maternal samples displayed some shared but mostly distinct effects of ACEs on DNAm across low, moderate, and high ACEs categories. CLCN7 and PTPRN2 was associated with maternal DNAm in the low ACE group and this association replicated in the CHS. CLCN7 was also nominally significant in the gene expression correlation analysis among maternal profiles (N = 35), along with 11 other genes. ACE-associated methylation was observed in maternal and neonatal profiles in the COMT promoter region, with some evidence of mediation by maternal COMT methylation. Specific genomic loci exhibited mutually exclusive maternal ACE effects on DNAm in either maternal or neonatal population. There is some evidence for an intergenerational effect of ACEs, supported by shared DNAm signatures in the COMT gene across maternal-neonatal paired samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahra Mohazzab-Hosseinian
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Erika Garcia
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Joseph Wiemels
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Crystal Marconett
- Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Karina Corona
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Dr, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
| | - Helen Foley
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Theresa M Bastain
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Carrie V Breton
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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16
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Filetti C, Kane-Grade F, Gunnar M. The Development of Stress Reactivity and Regulation in Children and Adolescents. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:395-419. [PMID: 37559538 PMCID: PMC10845082 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230808120504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Adversity experienced in early life can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. One pathway in which these effects occur is through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key physiological stress-mediating system. In this review, we discuss the theoretical perspectives that guide stress reactivity and regulation research, the anatomy and physiology of the axis, developmental changes in the axis and its regulation, brain systems regulating stress, the role of genetic and epigenetics variation in axis development, sensitive periods in stress system calibration, the social regulation of stress (i.e., social buffering), and emerging research areas in the study of stress physiology and development. Understanding the development of stress reactivity and regulation is crucial for uncovering how early adverse experiences influence mental and physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Filetti
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Finola Kane-Grade
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Megan Gunnar
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
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17
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Stroud LR, Jao NC, Ward LG, Lee SY, Marsit CJ. Differential impact of prenatal PTSD symptoms and preconception trauma exposure on placental NR3C1 and FKBP5 methylation. Stress 2024; 27:2321595. [PMID: 38676353 PMCID: PMC11238900 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2321595] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Perinatal stress is associated with altered placental methylation, which plays a critical role in fetal development and infant outcomes. This proof-of-concept pilot study investigated the impact of lifetime trauma exposure and perinatal PTSD symptoms on epigenetic regulation of placenta glucocorticoid signaling genes (NR3C1 and FKBP5). Lifetime trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms during pregnancy were assessed in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of pregnant women (N = 198). Participants were categorized into three groups: (1) No Trauma (-T); (2) Trauma, No Symptoms (T - S); and (3) Trauma and Symptoms (T + S). Placental tissue was analyzed via bisulfite pyrosequencing for degree of methylation at the NR3C1 promoter and FKBP5 regulatory regions. Analyses of covariance were used to test group differences in percentages of NR3C1 and FKBP5 methylation overall and at each CpG site. We found a significant impact of PTSD symptoms on placental NR3C1 methylation. Compared to the -T group, the T + S group had greater NR3C1 methylation overall and at CpG6, CpG8, CpG9, and CpG13, but lower methylation at CpG5. The T + S group had significantly higher NR3C1 methylation overall and at CpG8 compared to the T - S group. There were no differences between the T - S group and - T group. Additionally, no group differences emerged for FKBP5 methylation. Pregnant trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms exhibited differential patterns of placental NR3C1 methylation compared to trauma survivors without PTSD symptoms and pregnant women unexposed to trauma. Results highlight the critical importance of interventions to address the mental health of pregnant trauma survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R. Stroud
- COBRE Center for Stress, Trauma, and Resilience*, Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Nancy C. Jao
- Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - L. G. Ward
- COBRE Center for Stress, Trauma, and Resilience*, Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sharon Y. Lee
- COBRE Center for Stress, Trauma, and Resilience*, Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
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18
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Collender P, Bozack AK, Veazie S, Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Van Der Laan L, Kogut K, Riddell C, Eskenazi B, Holland N, Deardorff J, Cardenas A. Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and DNA methylation of newborns in cord blood. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:162. [PMID: 37845746 PMCID: PMC10577922 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01581-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of poor health outcomes later in life. Psychosocial stressors may also have intergenerational health effects by which parental ACEs are associated with mental and physical health of children. Epigenetic programming may be one mechanism linking parental ACEs to child health. This study aimed to investigate epigenome-wide associations of maternal preconception ACEs with DNA methylation patterns of children. In the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas study, cord blood DNA methylation was measured using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Preconception ACEs, which occurred during the mothers' childhoods, were collected using a standard ACE questionnaire including 10 ACE indicators. Maternal ACE exposures were defined in this study as (1) the total number of ACEs; (2) the total number of ACEs categorized as 0, 1-3, and > 4; and (3) individual ACEs. Associations of ACE exposures with differential methylated positions, regions, and CpG modules determined using weighted gene co-expression network analysis were evaluated adjusting for covariates. RESULTS Data on maternal ACEs and cord blood DNA methylation were available for 196 mother/newborn pairs. One differential methylated position was associated with maternal experience of emotional abuse (cg05486260/FAM135B gene; q value < 0.05). Five differential methylated regions were significantly associated with the total number of ACEs, and 36 unique differential methylated regions were associated with individual ACEs (Šidák p value < 0.05). Fifteen CpG modules were significantly correlated with the total number of ACEs or individual ACEs, of which 8 remained significant in fully adjusted models (p value < 0.05). Significant modules were enriched for pathways related to neurological and immune development and function. CONCLUSIONS Maternal ACEs prior to conception were associated with cord blood DNA methylation of offspring at birth. Although there was limited overlap between differential methylated regions and CpGs in modules associated with ACE exposures, statistically significant regions and networks were related to genes involved in neurological and immune function. Findings may provide insights to pathways linking psychosocial stressors to health. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between changes in DNA methylation and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Collender
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anne K Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Research Park, 1701 Page Mill Road, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Stephanie Veazie
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jamaji C Nwanaji-Enwerem
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lars Van Der Laan
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katherine Kogut
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Center for Environmental Research of Community Health, CERCH, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Corinne Riddell
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Center for Environmental Research of Community Health, CERCH, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nina Holland
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Center for Environmental Research of Community Health, CERCH, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- Center for Environmental Research of Community Health, CERCH, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Research Park, 1701 Page Mill Road, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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19
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Kumsta R. The role of stress in the biological embedding of experience. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 156:106364. [PMID: 37586308 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to early adversity is one of the most important and pervasive risk factors for the development of nearly all major mental disorders across the lifespan. In the search for the mediating mechanisms and processes that underlie long-term stability of these effects, changes to stress-associated hormonal and cellular signalling have emerged as prime candidates. This review summarises evidence showing that experience of early adversity in the form of childhood abuse or neglect and exposure to severe institutional deprivation influences multiple interconnected bio-behavioural, physiological and cellular processes. This paper focusses on dysregulations of hormonal stress regulation, altered DNA methylation pattern, changes to transcriptomic profiles in the context of stress-immune interplay, and mitochondrial biology. Consistent findings that have emerged include a relative cortisol hypoactivity and hyporeactivity in response to challenge, increased activity of pro-inflammatory genes, and altered mitochondrial function. The majority of investigations have focussed on single outcomes, but there is a clear rationale of conceiving the implicated physiological processes as interconnected parts of a wider stress-associated regulatory network, which in turn is connected to behaviour and mental disorders. This calls for integrated and longitudinal investigations to come to a more comprehensive understanding of the role of stress in the biological embedding of experience. The review concludes with considerations of how stress research can contribute to translational efforts through characterising subtypes of mental disorders which arise as a function of early adversity, and have distinct features of behavioral and biological stress processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kumsta
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Laboratory for Stress and Gene-Environment Interplay, University of Luxemburg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxemburg; Faculty of Psychology, Institute for Health and Development, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Bochum/Marburg, Germany.
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20
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Scorza P, Duarte CS, Lee S, Wu H, Posner J, Baccarelli A, Monk C. Stage 2 Registered Report: Epigenetic Intergenerational Transmission: Mothers' Adverse Childhood Experiences and DNA Methylation. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:1110-1122. [PMID: 37330044 PMCID: PMC10594411 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Individual differences in risk for mental disorders over the lifespan are shaped by forces acting before the individual is born-in utero, but likely even earlier, during the mother's own childhood. The environmental epigenetics hypothesis proposes that sustained effects of environmental conditions on gene expression are mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Recent human studies have shown that adversities in childhood are correlated with DNA methylation (DNAm) in adulthood. In the current study, we tested the following pre-registered hypotheses: Mothers' adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are correlated with DNAm in peripheral blood during pregnancy (hypothesis 1) and in cord blood samples from newborn infants (hypothesis 2), and women's depression and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy mediate the association between mothers' ACE exposure and prenatal/neonatal DNA methylation (hypothesis 3). METHOD Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomic Studies substudy. Women provided retrospective self-reports during pregnancy of ACE exposure. We conducted an epigenome-wide association study testing whether mothers' ACE exposure, cumulative score (0-10), was associated with DNAm in maternal antenatal blood and infant cord blood in more than 450,000 CpG (point on DNA sequence where cytosine and guanine base pairs are linked by a phosphate, where methylation usually occurs) sites on the Illumina 450K BeadChip. Analyses for cord blood were separated by infant sex, a pre-registered analysis. RESULTS Hypothesis 1: In 896 mother-infant pairs with available methylation and ACE exposure data, there were no significant associations between mothers' ACE score and DNAm from antenatal peripheral blood, after controlling for covariates. Hypothesis 2: In infant cord blood, there were 5 CpG sites significantly differentially methylated in relation to mothers' ACEs (false discovery rate [FDR] < .05), but only in male offspring. Effect sizes were medium, with partial eta squared values ranging from 0.060 to 0.078. CpG sites were in genes related to mitochondrial function and neuronal development in the cerebellum. Hypothesis 3: There was no mediation by maternal anxiety/depression symptoms found between mothers' ACEs score and DNAm in the significant CpG sites in male cord blood. Mediation was not tested in antenatal peripheral blood, because no direct association between mothers' ACE score and antenatal peripheral blood was found. CONCLUSION Our results show that mothers' ACE exposure is associated with DNAm in male offspring, supporting the notion that DNAm could be a marker of intergenerational biological embedding of mothers' childhood adversity. STUDY REGISTRATION INFORMATION Epigenetic Intergenerational Transmission: Mothers' Adverse Childhood Experiences and DNA Methylation; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.03.008.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Scorza
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
| | - Cristiane S Duarte
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York; Columbia University, New York
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York; Columbia University, New York
| | - Haotian Wu
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York
| | - Jonathan Posner
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York; Columbia University, New York
| | | | - Catherine Monk
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York
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21
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Zhang ZZ, Moeckel C, Mustafa M, Pham H, Olson AE, Mehta D, Dorn LD, Engeland CG, Shenk CE. The association of epigenetic age acceleration and depressive and anxiety symptom severity among children recently exposed to substantiated maltreatment. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 165:7-13. [PMID: 37441927 PMCID: PMC10529086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Child maltreatment is a major risk factor for both depressive and anxiety disorders. However, many children exposed to maltreatment never meet diagnostic threshold for either disorder while experiencing only transitory symptoms post-exposure. Recent research suggests DNA methylation adds predictive value in explaining variation in the onset and course of multiple psychiatric disorders following exposure to child maltreatment. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), the biological aging of cells not attributable to chronological aging, is a stress-sensitive biomarker capturing genome-wide variation in DNA methylation with the potential to identify children who have been maltreated at greatest risk for depressive and anxiety disorders. The current study examined two EAA clocks appropriate for the pediatric population, the Horvath and Pediatric Buccal Epigenetic (PedBE) clocks, and their associations with depressive and anxiety symptom severity following child maltreatment. Children (N = 71) 8-15 years of age, all of whom were exposed to substantiated child maltreatment in the 12 months prior to study entry, were enrolled. Risk modeling adjusting for several confounders revealed that EAA estimated via the Horvath clock was significantly associated with more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms. The PedBE clock was not associated with either depressive or anxiety symptom severity. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that EAA via the Horvath clock robustly predicted depressive and anxiety symptom severity across multiple modeling scenarios. Our findings advance existing research suggesting EAA, as estimated with the Horvath clock, may be a promising biomarker for identifying children at greatest risk for more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms following maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Z Zhang
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Camille Moeckel
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| | - Manal Mustafa
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| | - Hung Pham
- The Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Anneke E Olson
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Divya Mehta
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Lorah D Dorn
- Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Christopher G Engeland
- Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Chad E Shenk
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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22
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Lussier AA, Zhu Y, Smith BJ, Cerutti J, Fisher J, Melton PE, Wood NM, Cohen-Woods S, Huang RC, Mitchell C, Schneper L, Notterman DA, Simpkin AJ, Smith ADAC, Suderman MJ, Walton E, Relton CL, Ressler KJ, Dunn EC. Association between the timing of childhood adversity and epigenetic patterns across childhood and adolescence: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective cohort. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2023; 7:532-543. [PMID: 37327798 PMCID: PMC10527482 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00127-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood adversity is a potent determinant of health across development and is associated with altered DNA methylation signatures, which might be more common in children exposed during sensitive periods in development. However, it remains unclear whether adversity has persistent epigenetic associations across childhood and adolescence. We aimed to examine the relationship between time-varying adversity (defined through sensitive period, accumulation of risk, and recency life course hypotheses) and genome-wide DNA methylation, measured three times from birth to adolescence, using data from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. METHODS We first investigated the relationship between the timing of exposure to childhood adversity between birth and 11 years and blood DNA methylation at age 15 years in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective cohort study. Our analytic sample included ALSPAC participants with DNA methylation data and complete childhood adversity data between birth and 11 years. We analysed seven types of adversity (caregiver physical or emotional abuse, sexual or physical abuse [by anyone], maternal psychopathology, one-adult households, family instability, financial hardship, and neighbourhood disadvantage) reported by mothers five to eight times between birth and 11 years. We used the structured life course modelling approach (SLCMA) to identify time-varying associations between childhood adversity and adolescent DNA methylation. Top loci were identified using an R2 threshold of 0·035 (ie, ≥3·5% of DNA methylation variance explained by adversity). We attempted to replicate these associations using data from the Raine Study and Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). We also assessed the persistence of adversity-DNA methylation associations we previously identified from age 7 blood DNA methylation into adolescence and the influence of adversity on DNA methylation trajectories from ages 0-15 years. FINDINGS Of 13 988 children in the ALSPAC cohort, 609-665 children (311-337 [50-51%] boys and 298-332 [49-50%] girls) had complete data available for at least one of the seven childhood adversities and DNA methylation at 15 years. Exposure to adversity was associated with differences in DNA methylation at 15 years for 41 loci (R2 ≥0·035). Sensitive periods were the most often selected life course hypothesis by the SLCMA. 20 (49%) of 41 loci were associated with adversities occurring between age 3 and 5 years. Exposure to one-adult households was associated with differences in DNA methylation at 20 [49%] of 41 loci, exposure to financial hardship was associated with changes at nine (22%) loci, and physical or sexual abuse was associated with changes at four (10%) loci. We replicated the direction of associations for 18 (90%) of 20 loci associated with exposure to one-adult household using adolescent blood DNA methylation from the Raine Study and 18 (64%) of 28 loci using saliva DNA methylation from the FFCWS. The directions of effects for 11 one-adult household loci were replicated in both cohorts. Differences in DNA methylation at 15 years were not present at 7 years and differences identified at 7 years were no longer apparent by 15 years. We also identified six distinct DNA methylation trajectories from these patterns of stability and persistence. INTERPRETATION These findings highlight the time-varying effect of childhood adversity on DNA methylation profiles across development, which might link exposure to adversity to potential adverse health outcomes in children and adolescents. If replicated, these epigenetic signatures could ultimately serve as biological indicators or early warning signs of initiated disease processes, helping identify people at greater risk for the adverse health consequences of childhood adversity. FUNDING Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Cohort and Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resources, EU's Horizon 2020, US National Institute of Mental Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A Lussier
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Yiwen Zhu
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brooke J Smith
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Janine Cerutti
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonah Fisher
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| | - Phillip E Melton
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia; Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Natasha M Wood
- College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sarah Cohen-Woods
- College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Rae-Chi Huang
- Nutrition Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel A Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Andrew J Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Andrew D A C Smith
- Mathematics and Statistics Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Matthew J Suderman
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Esther Walton
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Caroline L Relton
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Erin C Dunn
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Mohazzab-Hosseinian S, Garcia E, Wiemels J, Marconett C, Corona K, Howe C, Foley H, Lerner D, Lurvey N, Farzan S, Bastain T, Breton C. Effect of Parental Adverse Childhood Experiences on Intergenerational DNA Methylation Signatures. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2977515. [PMID: 37461498 PMCID: PMC10350189 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2977515/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are events that occur before a child turns 18 years old that may cause trauma. In this study, the effect of cumulative ACEs experienced on human maternal DNA methylation (DNAm) was estimated while accounting for interaction with domains of ACEs in prenatal peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental Stressors (MADRES) pregnancy cohort. The intergenerational transmission of ACE-associated DNAm was also explored used paired maternal and neonatal cord blood samples. Replication in buccal samples was explored in the Children's Health Study (CHS). We used a four-level categorical indicator variable for ACEs exposure: none (0 ACEs), low (1-3 ACEs), moderate (4-6 ACEs), and high (> 6 ACEs). Effects of ACEs on maternal DNAm (N = 240) were estimated using linear models. To evaluate evidence for intergenerational transmission, mediation analysis was used. Analysis of maternal samples displayed some shared but mostly distinct effects of ACEs on DNAm across low, moderate, and high ACEs categories. CLCN7 and PTPRN2 was associated with maternal DNAm in the low ACE group and this association replicated in the CHS. ACE-associated methylation was observed in maternal and neonatal profiles in the COMT promoter region, with some evidence of mediation by maternal COMT methylation. Specific genomic loci exhibited mutually exclusive maternal ACE effects on DNAm in either maternal or neonatal population. There is some evidence for an intergenerational effect of ACEs, supported by shared DNAm signatures in the COMT gene across maternal-neonatal paired samples.
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24
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Peckham H. Introducing the Neuroplastic Narrative: a non-pathologizing biological foundation for trauma-informed and adverse childhood experience aware approaches. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1103718. [PMID: 37283710 PMCID: PMC10239852 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1103718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Most people accessing mental health services have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and/or histories of complex trauma. In recognition of this, there are calls to move away from medical model approaches and move toward trauma-informed approaches which privilege the impact of life experience over underlying pathology in the etiology of emotional and psychological suffering. Trauma-informed approaches lack a biological narrative linking trauma and adversity to later suffering. In its absence, this suffering is diagnosed and treated as a mental illness. This study articulates the Neuroplastic Narrative, a neuroecological theory that fills this gap, conceptualizing emotional and psychological suffering as the cost of surviving and adapting to the impinging environments of trauma and adversity. The Neuroplastic Narrative privileges lived experience and recognizes that our experiences become embedded in our biology through evolved mechanisms that ultimately act to preserve survival in the service of reproduction. Neuroplasticity refers to the capacity of neural systems to adapt and change. Our many evolved neuroplastic mechanisms including epigenetics, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and white matter plasticity allow us to learn from, and adapt to, past experiences. This learning and adaption in turn allows us to better anticipate and physiologically prepare for future experiences that (nature assumes) are likely to occur, based on past experiences. However, neuroplastic mechanisms cannot discriminate between experiences; they function to embed experience regardless of the quality of that experience, generating vicious or virtuous cycles of psychobiological anticipation, to help us survive or thrive in futures that resemble our privileged or traumatic pasts. The etiology of suffering that arises from this process is not a pathology (a healthy brain is a brain that can adapt to experience) but is the evolutionary cost of surviving traumatizing environments. Misidentifying this suffering as a pathology and responding with diagnosis and medication is not trauma-informed and may cause iatrogenic harm, in part through perpetuating stigma and exacerbating the shame which attends complex trauma and ACEs. As an alternative, this study introduces the Neuroplastic Narrative, which is situated within an evolutionary framework. The Neuroplastic Narrative complements both Life History and Attachment Theory and provides a non-pathologizing, biological foundation for trauma-informed and Adverse Childhood Experience aware approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Peckham
- Centre for Mental Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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25
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Stoffel M, Rahn S, Neubauer AB, Moessner M, Aguilar-Raab C, Ditzen B. Associations of SLC6A4 methylation with salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase, and subjective stress in everyday life. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 153:106283. [PMID: 37196602 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106283] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympatho-adrenal medullary (SAM) axis are associated with mental and somatic illness. However, there is lack of knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Epigenetic states in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) were shown to be associated with stress in various forms. We hypothesized that levels of DNA methylation (DNAm) of SLC6A4 would be associated with altered SAM- and HPA regulation in daily life. N = 74 healthy persons participated in the study. An ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach was used to assess indicators of stress in daily life. Each day included six concurrent assessments of saliva, to quantify cortisol (sCort; HPA axis) and alpha-amylase (sAA; SAM axis), and to assess self-reports on subjective stress. To assess SLC6A4 DNAm, peripheral blood was drawn and analyzed via bisulfite pyrosequencing. All data were assessed in two waves three months apart, each including two days of EMA and the assessment of SLC6A4 DNAm. Data were analyzed using multilevel models. On the between-person level, higher average levels of SLC6A4 DNAm were associated with higher average levels of sAA, but not with average levels of sCort. On the within-person level, higher levels of SLC6A4 DNAm were associated with lower levels of sAA and sCort. There were no associations of subjective stress with SLC6A4 DNAm. The results help to clarify the association between environmental stress and stress axes regulation, pointing towards an important role of differential within- and between-person effects of SLC6A4 DNAm, which might shape this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Stoffel
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Bergheimer Straße 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Stefanie Rahn
- Clinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DIR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas B Neubauer
- Department for Education and Human Development, DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Rostocker Straße 6, 60323 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Markus Moessner
- Center for Psychotherapy Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Bergheimer Str. 54, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Corina Aguilar-Raab
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Bergheimer Straße 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beate Ditzen
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Bergheimer Straße 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
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van Oers K, van den Heuvel K, Sepers B. The Epigenetics of Animal Personality. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105194. [PMID: 37094740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105194] [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: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Animal personality, consistent individual differences in behaviour, is an important concept for understanding how individuals vary in how they cope with environmental challenges. In order to understand the evolutionary significance of animal personality, it is crucial to understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation are hypothesised to play a major role in explaining variation in phenotypic changes in response to environmental alterations. Several characteristics of DNA methylation also align well with the concept of animal personality. In this review paper, we summarise the current literature on the role that molecular epigenetic mechanisms may have in explaining personality variation. We elaborate on the potential for epigenetic mechanisms to explain behavioural variation, behavioural development and temporal consistency in behaviour. We then suggest future routes for this emerging field and point to potential pitfalls that may be encountered. We conclude that a more inclusive approach is needed for studying the epigenetics of animal personality and that epigenetic mechanisms cannot be studied without considering the genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Krista van den Heuvel
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bernice Sepers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Wiss DA, Prelip ML, Upchurch DM, von Ehrenstein OS, Tomiyama AJ, Gorbach PM, Shoptaw SJ. Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Los Angeles. J Urban Health 2023; 100:327-340. [PMID: 36826734 PMCID: PMC9951846 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-023-00719-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with poor mental health outcomes in adulthood. Childhood maltreatment is related to both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Our objective was to investigate these associations among low-income, mostly Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), as these may be a particularly vulnerable population group. Data come from a longitudinal study of MSM with varied substance use behaviors (n = 321) collected between August 2014 and April 2022. Cumulative, childhood maltreatment ACEs, and the single ACE of childhood sexual abuse were investigated as potential predictors of self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms in mixed-effects logistic and ordinal regression models. There was no evidence of a dose-response relationship between the number of ACEs and the predicted probability of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Compared to MSM reporting fewer than five ACEs, those with five or more ACEs had approximately double the odds ratio of reporting depressive (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.04-3.60) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.05-4.68). The dimension of childhood maltreatment had a more robust prediction of depressive symptoms than the dimension of household dysfunction across all models. The association between childhood sexual abuse history and depressive symptoms remained after adjustment for the other nine ACEs (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.11-4.68). The ordinal logistic model suggested that cumulative ACEs more than triple the odds of being in a higher anxiety category (OR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.58-6.14), with associations reported for childhood maltreatment ACEs (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.06-1.66) and childhood sexual abuse (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 0.89-4.21). Childhood maltreatment ACEs, particularly childhood sexual abuse, are salient predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among adult urban MSM. Mitigating the impact of childhood maltreatment requires understanding the additional burden of social distress often faced by MSM throughout the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Wiss
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Michael L Prelip
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Dawn M Upchurch
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ondine S von Ehrenstein
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - A Janet Tomiyama
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, 502 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Pamina M Gorbach
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Steven J Shoptaw
- Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10880 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
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Rubens M, Bruenig D, Adams JAM, Suresh SM, Sathyanarayanan A, Haslam D, Shenk CE, Mathews B, Mehta D. Childhood maltreatment and DNA methylation: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105079. [PMID: 36764637 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105079] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Child maltreatment (CM) encompasses sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic and family violence. Epigenetic research investigating CM has focused on differential DNA methylation (DNAm) in genes associated with the stress response, but there has been limited evaluation of the specific effects of subtypes of CM. This systematic review of literature investigating DNAm associated with CM in non-clinical populations aimed to summarise the approaches currently used in research, how the type of maltreatment and age of exposure were encoded via methylation, and which genes have consistently been associated with CM. A total of fifty-four papers were eligible for review, including forty-one candidate gene studies, eight epigenome-wide association studies, and five studies with a mixed design. The ways in which the various forms of CM were conceptualised and measured varied between papers. Future studies would benefit from assessments that employ conceptually robust definitions of CM, and that capture important contextual information such as age of exposure and subtype of CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Rubens
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Jessica A M Adams
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Shruthi M Suresh
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Anita Sathyanarayanan
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Divna Haslam
- Australian Centre for Health Law Research, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia; Parenting and Family Support Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Chad E Shenk
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, USA
| | - Ben Mathews
- Australian Centre for Health Law Research, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia; Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA
| | - Divya Mehta
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
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Xu H, Shao Z, Zhang S, Liu X, Zeng P. How can childhood maltreatment affect post-traumatic stress disorder in adult: Results from a composite null hypothesis perspective of mediation analysis. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1102811. [PMID: 36970281 PMCID: PMC10033829 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1102811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundA greatly growing body of literature has revealed the mediating role of DNA methylation in the influence path from childhood maltreatment to psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adult. However, the statistical method is challenging and powerful mediation analyses regarding this issue are lacking.MethodsTo study how the maltreatment in childhood alters long-lasting DNA methylation changes which further affect PTSD in adult, we here carried out a gene-based mediation analysis from a perspective of composite null hypothesis in the Grady Trauma Project (352 participants and 16,565 genes) with childhood maltreatment as exposure, multiple DNA methylation sites as mediators, and PTSD or its relevant scores as outcome. We effectively addressed the challenging issue of gene-based mediation analysis by taking its composite null hypothesis testing nature into consideration and fitting a weighted test statistic.ResultsWe discovered that childhood maltreatment could substantially affected PTSD or PTSD-related scores, and that childhood maltreatment was associated with DNA methylation which further had significant roles in PTSD and these scores. Furthermore, using the proposed mediation method, we identified multiple genes within which DNA methylation sites exhibited mediating roles in the influence path from childhood maltreatment to PTSD-relevant scores in adult, with 13 for Beck Depression Inventory and 6 for modified PTSD Symptom Scale, respectively.ConclusionOur results have the potential to confer meaningful insights into the biological mechanism for the impact of early adverse experience on adult diseases; and our proposed mediation methods can be applied to other similar analysis settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Xu
- Center for Mental Health Education and Research, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- School of Management, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Haibo Xu,
| | - Zhonghe Shao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Center for Mental Health Education and Research, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- School of Management, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ping Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Center for Medical Statistics and Data Analysis, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Ping Zeng,
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Silveira PP, Meaney MJ. Examining the biological mechanisms of human mental disorders resulting from gene-environment interdependence using novel functional genomic approaches. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106008. [PMID: 36690304 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We explore how functional genomics approaches that integrate datasets from human and non-human model systems can improve our understanding of the effect of gene-environment interplay on the risk for mental disorders. We start by briefly defining the G-E paradigm and its challenges and then discuss the different levels of regulation of gene expression and the corresponding data existing in humans (genome wide genotyping, transcriptomics, DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, chromosome conformational changes, non-coding RNAs, proteomics and metabolomics), discussing novel approaches to the application of these data in the study of the origins of mental health. Finally, we discuss the multilevel integration of diverse types of data. Advance in the use of functional genomics in the context of a G-E perspective improves the detection of vulnerabilities, informing the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Pelufo Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore; Brain - Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore.
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Apsley AT, Etzel L, Hastings WJ, Heim CC, Noll JG, O'Donnell KJ, Schreier HMC, Shenk CE, Ye Q, Shalev I. Investigating the effects of maltreatment and acute stress on the concordance of blood and DNA methylation methods of estimating immune cell proportions. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:33. [PMID: 36855187 PMCID: PMC9976543 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01437-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune cell proportions can be used to detect pathophysiological states and are also critical covariates in genomic analyses. The complete blood count (CBC) is the most common method of immune cell proportion estimation, but immune cell proportions can also be estimated using whole-genome DNA methylation (DNAm). Although the concordance of CBC and DNAm estimations has been validated in various adult and clinical populations, less is known about the concordance of existing estimators among stress-exposed individuals. As early life adversity and acute psychosocial stress have both been associated with unique DNAm alterations, the concordance of CBC and DNAm immune cell proportion needs to be validated in various states of stress. RESULTS We report the correlation and concordance between CBC and DNAm estimates of immune cell proportions using the Illumina EPIC DNAm array within two unique studies: Study 1, a high-risk pediatric cohort of children oversampled for exposure to maltreatment (N = 365, age 8 to 14 years), and Study 2, a sample of young adults who have participated in an acute laboratory stressor with four pre- and post-stress measurements (N = 28, number of observations = 100). Comparing CBC and DNAm proportions across both studies, estimates of neutrophils (r = 0.948, p < 0.001), lymphocytes (r = 0.916, p < 0.001), and eosinophils (r = 0.933, p < 0.001) were highly correlated, while monocyte estimates were moderately correlated (r = 0.766, p < 0.001) and basophil estimates were weakly correlated (r = 0.189, p < 0.001). In Study 1, we observed significant deviations in raw values between the two approaches for some immune cell subtypes; however, the observed differences were not significantly predicted by exposure to child maltreatment. In Study 2, while significant changes in immune cell proportions were observed in response to acute psychosocial stress for both CBC and DNAm estimates, the observed changes were similar for both approaches. CONCLUSIONS Although significant differences in immune cell proportion estimates between CBC and DNAm exist, as well as stress-induced changes in immune cell proportions, neither child maltreatment nor acute psychosocial stress alters the concordance of CBC and DNAm estimation methods. These results suggest that the agreement between CBC and DNAm estimators of immune cell proportions is robust to exposure to child maltreatment and acute psychosocial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abner T Apsley
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Biosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Laura Etzel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Christine C Heim
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jennie G Noll
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hannah M C Schreier
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Chad E Shenk
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Qiaofeng Ye
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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Petrican R, Paine AL, Escott-Price V, Shelton KH. Overlapping brain correlates of superior cognition among children at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease and/or major depressive disorder. Sci Rep 2023; 13:984. [PMID: 36653486 PMCID: PMC9849214 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28057-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) tends to accelerate neurobiological ageing, which, in turn, is thought to heighten vulnerability to both major depressive disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The two conditions are putatively related, with MDD representing either a risk factor or early symptom of AD. Given the substantial environmental susceptibility of both disorders, timely identification of their neurocognitive markers could facilitate interventions to prevent clinical onset. To this end, we analysed multimodal data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study (ages 9-10 years). To disentangle genetic from correlated genetic-environmental influences, while also probing gene-adversity interactions, we compared adoptees, a group generally exposed to substantial ELA, with children raised by their biological families via genetic risk scores (GRS) from genome-wide association studies. AD and MDD GRSs predicted overlapping and widespread neurodevelopmental alterations associated with superior fluid cognition. Specifically, among adoptees only, greater AD GRS were related to accelerated structural maturation (i.e., cortical thinning) and higher MDD GRS were linked to delayed functional neurodevelopment, as reflected in compensatory brain activation on an inhibitory control task. Our study identifies compensatory mechanisms linked to MDD risk and highlights the potential cognitive benefits of accelerated maturation linked to AD vulnerability in late childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Petrican
- Institute of Population Health, Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Bedford Street South, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK.
| | - Amy L Paine
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Valentina Escott-Price
- Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Katherine H Shelton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
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Perret LC, Geoffroy MC, Barr E, Parnet F, Provencal N, Boivin M, O’Donnell KJ, Suderman M, Power C, Turecki G, Ouellet-Morin I. Associations between epigenetic aging and childhood peer victimization, depression, and suicidal ideation in adolescence and adulthood: A study of two population-based samples. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1051556. [PMID: 36712964 PMCID: PMC9879289 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1051556] [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: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Prior studies indicate that peer victimization (including bullying) is associated with higher risk for depression and suicidal ideation across the life course. However, molecular mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. This two-cohort study proposes to test whether epigenetic aging and pace of aging, as well as a DNA methylation marker of responsive to glucocorticoids, are associated to childhood peer victimization and later depressive symptoms, or suicidal ideation. Methods: Cohort 1: Epigenome-wide DNA methylation (EPIC array) was measured in saliva collected when participants were 10.47 years (standard deviation = 0.35) in a subsample of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD, n = 149 participants), with self-reported peer victimization at 6-8 years, depressive symptoms (mean symptoms, and dichotomized top 30% symptoms) and suicidal ideation at 15-17 years. Cohort 2: Epigenome-wide DNA methylation (EPIC array) was measured in blood collected from participants aged 45.13 years (standard deviation = 0.37) in a subsample of the 1958 British Birth cohort (1958BBC, n = 238 participants) with information on mother-reported peer victimization at 7-11 years, self-reported depressive symptoms at 50 years, and suicidal ideation at 45 years. Five epigenetic indices were derived: three indicators of epigenetic aging [Horvath's pan-tissue (Horvath1), Horvath's Skin-and-Blood (Horvath2), Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic age (PedBE)], pace of aging (DunedinPACE), and stress response reactivity (Epistress). Results: Peer victimization was not associated with the epigenetic indices in either cohort. In the QLSCD, higher PedBE epigenetic aging and a slower pace of aging as measured by DunedinPACE predicted higher depressive symptoms scores. In contrast, neither the Horvath1, or Horvath2 epigenetic age estimates, nor the Epistress score were associated with depressive symptoms in either cohort, and none of the epigenetic indices predicted suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with epigenome-wide and candidate gene studies suggesting that these epigenetic indices did not relate to peer victimization, challenging the hypothesis that cumulative epigenetic aging indices could translate vulnerability to depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation following peer victimization. Since some indices of epigenetic aging and pace of aging signaled higher risk for depressive symptoms, future studies should pursue this investigation to further evaluate the robustness and generalization of these preliminary findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. C. Perret
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - M-C. Geoffroy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - E. Barr
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - F. Parnet
- School of Criminology, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - N. Provencal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - M. Boivin
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - K. J. O’Donnell
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States,Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M. Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, Bristol Population Health Science Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - C. Power
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - G. Turecki
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - I. Ouellet-Morin
- School of Criminology, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: I. Ouellet-Morin,
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Caro JC, Holuka C, Menta G, Turner JD, Vögele C, D'Ambrosio C. Children's internalizing behavior development is heterogeneously associated with the pace of epigenetic aging. Biol Psychol 2023; 176:108463. [PMID: 36436681 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internalizing behaviors are an indicator of children's psychological and emotional development, predicting future mental disorders. Recent studies have identified associations between DNA methylation (DNAm) and internalizing behaviors. This prospective study aimed at exploring the associations between pace of biological aging and the developmental trajectories of internalizing behaviors. METHODS Participants were children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (N = 974). Measures of DNA methylation were collected at birth, age 7 and ages 15-17. The pace of aging was estimated using the DunedinPoAm algorithm (PoAm). Internalizing behaviors reported by caregivers between ages 4 and 16 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. To explore heterogeneity in the association between PoAm and internalizing behaviors we use Poisson quantile regression in cross-section heterogeneity and longitudinal latent class analysis over the childhood and adolescence. RESULTS Internalizing behavior trajectories were identified: low-risk, childhood limited, late onset and early onset (persistent). Accelerated aging at birth was negatively associated with internalizing behaviors in early childhood but positively correlated during adolescence. Higher PoAm at birth increased chance of low-risk profile, while decreasing likelihood of childhood limited trajectory. PoAm at age 15 was negatively associated with childhood limited profile and positively linked to late onset trajectories. Associations were larger at higher values of internalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The heterogeneity in the association between biological age acceleration and internalizing behaviors suggests a complex dynamic relationship, particularly in children with high or increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Caro
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
| | - Cyrielle Holuka
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg; Faculty of Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Giorgia Menta
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Luxembourg
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg
| | - Claus Vögele
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Conchita D'Ambrosio
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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Comtois-Cabana M, Barr E, Provençal N, Ouellet-Morin I. Association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood: The mediating and moderating roles of DNA methylation. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280203. [PMID: 36634080 PMCID: PMC9836296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Prospective studies suggest that child maltreatment substantially increases the risk for depression in adulthood. However, the mechanisms underlying this association require further elucidation. In recent years, DNA methylation has emerged as a potential mechanism by which maltreatment experiences (a) could partly explain the emergence or aggravation of depressive symptoms (i.e., mediation) and/or (b) could increase (or decrease) the risk for depressive symptoms (i.e., moderation). The present study tested whether the methylation levels of nine candidate genes mediated and/or moderated the association between maltreatment experiences in childhood and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. The sample comprised 156 men aged between 18 and 35 years. Maltreatment experiences and depressive symptoms were assessed retrospectively using self-reported questionnaires. Methylation levels of nine candidate genes (COMT, FKBP5, IL6, IL10, MAOA, NR3C1, OXTR, SLC6A3 and SLC6A4), previously reported to be sensitive to early-life stress, were quantified from saliva samples. Maltreatment experiences in childhood were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Both maltreatment experiences and depressive symptoms were associated with the methylation levels of two genomic sites, which cumulatively, but not individually, explained 16% of the association between maltreatment experiences in childhood and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Moreover, maltreatment experiences in childhood interacted with the methylation levels of fourteen genomic sites, which cumulatively, but not individually, modulated the level of depressive symptoms in young male adults who were maltreated as children. However, none of these effects survived multiple testing correction. These findings bring attention to the cumulative effects of DNA methylation measured in several candidate genes on the risk of reporting depressive symptoms following maltreatment experiences in childhood. Nonetheless, future studies need to clarify the robustness of these putative cumulative effects in larger samples and longitudinal cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maude Comtois-Cabana
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emily Barr
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nadine Provençal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
- School of Criminology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Childhood Trauma and Epigenetics: State of the Science and Future. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:661-672. [PMID: 36242743 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00381-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There is a great deal of interest regarding the biological embedding of childhood trauma and social exposures through epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation (DNAm), but a comprehensive understanding has been hindered by issues of limited reproducibility between studies. This review presents a summary of the literature on childhood trauma and DNAm, highlights issues in the field, and proposes some potential solutions. RECENT FINDINGS Investigations of the associations between DNAm and childhood trauma are commonly performed using candidate gene approaches, specifically involving genes related to neurological and stress pathways. Childhood trauma is defined in a wide range of ways in several societal contexts. However, although variations in DNAm are frequently found in stress-related genes, unsupervised epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have shown limited reproducibility both between studies and in relating these changes to exposures. The reproducibility of childhood trauma DNAm studies, and the field of social epigenetics in general, may be improved by increasing sample sizes, standardizing variables, making use of effect size thresholds, collecting longitudinal and intervention samples, appropriately accounting for known confounding factors, and applying causal analysis wherever possible, such as "two-step epigenetic Mendelian randomization."
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Caceres BA, Huang Y, Barcelona V, Wang Z, Newhall KP, Cerdeña JP, Crusto CA, Sun YV, Taylor JY. The Interaction of Trauma Exposure and DNA Methylation on Blood Pressure Among Black Women in the InterGEN Study. Epigenet Insights 2022; 15:25168657221138510. [PMID: 36466626 PMCID: PMC9716582 DOI: 10.1177/25168657221138510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Despite evidence that trauma exposure is linked to higher risk of hypertension, epigenetic mechanisms (such as DNA methylation) by which trauma potentially influences hypertension risk among Black adults remain understudied. Methods Data from a longitudinal study of Black mothers were used to test the hypothesis that direct childhood trauma (ie, personal exposure) and vicarious trauma (ie, childhood trauma experienced by their children) would interact with DNA methylation to increase blood pressure (BP). Separate linear mixed effects models were fitted at each CpG site with the DNA methylation beta-value and direct and vicarious trauma as predictors and systolic and diastolic BP modeled as dependent variables adjusted for age, cigarette smoking, and body mass index. Interaction terms between DNA methylation beta-values with direct and vicarious trauma were added. Results The sample included 244 Black mothers with a mean age of 31.2 years (SD = ±5.8). Approximately 45% of participants reported at least one form of direct childhood trauma and 49% reported at least one form of vicarious trauma. Epigenome-wide interaction analyses found that no CpG sites passed the epigenome-wide significance level indicating the interaction between direct or vicarious trauma with DNAm did not influence systolic or diastolic BP. Conclusions This is one of the first studies to simultaneously examine whether direct or vicarious exposure to trauma interact with DNAm to influence BP. Although findings were null, this study highlights directions for future research that investigates epigenetic mechanisms that may link trauma exposure with hypertension risk in Black women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zeyuan Wang
- Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kevin P Newhall
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Cindy A Crusto
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yan V Sun
- Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Y Taylor
- Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA,Jacquelyn Y Taylor, Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Nugent NR, Armey M, Boker S, Brick L, Knopik V, McGeary JE, Spirito A, Mehl MR. Adolescents hospitalised for suicidality: biomarkers, social and affective predictors: a cohort study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056063. [PMID: 36192099 PMCID: PMC9535190 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The present research examines genomics and in vivo dynamics of family context and experienced affect following discharge from psychiatric hospitalisation for suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs). The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a new model, description of model-guided integration of multiple methods, documentation of feasibility of recruitment and retention and a description of baseline sample characteristics. DESIGN The research involved a longitudinal, multimethod observational investigation. SETTING Participants were recruited from an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric hospital. 194 participants ages 13-18 were recruited following hospitalisation for STB. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Participants underwent a battery of clinical interviews, self-report assessments and venipuncture. On discharge, participants were provided with a phone with (1) the electronically activated recorder (EAR), permitting acoustic capture later coded for social context, and (2) ecological momentary assessment, permitting assessment of in vivo experienced affect and STB. Participants agreed to follow-ups at 3 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS A total of 71.1% of approached patients consented to participation. Participants reported diversity in gender identity (11.6% reported transgender or other gender identity) and sexual orientation (47.6% reported heterosexual or straight sexual orientation). Clinical interviews supported a range of diagnoses with the largest proportion of participants meeting criteria for major depressive disorder (76.9%). History of trauma/maltreatment was prevalent. Enrolment rates and participant characteristics were similar to other observational studies. CONCLUSIONS The research protocol characterises in vivo, real-world experienced affect and observed family context as associated with STB in adolescents during the high-risk weeks post discharge, merging multiple fields of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Nugent
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Michael Armey
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Psychosocial Research, Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Steven Boker
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Leslie Brick
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Valerie Knopik
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - John E McGeary
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Anthony Spirito
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Matthias R Mehl
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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Zhu Y, Lussier AA, Smith ADAC, Simpkin AJ, Suderman MJ, Walton E, Relton CL, Dunn EC. Examining the epigenetic mechanisms of childhood adversity and sensitive periods: A gene set-based approach. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105854. [PMID: 35914392 PMCID: PMC9885844 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensitive periods are developmental stages of heightened plasticity when life experiences, including exposure to childhood adversity, have the potential to exert more lasting impacts. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation (DNAm), may provide a pathway through which adversity induces long-term biological changes. DNAm shifts may be more likely to occur during sensitive periods, especially within genes that regulate the timing of sensitive periods. Here, we investigated the possibility that childhood adversity during specific life stages is associated with DNAm changes in genes known to regulate the timing and duration of sensitive periods. METHODS Genome-wide DNAm profiles came from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 785). We first used principal component analysis (PCA) to summarize DNAm variation across 530 CpG sites mapped to the promoters of 58 genes previously-identified as regulating sensitive periods. Gene-level DNAm summaries were calculated for genes regulating sensitive period opening (ngenes = 15), closing (ngenes = 36), and expression (ngenes = 8). We then performed linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to test associations between seven types of parent-reported, time-varying measures of exposure to childhood adversity and DNAm principal components. To our knowledge, this is the first time LDA has been applied to analyze functionally grouped DNAm data to characterize associations between an environmental exposure and epigenetic differences. RESULTS Suggestive evidence emerged for associations between sexual or physical abuse as well as financial hardship during middle childhood, and DNAm of genetic pathways regulating sensitive period opening and expression. However, no statistically significant associations were identified after multiple testing correction. CONCLUSIONS Our gene set-based method combining PCA and LDA complements epigenome-wide approaches. Although our results were largely null, these findings provide a proof-of-concept for studying time-varying exposures and gene- or pathway-level epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Zhu
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Alexandre A Lussier
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Andrew D A C Smith
- Mathematics and Statistics Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrew J Simpkin
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Matthew J Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Esther Walton
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Caroline L Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Erin C Dunn
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States; Harvard Center on the Developing Child, Cambridge, MA, United States.
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León I, Herrero Roldán S, Rodrigo MJ, López Rodríguez M, Fisher J, Mitchell C, Lage-Castellanos A. The shared mother-child epigenetic signature of neglect is related to maternal adverse events. Front Physiol 2022; 13:966740. [PMID: 36091392 PMCID: PMC9448913 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.966740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of DNA methylation have revealed the biological mechanisms by which life adversity confers risk for later physical and mental health problems. What remains unknown is the “biologically embedding” of maternal adverse experiences resulting in maladaptive parenting and whether these epigenetic effects are transmitted to the next generation. This study focuses on neglectful mothering indexed by a severe disregard for the basic and psychological needs of the child. Using the Illumina Human Methylation EPIC BeadChip in saliva samples, we identified genes with differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in those mothers with (n = 51), versus those without (n = 87), neglectful behavior that present similar DMRs patterns in their children being neglected versus non-neglected (n = 40 vs. 75). Mothers reported the emotional intensity of adverse life events. After covariate adjustment and multiple testing corrections, we identified 69 DMRs in the mother epigenome and 42 DMRs in the child epigenome that were simultaneously above the α = 0.01 threshold. The common set of nine DMRs contained genes related to childhood adversity, neonatal and infant diabetes, child neurobehavioral development and other health problems such as obesity, hypertension, cancer, posttraumatic stress, and the Alzheimer’s disease; four of the genes were associated with maternal life adversity. Identifying a shared epigenetic signature of neglect linked to maternal life adversity is an essential step in breaking the intergenerational transmission of one of the most common forms of childhood maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada León
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Spain
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Spain
| | - Silvia Herrero Roldán
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Spain
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Spain
- *Correspondence: Silvia Herrero Roldán,
| | - María José Rodrigo
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Spain
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Spain
| | - Maykel López Rodríguez
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jonah Fisher
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, United States
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, United States
| | - Agustín Lage-Castellanos
- Department of NeuroInformatics, Cuban Center for Neuroscience, Havana, Cuba
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Tidmarsh LV, Harrison R, Ravindran D, Matthews SL, Finlay KA. The Influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Pain Management: Mechanisms, Processes, and Trauma-Informed Care. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 3:923866. [PMID: 35756908 PMCID: PMC9226323 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.923866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the likelihood of reduced physical and psychological health in adulthood. Though understanding and psychological management of traumatic experiences is growing, the empirical exploration of ACEs and physical clinical outcomes remains under-represented and under-explored. This topical review aimed to highlight the role of ACEs in the experience of chronic pain, pain management services and clinical decision making by: (1) providing an overview of the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain; (2) identifying biopsychosocial mechanisms through which ACEs may increase risk of persistent pain; (3) highlighting the impact of ACEs on patient adherence and completion of pain management treatment; and (4) providing practical clinical implications for pain management. Review findings demonstrated that in chronic pain, ACEs are associated with increased pain complications, pain catastrophizing and depression and the combination of these factors further heightens the risk of early treatment attrition. The pervasive detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on ACEs and their cyclical effects on pain are discussed in the context of psychological decline during long treatment waitlists. The review highlights how people with pain can be further supported in pain services by maintaining trauma-informed practices and acknowledging the impact of ACEs on chronic pain and detrimental health outcomes. Clinicians who are ACE-informed have the potential to minimize the negative influence of ACEs on treatment outcomes, ultimately optimizing the impact of pain management services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia V. Tidmarsh
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lydia V. Tidmarsh
| | - Richard Harrison
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samantha L. Matthews
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine A. Finlay
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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An epigenetic association analysis of childhood trauma in psychosis reveals possible overlap with methylation changes associated with PTSD. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:177. [PMID: 35501310 PMCID: PMC9061740 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01936-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with a severe mental disorder report significantly higher levels of childhood trauma (CT) than healthy individuals. Studies have suggested that CT may affect brain plasticity through epigenetic mechanisms and contribute to developing various psychiatric disorders. We performed a blood-based epigenome-wide association study using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-short form in 602 patients with a current severe mental illness, investigating DNA methylation association separately for five trauma subtypes and the total trauma score. The median trauma score was set as the predefined cutoff for determining whether the trauma was present or not. Additionally, we compared our genome-wide results with methylation probes annotated to candidate genes previously associated with CT. Of the patients, 83.2% reported CT above the cutoff in one or more trauma subtypes, and emotional neglect was the trauma subtype most frequently reported. We identified one significant differently methylated position associated with the gene TANGO6 for physical neglect. Seventeen differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were associated with different trauma categories. Several of these DMRs were annotated to genes previously associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and cognitive impairments. Our results support a biomolecular association between CT and severe mental disorders. Genes that were previously identified as differentially methylated in CT-exposed subjects with and without psychosis did not show methylation differences in our analysis. We discuss this inconsistency, the relevance of our findings, and the limitations of our study.
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Martins J, Yusupov N, Binder EB, Brückl TM, Czamara D. Early adversity as the prototype gene × environment interaction in mental disorders? Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 215:173371. [PMID: 35271857 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Childhood adversity (CA) as a significant stressor has consistently been associated with the development of mental disorders. The interaction between CA and genetic variants has been proposed to play a substantial role in disease etiology. In this review, we focus on the gene by environment (GxE) paradigm, its background and interpretation and stress the necessity of its implementation in psychiatric research. Further, we discuss the findings supporting GxCA interactions, ranging from candidate gene studies to polygenic and genome-wide approaches, their strengths and limitations. To illustrate potential underlying epigenetic mechanisms by which GxE effects are translated, we focus on results from FKBP5 × CA studies and discuss how molecular evidence can supplement previous GxE findings. In conclusion, while GxE studies constitute a valuable line of investigation, more harmonized GxE studies in large, deep-phenotyped, longitudinal cohorts, and across different developmental stages are necessary to further substantiate and understand reported GxE findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Martins
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany.
| | - 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
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - 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
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Moog NK, Heim CM, Entringer S, Simhan HN, Wadhwa PD, Buss C. Transmission of the adverse consequences of childhood maltreatment across generations: Focus on gestational biology. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 215:173372. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Sun S, Sheridan M, Tyrka A, Donofry SD, Erickson K, Loucks E. Addressing the biological embedding of early life adversities (ELA) among adults through mindfulness: Proposed mechanisms and review of converging evidence. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 134:104526. [PMID: 34998833 PMCID: PMC8844271 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Early life adversities (ELA) are prevalent and have a profound and adverse impact across the lifespan, including on age-related health outcomes, yet interventions to remediate its adverse impact are scarce. This paper presents evidence for mindfulness training to reduce the elevated mental and physical health risks linked to ELA among adults by targeting biological mechanisms of ELA leading to these adverse health outcomes. We first provide a brief overview of ELA, its adverse health impacts, and mechanisms that might be responsible. Next, we review converging evidence that demonstrates that mindfulness training influences key biological pathways involved in ELA-linked negative health consequences, including (a) brain networks involved in self-regulation, (b) immunity and inflammation, (c) telomere biology, and (d) epigenetic modifications. Further, we review preliminary evidence from mindfulness-based trials that focused on populations impacted by ELA. We discuss limitations of this review and provide recommendations for future research. If effective, a mindfulness-based approach could be an important public health strategy for remediating the adverse mental and physical health consequences of ELA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufang Sun
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, United States; Mindfulness Center at Brown University, United States.
| | - Margaret Sheridan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Audrey Tyrka
- Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Alpert Medical School
| | | | - Kirk Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Eric Loucks
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health,Mindfulness Center at Brown University
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Lepsy N, Dering MR, Fuge J, Meltendorf T, Hoeper MM, Heitland I, Kamp JC, Park DH, Richter MJ, Gall H, Ghofrani HA, Ellermeier D, Kulla HD, Olsson KM, Kahl KG. Childhood Maltreatment, Mental Well-Being, and Healthy Lifestyle in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:821468. [PMID: 35280158 PMCID: PMC8908105 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.821468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, advances in medical, surgical and interventional treatment have markedly improved the outcome of patients with CTEPH. Additional factors potentially influencing quality of life (QoL) and outcome in CTEPH are yet to be defined. Child maltreatment is a major risk factor for unfavorable behavioral, mental as well as physical health outcomes and has been associated with decreased QoL. To date, no study assessed the impact of childhood trauma in patients with CTEPH. Methods Patients with CTEPH were invited to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Data were compared to prevalence data from the German population. Mental well-being was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and quality of life was measured using the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL). Furthermore, lifestyle factors and physical health parameters were studied.Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate a possible impact of child maltreatment on markers of disease severity. Results One-hundred and seven patients with CTEPH completed the CTQ. These patients reported higher rates of emotional abuse and physical abuse and emotional neglect compared to the German population while rates of physical neglect and sexual abuse did not differ between patients and German population with prevalence of 20.6% for emotional abuse, 20% for physical abuse, 22% for emotional neglect, 46% for physical neglect, and 6% for sexual abuse in patients with CTEPH. Higher CTQ scores were associated with anxiety symptoms as well as negatively associated with QoL. No direct impact of childhood trauma on CTEPH severity was found. Conclusion We found a higher rate of child maltreatment in patients with CTEPH in comparison to the German population. Correlations suggest moderate associations between CTQ scores and mental health and QoL. Child maltreatment had no significant impact on disease severity. Further investigation on proper interventions to support affected patients is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Lepsy
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Madelaine-Rachel Dering
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Fuge
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL/BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Tanja Meltendorf
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL/BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Marius M. Hoeper
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL/BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Ivo Heitland
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan C. Kamp
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL/BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Da-Hee Park
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL/BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Manuel J. Richter
- Department of Internal Medicine, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Universities of Gießen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Germany
| | - Henning Gall
- Department of Internal Medicine, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Universities of Gießen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hossein A. Ghofrani
- Department of Internal Medicine, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Universities of Gießen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Pneumology, Kerckhoff Heart, Rheuma and Thoracic Center, German Center for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Karen M. Olsson
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL/BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Kai G. Kahl
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Pereira MA, Araújo A, Simões M, Costa C. Influence of Psychological Factors in Breast and Lung Cancer Risk - A Systematic Review. Front Psychol 2022; 12:769394. [PMID: 35046872 PMCID: PMC8762112 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.769394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In 2020, according to the Global Cancer Observatory, nearly 10 million people died of cancer. Amongst all cancers, breast cancer had the highest number of new cases and lung cancer had the highest number of deaths. Even though the literatures suggest a possible connection between psychological factors and cancer risk, their association throughout studies remains inconclusive. The present systematic review studied the connection between psychological factors and the risk of breast and lung cancer, prior to a cancer diagnosis. The psychological factors of trauma, grief, and depression were studied. Methods: The current systematic review was carried out across multiple databases in two phases, an initial exploratory research in June 2020, refined with a second electronic research in December 2020. The inclusion criteria included studies describing the association between trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, and depression with breast and lung cancer risk. The psychological data collection must have been carried out prior to a confirmed breast or lung cancer diagnosis, and accessed through self-report measures, questionnaires, clinical interviews, or clinical diagnoses. Study reports had to contain information about the incidence of cancer and effect size. The exclusion criteria were studies in which psychological factors were collected after cancer diagnosis. Results and Conclusion: A total of 26 studies were included. Although non-consensual, the findings from the present systematic review suggest that, in addition to the known risk factors, psychological factors may play an important role in the etiology of both breast and lung cancer. To include psychological factors as a variable that affects cancer development may be fundamental to opening new avenues for prevention and intervention. Systematic Review Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [CRD42020209161].
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angelina Pereira
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,*Correspondence: Maria Angelina Pereira,
| | - António Araújo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mário Simões
- Laboratory of Mind-Matter Interaction with Therapeutic Intention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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Mavioglu RN, Ramo-Fernandez L, Gumpp AM, Kolassa IT, Karabatsiakis A. A history of childhood maltreatment is associated with altered DNA methylation levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 in maternal but not neonatal mononuclear immune cells. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:945343. [PMID: 36440389 PMCID: PMC9685310 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.945343] [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: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with alterations in DNA methylation (DNAm) especially in stress response genes. Due to the higher risk of overall health complications of individuals with a parental history of CM, intergenerational transmission of CM-associated DNAm changes has been investigated but remains unclear. In this study, we investigated if different severities of CM have any influence on the DNAm of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), an important enzyme of the DNAm machinery, in immune and buccal cells of mother-newborn dyads. DNAm was assessed by mass spectrometry using immune cell DNA from mothers (N = 117) and their newborns (N = 113), and buccal cell DNA of mother-newborn dyads (N = 68 each). Mothers with a history of CM had lower mean methylation of DNMT1 in immune cells compared to the mothers without a CM history. CM status only influenced maternal DNMT1 gene expression when at least moderate CM was reported. Buccal cell DNAm was not associated with CM status. Maternal history of CM was not linked to any alterations in DNMT1 mean DNAm in any of the cell types studied in newborns. We conclude that the CM-associated alterations in DNMT1 DNAm might point to allostatic load and can be physiologically relevant, especially in individuals with more severe CM experiences, resulting in an activated DNA methylation machinery that might influence stress response genes. Our lack of significant findings in buccal cells shows the tissue-specific effects of CM on DNAm. In our sample with low to moderate maternal CM history, there was no intergenerational transmission of DNMT1 DNAm in newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rezan Nehir Mavioglu
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Laura Ramo-Fernandez
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja M Gumpp
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Iris-Tatjana Kolassa
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Karabatsiakis
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology II, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Craig F, Mascheroni E, Giorda R, Felline MG, Bacco MG, Castagna A, Tenuta F, Villa M, Costabile A, Trabacca A, Montirosso R. Exploring the Contribution of Proximal Family Risk Factors on SLC6A4 DNA Methylation in Children with a History of Maltreatment: A Preliminary Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312736. [PMID: 34886461 PMCID: PMC8657512 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The cumulative effects of proximal family risk factors have been associated with a high number of adverse outcomes in childhood maltreatment, and DNA methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) has been associated with child maltreatment. However, the relationships between proximal family risk factors and SLC6A4 methylation remains unexplored. We examined the association among cumulative family risk factors, maltreatment experiences and DNA methylation in the SLC6A4 gene in a sample of 33 child victims of maltreatment. We computed a cumulative family risk (CFR) index that included proximal family risk factors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, psychopathology, parents’ experiences of maltreatment/abuse in childhood, criminal history, and domestic violence. The majority of children (90.9%) experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Hierarchical regression models suggested that the higher the CFR index score and the number of maltreatment experiences, and the older the children, the higher the SLC6A4 DNA methylation levels. Although preliminary, our findings suggest that, along with childhood maltreatment experiences per se, cumulative proximal family risk factors are seemingly critically associated with DNA methylation at the SLC6A4 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Craig
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (F.C.); (F.T.); (A.C.)
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Eleonora Mascheroni
- 0–3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (E.M.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Roberto Giorda
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (R.G.); (M.V.)
| | - Maria Grazia Felline
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Maria Grazia Bacco
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Annalisa Castagna
- 0–3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (E.M.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Flaviana Tenuta
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (F.C.); (F.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Marco Villa
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (R.G.); (M.V.)
| | - Angela Costabile
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (F.C.); (F.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Antonio Trabacca
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 72100 Brindisi, Italy; (M.G.F.); (M.G.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosario Montirosso
- 0–3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy; (E.M.); (A.C.); (R.M.)
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Petrican R, Miles S, Rudd L, Wasiewska W, Graham KS, Lawrence AD. Pubertal timing and functional neurodevelopmental alterations independently mediate the effect of family conflict on adolescent psychopathology. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2021; 52:101032. [PMID: 34781251 PMCID: PMC10436252 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study tested the hypothesis that early life adversity (ELA) heightens psychopathology risk by concurrently altering pubertal and neurodevelopmental timing, and associated gene transcription signatures. Analyses focused on threat- (family conflict/neighbourhood crime) and deprivation-related ELAs (parental inattentiveness/unmet material needs), using longitudinal data from 1514 biologically unrelated youths in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Typical developmental changes in white matter microstructure corresponded to widespread BOLD signal variability (BOLDsv) increases (linked to cell communication and biosynthesis genes) and region-specific task-related BOLDsv increases/decreases (linked to signal transduction, immune and external environmental response genes). Increasing resting-state (RS), but decreasing task-related BOLDsv predicted normative functional network segregation. Family conflict was the strongest concurrent and prospective contributor to psychopathology, while material deprivation constituted an additive risk factor. ELA-linked psychopathology was predicted by higher Time 1 threat-evoked BOLDSV (associated with axonal development, myelination, cell differentiation and signal transduction genes), reduced Time 2 RS BOLDsv (associated with cell metabolism and attention genes) and greater Time 1 to Time 2 control/attention network segregation. Earlier pubertal timing and neurodevelopmental alterations independently mediated ELA effects on psychopathology. Our results underscore the differential roles of the immediate and wider external environment(s) in concurrent and longer-term ELA consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Petrican
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Sian Miles
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Rudd
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Wiktoria Wasiewska
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kim S Graham
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Lawrence
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
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