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Shoenfelt A, Pehlivanoglu D, Lin T, Ziaei M, Feifel D, Ebner NC. Effects of chronic intranasal oxytocin on visual attention to faces vs. natural scenes in older adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 164:107018. [PMID: 38461634 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107018] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Aging is associated with changes in face processing, including desensitization to face cues like gaze direction and an attentional preference to faces with positive over negative emotional valence. A parallel line of research has shown that acute administration of oxytocin (OT) increases visual attention to social stimuli such as human faces. The current study examined effects of chronic OT administration among older adults on fixation duration to faces that varied in emotional expression, gaze direction, age, and sex. One hundred and twelve generally healthy older adults (aged 55-95 years) underwent a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, between-subject clinical trial in which they self-administered either OT or placebo (P) intranasally twice a day for 4 weeks. The behavioral task involved rating the trustworthiness of faces (i.e., social stimuli) and natural scenes (i.e., non-social control stimuli) during eye tracking and was conducted before and after the intervention. Fixation duration to both the faces and the natural scenes declined from pre- to post-intervention, however this decline was less pronounced among older adults in the OT compared to the P group for faces but not scenes. Further, face cues (emotional expression, gaze direction, age, sex) did not moderate the treatment effect. This study provides first evidence that chronic intranasal OT maintains salience of social cues over time in older adults, perhaps buffering effects of habituation. These findings enhance understanding of OT effects on social cognition among older adults, and would benefit from follow up with a young adult comparison group to directly speak to specificity of observed effects to older adults and reflection of the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alayna Shoenfelt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611-2250, USA.
| | - Didem Pehlivanoglu
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611-2250, USA
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611-2250, USA
| | - Maryam Ziaei
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7030, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Centre for Alzheimer's disease, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7030, Norway
| | - David Feifel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611-2250, USA; Cognitive Aging and Memory Program, Clinical Translational Research Program, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1149 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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2
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Sakaguchi K, Tawata S. Giftedness and atypical sexual differentiation: enhanced perceptual functioning through estrogen deficiency instead of androgen excess. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1343759. [PMID: 38752176 PMCID: PMC11094242 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1343759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Syndromic autism spectrum conditions (ASC), such as Klinefelter syndrome, also manifest hypogonadism. Compared to the popular Extreme Male Brain theory, the Enhanced Perceptual Functioning model explains the connection between ASC, savant traits, and giftedness more seamlessly, and their co-emergence with atypical sexual differentiation. Overexcitability of primary sensory inputs generates a relative enhancement of local to global processing of stimuli, hindering the abstraction of communication signals, in contrast to the extraordinary local information processing skills in some individuals. Weaker inhibitory function through gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors and the atypicality of synapse formation lead to this difference, and the formation of unique neural circuits that process external information. Additionally, deficiency in monitoring inner sensory information leads to alexithymia (inability to distinguish one's own emotions), which can be caused by hypoactivity of estrogen and oxytocin in the interoceptive neural circuits, comprising the anterior insular and cingulate gyri. These areas are also part of the Salience Network, which switches between the Central Executive Network for external tasks and the Default Mode Network for self-referential mind wandering. Exploring the possibility that estrogen deficiency since early development interrupts GABA shift, causing sensory processing atypicality, it helps to evaluate the co-occurrence of ASC with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and schizophrenia based on phenotypic and physiological bases. It also provides clues for understanding the common underpinnings of these neurodevelopmental disorders and gifted populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kikue Sakaguchi
- Research Department, National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE), Kodaira-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shintaro Tawata
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Sophia University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Proskynitopoulos PJ, Bleich S, Muschler MAN, Buchholz V, Frieling H, Glahn A, Rhein M. Methylation of the Oxytocin, Oxytocin Receptor, and Vasopressin Gene Promoters in Tobacco Use Disorder during Cessation. Neuropsychobiology 2024; 83:28-40. [PMID: 38185116 PMCID: PMC10871687 DOI: 10.1159/000535663] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) exert sex-specific effects on social pair bonding and stress reactions while also influencing craving in substance use disorders. In this regard, intranasal oxytocin (OT) and AVP antagonists present potential treatments for tobacco use disorder (TUD). Since transcription of both hormones is also regulated by gene methylation, we hypothesized sex-specific changes in methylation levels of the AVP, OT, and OT receptor (OXTR) gene during nicotine withdrawal. METHODS The study population consisted of 49 smokers (29 males, 20 females) and 51 healthy non-smokers (25 males, 26 females). Blood was drawn at day 1, day 7, and day 14 of smoking cessation. Craving was assessed with the questionnaire on smoking urges (QSU). RESULTS Throughout cessation, mean methylation of the OT promoter gene increased in males and decreased in females. OXTR receptor methylation decreased in females, while in males it was significantly lower at day 7. Regarding the AVP promoter, mean methylation increased in males while there were no changes in females. Using mixed linear modeling, CpG position, time point, sex, and the interaction of time point and sex as well as time point, sex, and QSU had a significant fixed effect on OT and AVP gene methylation. The interaction effect suggests that sex, time point, and QSU are interrelated, meaning that, depending on the sex, methylation could be different at different time points and vice versa. There was no significant effect of QSU on mean OXTR methylation. DISCUSSION We identified differences at specific CpGs between controls and smokers in OT and AVP and in overall methylation of the AVP gene. Furthermore, we found sex-specific changes in mean methylation levels of the mentioned genes throughout smoking cessation, underlining the relevance of sex in the OT and vasopressin system. This is the first study on epigenetic regulation of the OT promoter in TUD. Our results have implications for research on the utility of the AVP and OT system for treating substance craving. Future studies on both targets need to analyze their effect in the context of sex, social factors, and gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Bleich
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Vanessa Buchholz
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Glahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mathias Rhein
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Hasan R. The Multifaceted Role of Oxytocinergic System and OXTR Gene. Glob Med Genet 2024; 11:29-33. [PMID: 38239807 PMCID: PMC10796195 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The article explores the multifaceted role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in human behavior and its connection to the oxytocin receptor ( OXTR ) gene. Oxytocin, produced in specific brain nuclei, is implicated in emotional, social, and maternal behaviors, stress reduction, uterine contraction during childbirth, and lactation. The OXTR gene, located on chromosome 3, encodes oxytocin receptors found in various body parts, including critical brain regions associated with social behaviors. The article delves into studies on rodents, revealing correlations between OXTR gene expression and pair bonding in the prefrontal cortex and social behavior regulation in the amygdala. The discussion extends to the impact of oxytocin on social support-seeking behavior, focusing on a specific genetic variation, rs53576. The article explores how this genetic variation influences empathy, stress reactivity, and susceptibility to disorders such as autism and social anxiety. Furthermore, the article examines structural and functional changes in the brain associated with OXTR gene variations. It discusses the role of DNA methylation in influencing oxytocin receptor availability, affecting social perception and responsiveness to negative stimuli. The article also highlights the oxytocinergic system's involvement in disorders such as autism and social anxiety, emphasizing the interplay between genetics and environmental factors. The article also touches on the potential therapeutic use of exogenous oxytocin in mitigating symptoms associated with these disorders. In summary, the article underscores the intricate relationship between oxytocin, the OXTR gene, and diverse aspects of human behavior, providing insights into social bonding, perception, and the development of behavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakibul Hasan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
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Mallick R, Duttaroy AK. Epigenetic modification impacting brain functions: Effects of physical activity, micronutrients, caffeine, toxins, and addictive substances. Neurochem Int 2023; 171:105627. [PMID: 37827244 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105627] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Changes in gene expression are involved in many brain functions. Epigenetic processes modulate gene expression by histone modification and DNA methylation or RNA-mediated processes, which is important for brain function. Consequently, epigenetic changes are also a part of brain diseases such as mental illness and addiction. Understanding the role of different factors on the brain epigenome may help us understand the function of the brain. This review discussed the effects of caffeine, lipids, addictive substances, physical activity, and pollutants on the epigenetic changes in the brain and their modulatory effects on brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Mallick
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
| | - Asim K Duttaroy
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, POB 1046 Blindern, Oslo, Norway.
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Puglia MH, Lynch ME, Nance MG, Connelly JJ, Morris JP. DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor interacts with age to impact neural response to social stimuli. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1252478. [PMID: 38020783 PMCID: PMC10665856 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1252478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social isolation is one of the strongest predictors of increased risk of mortality in older adulthood. The ability to form and maintain the social relationships that mitigate this risk is partially regulated by the oxytocinergic system and one's ability to attend to and process social information. We have previously shown that an epigenetic change to the DNA of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR methylation) affects the salience of social information in young adults. Little is known about how the oxytocinergic system ages and what effect this aging system has on social cognitive abilities throughout the lifespan. Methods Here we explored age-related differences in the association between neural response during selective social attention and OXTR DNA methylation in young (age 18-31) and older (age 58-81) adults. Participants underwent fMRI during a selective social attention task and provided a DNA sample for the assessment of OXTR methylation. Results and Discussion We found that older adults activated diffuse areas of visual cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during selective social attention, consistent with the dedifferentiation and compensatory neural activation commonly reported in aging. We found a significant age-by-OXTR methylation interaction on neural response when attending to social stimuli in a complex display; young adults displayed a positive association between OXTR methylation and neural activation, replicating our prior finding that young adults with presumed diminished endogenous access to oxytocin recruit regions of the attentional cortex to a greater extent. This association did not hold for older adults. Instead, perceived social support interacted with OXTR methylation to influence neural response during selective social attention. These data suggest that environmental factors like social support moderate biological processes in aging and highlight the importance of a lifespan perspective for understanding associations between individual differences in the oxytocinergic system, neural function, and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan H. Puglia
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Morgan E. Lynch
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Madelyn G. Nance
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jessica J. Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - James P. Morris
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Marzoratti A, Liu ME, Krol KM, Sjobeck GR, Lipscomb DJ, Hofkens TL, Boker SM, Pelphrey KA, Connelly JJ, Evans TM. Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with child-parent neural synchrony during competition. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 63:101302. [PMID: 37734257 PMCID: PMC10518595 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101302] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) occurs when neural electrical activity temporally aligns between individuals during social interactions. It has been used as a metric for interpersonal closeness, often during naturalistic child-parent interactions. This study evaluated whether other biological correlates of social processing predicted the prevalence of INS during child-parent interactions, and whether their observed cooperativity modulated this association. Child-parent dyads (n = 27) performed a visuospatial tower-building task in cooperative and competitive conditions. Neural activity was recorded using mobile electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets, and experimenters coded video-recordings post-hoc for behavioral attunement. DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm) was measured, an epigenetic modification associated with reduced oxytocin activity and socioemotional functioning. Greater INS during competition was associated with lower child OXTRm, while greater behavioral attunement during competition and cooperation was associated with higher parent OXTRm. These differential relationships suggest that interpersonal dynamics as measured by INS may be similarly reflected by other biological markers of social functioning, irrespective of observed behavior. Children's self-perceived communication skill also showed opposite associations with parent and child OXTRm, suggesting complex relationships between children's and their parents' social functioning. Our findings have implications for ongoing developmental research, supporting the utility of biological metrics in characterizing interpersonal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analia Marzoratti
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Megan E Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kathleen M Krol
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gus R Sjobeck
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Daniel J Lipscomb
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Tara L Hofkens
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Steven M Boker
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Tanya M Evans
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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Kareklas K, Teles MC, Nunes AR, Oliveira RF. Social zebrafish: Danio rerio as an emerging model in social neuroendocrinology. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13280. [PMID: 37165563 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13280] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The fitness benefits of social life depend on the ability of animals to affiliate with others and form groups, on dominance hierarchies within groups that determine resource distribution, and on cognitive capacities for recognition, learning and information transfer. The evolution of these phenotypes is coupled with that of neuroendocrine mechanisms, but the causal link between the two remains underexplored. Growing evidence from our research group and others demonstrates that the tools available in zebrafish, Danio rerio, can markedly facilitate progress in this field. Here, we review this evidence and provide a synthesis of the state-of-the-art in this model system. We discuss the involvement of generalized motivation and cognitive components, neuroplasticity and functional connectivity across social decision-making brain areas, and how these are modulated chiefly by the oxytocin-vasopressin neuroendocrine system, but also by reward-pathway monoamine signaling and the effects of sex-hormones and stress physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Magda C Teles
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Rui F Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
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Erickson EN. A prolonged latent phase: An early career in oxytocin during birth. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2023; 15:100190. [PMID: 37405229 PMCID: PMC10316000 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
•The author, a nurse-midwife scientist, shares her path to the study of the causes and consequences of clinical oxytocin use.•This paper highlights mentors and key research that informed new thinking about the role of oxytocin during parturition.•Future directions for improving maternal care during childbirth are presented, including genetic and epigenetic perspectives.
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Feixiang L, Yanchen F, Xiang L, Yunke Z, Jinxin M, Jianru W, Zixuan L. The mechanism of oxytocin and its receptors in regulating cells in bone metabolism. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1171732. [PMID: 37229246 PMCID: PMC10203168 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1171732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide known to affect social behavior and cognition. The epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) via DNA methylation stimulates parturition and breast milk secretion and inhibits craniopharyngioma, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer growth significantly as well as directly regulates bone metabolism in their peripheral form rather than the central form. OT and OTR can be expressed on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), osteoblasts (OB), osteoclasts (OC), osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. OB can synthesize OT under the stimulation of estrogen as a paracrine-autocrine regulator for bone formation. OT/OTR, estrogen, and OB form a feed-forward loop through estrogen mediation. The osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OPG)/receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) signaling pathway is crucially required for OT and OTR to exert anti-osteoporosis effect. Downregulating the expression of bone resorption markers and upregulating the expression of the bone morphogenetic protein, OT could increase BMSC activity and promote OB differentiation instead of adipocytes. It could also stimulate the mineralization of OB by motivating OTR translocation into the OB nucleus. Moreover, by inducing intracytoplasmic Ca2+ release and nitric oxide synthesis, OT could regulate the OPG/RANKL ratio in OB and exert a bidirectional regulatory effect on OC. Furthermore, OT could increase the activity of osteocytes and chondrocytes, which helps increase bone mass and improve bone microstructure. This paper reviews recent studies on the role of OT and OTR in regulating cells in bone metabolism as a reference for their clinical use and research based on their reliable anti-osteoporosis effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Feixiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Feng Yanchen
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zhong Jing) School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Li Xiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Research Units of Infectious Disease and Microecology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhang Yunke
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Miao Jinxin
- Research and Experiment Center, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wang Jianru
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lin Zixuan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Skyberg AM, Newman BT, Graves AJ, Goldstein AM, Brindley SR, Kim M, Druzgal TJ, Connelly JJ, Morris JP. An epigenetic mechanism for differential maturation of amygdala-prefrontal connectivity in childhood socio-emotional development. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:91. [PMID: 36914631 PMCID: PMC10009823 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02380-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional connectivity between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been identified as a neural substrate of emotion regulation that undergoes changes throughout development, with a mature profile typically emerging at 10 years of age. Maternal bonding in childhood has been shown to buffer amygdala reactivity and to influence the trajectory of amygdala-mPFC coupling. The oxytocinergic system is critical in the development of social behavior and maternal bonding. Early-life parental care influences the methylation status of the oxytocin receptor (OXTRm) in animal models and humans, and higher OXTRm is associated with lower amygdala-PFC functional connectivity in adults. Using a neuroimaging-epigenetic approach, we investigated saliva-derived OXTRm as a biological marker of structural and functional connectivity maturation in 57 typically developing children (P < 0.05). We utilized seed-based connectivity analysis during a novel abstract movie paradigm and find that higher levels of OXTRm are associated with a more adult-like functional connectivity profile. Concurrently, more adult-like functional connectivity was associated with higher reported self-control and more diffusion streamlines between the amygdala and mPFC. OXTRm mediates the association between structural and functional connectivity with higher levels of OXTRm being associated with more streamlines. Lastly, we also find that lower OXTRm blunts the association between amygdala-mPFC connectivity and future internalizing behaviors in early adolescence. These findings implicate OXTRm as a biological marker at the interface of the social environment and amygdala-mPFC connectivity in emotional and behavioral regulation. Ultimately, identification of neurobiological markers may lead to earlier detection of children at risk for socio-emotional dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia M Skyberg
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Benjamin T Newman
- University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 1215 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Andrew J Graves
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Alison M Goldstein
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Samantha R Brindley
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Minah Kim
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - T Jason Druzgal
- University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 1215 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - James P Morris
- University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
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Siecinski SK, Giamberardino SN, Spanos M, Hauser AC, Gibson JR, Chandrasekhar T, Trelles MDP, Rockhill CM, Palumbo ML, Cundiff AW, Montgomery A, Siper P, Minjarez M, Nowinski LA, Marler S, Kwee LC, Shuffrey LC, Alderman C, Weissman J, Zappone B, Mullett JE, Crosson H, Hong N, Luo S, She L, Bhapkar M, Dean R, Scheer A, Johnson JL, King BH, McDougle CJ, Sanders KB, Kim SJ, Kolevzon A, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Hauser ER, Sikich L, Gregory SG. Genetic and epigenetic signatures associated with plasma oxytocin levels in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2023; 16:502-523. [PMID: 36609850 PMCID: PMC10023458 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT), the brain's most abundant neuropeptide, plays an important role in social salience and motivation. Clinical trials of the efficacy of OT in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported mixed results due in part to ASD's complex etiology. We investigated whether genetic and epigenetic variation contribute to variable endogenous OT levels that modulate sensitivity to OT therapy. To carry out this analysis, we integrated genome-wide profiles of DNA-methylation, transcriptional activity, and genetic variation with plasma OT levels in 290 participants with ASD enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of OT. Our analysis identified genetic variants with novel association with plasma OT, several of which reside in known ASD risk genes. We also show subtle but statistically significant association of plasma OT levels with peripheral transcriptional activity and DNA-methylation profiles across several annotated gene sets. These findings broaden our understanding of the effects of the peripheral oxytocin system and provide novel genetic candidates for future studies to decode the complex etiology of ASD and its interaction with OT signaling and OT-based interventions. LAY SUMMARY: Oxytocin (OT) is an abundant chemical produced by neurons that plays an important role in social interaction and motivation. We investigated whether genetic and epigenetic factors contribute to variable OT levels in the blood. To this, we integrated genetic, gene expression, and non-DNA regulated (epigenetic) signatures with blood OT levels in 290 participants with autism enrolled in an OT clinical trial. We identified genetic association with plasma OT, several of which reside in known autism risk genes. We also show statistically significant association of plasma OT levels with gene expression and epigenetic across several gene pathways. These findings broaden our understanding of the factors that influence OT levels in the blood for future studies to decode the complex presentation of autism and its interaction with OT and OT-based treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen K Siecinski
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Marina Spanos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Annalise C Hauser
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jason R Gibson
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tara Chandrasekhar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - M D Pilar Trelles
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carol M Rockhill
- Department of Psychiatry, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michelle L Palumbo
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Paige Siper
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mendy Minjarez
- Department of Psychiatry, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lisa A Nowinski
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Marler
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lydia C Kwee
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Cheryl Alderman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jordana Weissman
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brooke Zappone
- Department of Psychiatry, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Mullett
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hope Crosson
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalie Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheng Luo
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lilin She
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Manjushri Bhapkar
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Russell Dean
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Abby Scheer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bryan H King
- Department of Psychiatry, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christopher J McDougle
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin B Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Soo-Jeong Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexander Kolevzon
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth R Hauser
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Linmarie Sikich
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Simon G Gregory
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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13
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Oxytocin receptor DNA methylation is associated with exogenous oxytocin needs during parturition and postpartum hemorrhage. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2023; 3:11. [PMID: 36707542 PMCID: PMC9882749 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00244-6] [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: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is regulated, in part, by DNA methylation. This mechanism has implications for uterine contractility during labor and for prevention or treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, an important contributor to global maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS We measured and compared the level of OXTR DNA methylation between matched blood and uterine myometrium to evaluate blood as an indicator of uterine methylation status using targeted pyrosequencing and sites from the Illumina EPIC Array. Next, we tested for OXTR DNA methylation differences in blood between individuals who experienced a postpartum hemorrhage arising from uterine atony and matched controls following vaginal birth. Bivariate statistical tests, generalized linear modeling and Poisson regression were used in the analyses. RESULTS Here we show a significant positive correlation between blood and uterine DNA methylation levels at several OXTR loci. Females with higher OXTR DNA methylation in blood had required significantly more exogenous oxytocin during parturition. With higher DNA methylation, those who had oxytocin administered during labor had significantly greater relative risk for postpartum hemorrhage (IRR 2.95, 95% CI 1.53-5.71). CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence that epigenetic variability in OXTR is associated with the amount of oxytocin administered during parturition and moderates subsequent postpartum hemorrhage. Methylation can be measured using a peripheral tissue, suggesting potential use in identifying individuals susceptible to postpartum hemorrhage. Future studies are needed to quantify myometrial gene expression in connection with OXTR methylation.
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14
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Sheldon EL, Ton R, Boner W, Monaghan P, Raveh S, Schrey AW, Griffith SC. Associations between DNA methylation and telomere length during early life: Insight from wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6261-6272. [PMID: 34551154 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length and DNA methylation (DNAm) are two promising biomarkers of biological age. Environmental factors and life history traits are known to affect variation in both these biomarkers, especially during early life, yet surprisingly little is known about their reciprocal association, especially in natural populations. Here, we explore how variation in DNAm, growth rate, and early-life conditions are associated with telomere length changes during development. We tested these associations by collecting data from wild, nestling zebra finches in the Australian desert. We found that increases in the level of DNAm were negatively correlated with telomere length changes across early life. We also confirm previously documented effects of post hatch growth rate and clutch size on telomere length in a natural ecological context for a species that has been extensively studied in the laboratory. However, we did not detect any effect of ambient temperature during developmental on telomere length dynamics. We also found that the absolute telomere length of wild zebra finches, measured using the in-gel TRF method, was similar to that of captive birds. Our findings highlight exciting new opportunities to link and disentangle potential relationships between DNA based biomarkers of ageing, and of physiological reactions to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Sheldon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Riccardo Ton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Winnie Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Shirley Raveh
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Aaron W Schrey
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Simon C Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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15
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Nazzari S, Grumi S, Villa M, Mambretti F, Biasucci G, Decembrino L, Giacchero R, Magnani ML, Nacinovich R, Prefumo F, Spinillo A, Veggiotti P, Fullone E, Giorda R, Provenzi L. Sex-dependent association between variability in infants' OXTR methylation at birth and negative affectivity at 3 months. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 145:105920. [PMID: 36108459 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105920] [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: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex-specific differences in DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) have been shown in adults and are related to several mental disorders. Negative affectivity early in life is a trans-diagnostic risk marker of later psychopathology and is partly under genetic control. However, sex-specific variations in OXTR methylation (OXTRm) in infants and their associations with negative affectivity are still unknown. AIMS Here, we explored sex differences in the association between infant OXTRm at birth and negative affectivity at 3 months of age. METHODS Infants and their mothers (N = 224) were recruited at delivery. Infants' methylation status was assessed in 13 CpG sites within the OXTR gene intron 1 region (chr3: 8810654-8810919) in buccal cells at birth while 3-month-old infants' negative affectivity was assessed by mothers using a well-validated temperament questionnaire. RESULTS OXTRm at 12 CpG sites was higher in females than in males. Moreover, higher infants' OXTRm at 6 specific CpG sites was associated with greater negative affectivity in males, but not in females. CONCLUSIONS These results provide new insights into the role of sex-dependent epigenetic mechanisms linking OXTRm with early infants' emotional development. Understanding the degree to which epigenetic processes relate to early temperamental variations may help inform the etiology of later childhood psychopathological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nazzari
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Grumi
- Developmental Psychobiology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Villa
- Molecular Biology Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Fabiana Mambretti
- Molecular Biology Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Giacomo Biasucci
- Department of Pediatrics & Neonatology, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Lidia Decembrino
- Unità Operativa di Pediatria e Nido, ASST Pavia, Vigevano, Italy
| | | | | | - Renata Nacinovich
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery & Milan Center for Neuroscience, Università Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Prefumo
- Unit of Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arsenio Spinillo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Veggiotti
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Fullone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Giorda
- Molecular Biology Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Developmental Psychobiology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
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16
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Chen C, He M, Li X, Yu L, Liu Y, Yang Y, Li L, Jia J, Li B. H2O2/DEM-Promoted Maft Promoter Demethylation Drives Nrf2/ARE Activation in Zebrafish. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091436. [PMID: 36143473 PMCID: PMC9503143 DOI: 10.3390/life12091436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway is a cell survival response pathway in response to environmental stresses. The Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway can be activated by stimulating cysteine residues at different positions in the Keap1. However, the epigenetic mechanisms of the Nrf2/ARE pathway under different stimuli are still poorly understood. In this study, we found that both hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Diethyl Maleate (DEM) activated the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway at 120 hpf in zebrafish. H2O2 regulated the demethylation of the maft promoter by inhibiting the expression of methyltransferase. This promotes the mRNA expression of the Nrf2 binding factor maft, thereby promoting the downstream antioxidant genes. The methylation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway was not significantly regulated by DEM. However, under oxidative stress, the methyltransferase inhibitors (decitabine and azacitidine) demethylated the promoter region of maft. It activated the expression of the maft, further improving the Nrf2/ARE signal pathway. At last, antioxidant target genes were activated. It was shown that H2O2 and DEM cooperated with methyltransferase inhibitors, providing an important reference for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases and breaking new ground for the study of the mechanism of methyltransferase inhibitors in the process of tumor chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Mingyue He
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Xueting Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Lidong Yu
- School of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Yan Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Li Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (J.J.)
| | - Jianbo Jia
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (J.J.)
| | - Bingsheng Li
- Key Laboratory of UV Light Emitting Materials and Technology of Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
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17
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Heseding HM, Jahn K, Eberlein CK, Wieting J, Maier HB, Proskynitopoulos PJ, Glahn A, Bleich S, Frieling H, Deest M. Distinct promoter regions of the oxytocin receptor gene are hypomethylated in Prader-Willi syndrome and in Prader-Willi syndrome associated psychosis. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:246. [PMID: 35688807 PMCID: PMC9187685 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02014-9] [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: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a loss of usually paternally expressed, maternally imprinted genes located on chromosome 15q11-q13. Individuals with PWS display a specific behavioral phenotype and have a higher susceptibility than the general population for certain psychiatric conditions, especially psychosis. An impairment of the oxytocin system has been described in Prader-Willi syndrome, but has not yet been investigated in detail on the epigenetic level. Recent studies have pointed out altered methylation patterns of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in various psychiatric disorders, including psychosis. In this study, we investigated methylation rates of CpG dinucleotides in the promoter region of the oxytocin receptor gene via bisulfite-sequencing using DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples of 31 individuals with PWS and 14 controls matched for age, sex, and BMI. Individuals with PWS show significantly lower methylation in the intron 1 region of the OXTR than neurotypical controls (p = 0.012). Furthermore, male PWS subjects with psychosis show significantly lower methylation of the OXTR exon 1 region than those without psychosis (p = 0.002). Transcription factor binding site analysis revealed E2F1 as a transcription factor potentially binding to the exon 1 region. E2F1 is physiologically regulated by Necdin, an anti-apoptotic protein whose corresponding gene is located within the PWS locus. This study provides evidence of a disruption of the Oxytocin system on an epigenetic level in PWS in general and in individuals with PWS and psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Heseding
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jahn
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian K. Eberlein
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jelte Wieting
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hannah B. Maier
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Phileas J. Proskynitopoulos
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Glahn
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Bleich
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Deest
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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18
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Borie AM, Agezo S, Lunsford P, Boender AJ, Guo JD, Zhu H, Berman GJ, Young LJ, Liu RC. Social experience alters oxytocinergic modulation in the nucleus accumbens of female prairie voles. Curr Biol 2022; 32:1026-1037.e4. [PMID: 35108521 PMCID: PMC8930613 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Social relationships are dynamic and evolve with shared and personal experiences. Whether the functional role of social neuromodulators also evolves with experience to shape the trajectory of relationships is unknown. We utilized pair bonding in the socially monogamous prairie vole as an example of socio-sexual experience that dramatically alters behaviors displayed toward other individuals. We investigated oxytocin-dependent modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens as a function of pair-bonding status. We found that an oxytocin receptor agonist decreases the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in sexually naive virgin, but not pair-bonded, female voles, while it increases the amplitude of electrically evoked EPSCs in paired voles, but not in virgins. This oxytocin-induced potentiation of synaptic transmission relies on the de novo coupling between oxytocin receptor signaling and endocannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptor signaling in pair-bonded voles. Blocking CB1 receptors after pair-bond formation increases the occurrence of a specific form of social rejection-defensive upright response-that is displayed toward the partner, but not toward a novel individual. Altogether, our results demonstrate that oxytocin's action in the nucleus accumbens is changed through social experience in a way that regulates the trajectory of social interactions as the relationship with the partner unfolds, potentially promoting the maintenance of a pair bond by inhibiting aggressive responses. These results provide a mechanism by which social experience and context shift oxytocinergic signaling to impact neural and behavioral responses to social cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie M Borie
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sena Agezo
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Parker Lunsford
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Arjen J Boender
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ji-Dong Guo
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hong Zhu
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Gordon J Berman
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Center for Social Neural Networks, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8555, Japan.
| | - Robert C Liu
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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19
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Epigenetic MRI: Noninvasive imaging of DNA methylation in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119891119. [PMID: 35235458 PMCID: PMC8915962 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119891119] [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] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamic epigenetic activity is a fundamental mechanism underpinning how the brain changes its function during development and aging and in response to environmental and disease stimuli. We developed a technology called epigenetic MRI (eMRI) that enables noninvasive imaging of DNA methylation in the brain, a major epigenetic mechanism. eMRI reveals strong regional differences in global DNA methylation in pig brains, a model with stronger resemblance to human brains than are rodents. Given the noninvasive nature of eMRI, our results pave the way for a DNA-methylation imaging paradigm for living human brains. We expect eMRI to enable many studies to unravel the molecular control of brain function and disease. Both neuronal and genetic mechanisms regulate brain function. While there are excellent methods to study neuronal activity in vivo, there are no nondestructive methods to measure global gene expression in living brains. Here, we present a method, epigenetic MRI (eMRI), that overcomes this limitation via direct imaging of DNA methylation, a major gene-expression regulator. eMRI exploits the methionine metabolic pathways for DNA methylation to label genomic DNA through 13C-enriched diets. A 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging method then maps the spatial distribution of labeled DNA. We validated eMRI using pigs, whose brains have stronger similarity to humans in volume and anatomy than rodents, and confirmed efficient 13C-labeling of brain DNA. We also discovered strong regional differences in global DNA methylation. Just as functional MRI measurements of regional neuronal activity have had a transformational effect on neuroscience, we expect that the eMRI signal, both as a measure of regional epigenetic activity and as a possible surrogate for regional gene expression, will enable many new investigations of human brain function, behavior, and disease.
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20
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Oxytocin system gene methylation is associated with empathic responses towards children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 137:105629. [PMID: 34973541 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is an essential component of sensitive caregiving behavior, which in turn is an important predictor of children's healthy social-emotional development. The oxytocin (OXT) system plays a key role in promoting sensitive parenting and empathy. In this study, we investigated how OXT system gene methylation was associated with empathic processes in nulliparous women (M age = 23.60, SD =0.44)-measuring both physiological facial muscle responses and ratings of compassion and positive affect to affective images depicting children. Linear mixed effects analyses demonstrated that lower methylation levels in the OXT and OXTR genes were related to enhanced empathic responses. The effect of OXT system gene methylation on empathic processes was partly qualified by an interaction with individual variations in women's care motivation. Our findings provide experimental evidence for an association between the methylation of OXT system genes and empathy.
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21
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Rung JM, Kidder QA, Horta M, Nazarloo HP, Carter CS, Berry MS, Ebner NC. Associations between alcohol use and peripheral, genetic, and epigenetic markers of oxytocin in a general sample of young and older adults. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2425. [PMID: 35146961 PMCID: PMC8933764 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human and nonhuman animal research suggests that greater oxytocin (OT) activity is protective against harmful substance use. Most research on this topic is preclinical, with few studies evaluating the association between substance use and individual differences in the human OT system. The present study sought to fill this gap by evaluating the relationship between alcohol use and multiple biological measures of OT activity in an overall low to moderate-drinking sample. METHOD As part of a larger study, generally healthy young (n = 51) and older (n = 53) adults self-reported whether they regularly used alcohol and how much alcohol they consumed per week. Participants also provided blood samples from which peripheral OT, and in an age-heterogeneous subset of participants (n = 56) variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (the OXTR rs53576 polymorphism) and OXTR DNA methylation levels (at cytosine-guanine dinucleotide sites -860, -924, -934), were obtained. RESULTS A-allele carriers of the OXTR rs53579 polymorphism were less likely to regularly consume alcohol. Among regular alcohol consumers, number of alcoholic drinks per week was positively associated with peripheral OT in regression models excluding observations of high influence (postdiagnostic models). Number of alcoholic drinks per week was consistently negatively associated with OXTR DNA methylation at site -860; and with OXTR DNA methylation at site -924 in postdiagnostic models. CONCLUSIONS The significant associations between alcohol use and individual differences in OT activity support the involvement of the OT system in alcohol use, which most likely reflect the role of OT when alcohol use is under control of its rewarding properties and/or the acute impacts of alcohol on the OT system. Additional research with markers of OT activity and alcohol use, particularly longitudinal, is needed to clarify the bidirectional effects of OT and alcohol use in moderate to harmful drinking and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian M Rung
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Quintin A Kidder
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Marilyn Horta
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - H P Nazarloo
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - C Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Meredith S Berry
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), College of Medicine, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), College of Medicine, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Aging & Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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22
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Almeida D, Fiori LM, Chen GG, Aouabed Z, Lutz PE, Zhang TY, Mechawar N, Meaney MJ, Turecki G. Oxytocin receptor expression and epigenetic regulation in the anterior cingulate cortex of individuals with a history of severe childhood abuse. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105600. [PMID: 34839083 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Childhood abuse significantly increases the lifetime risk of negative mental health outcomes. The oxytocinergic system, which plays a role in complex social and emotional behaviors, has been shown to be sensitive to early-life experiences. While previous studies have investigated the relationship between early-life adversity and oxytocin, they did so with peripheral samples. We, therefore, aimed to characterize the relationship between early-life adversity and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression in the brain, using post-mortem human samples, as well as a rodent model of naturally occurring variation in early-life environment. Focusing on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, we compared OXTR expression and epigenetic regulation between MDD suicides with (N = 26) and without history of childhood abuse (N = 24), as well as psychiatrically healthy controls (N = 23). We also compared Oxtr expression in the cingulate cortex of adult rats raised by dams displaying high (N = 13) and low levels (N = 12) of licking and grooming (LG) behavior. Overall, our results indicate that childhood abuse associates with an upregulation of OXTR expression, and that similarly, this relationship is also observed in the cingulate cortex of adult rats raised by low-LG dams. Additionally, we found an effect of rs53576 genotype on expression, showing that carriers of the A variant also show upregulated OXTR expression. The effects of early-life adversity and rs53576 genotype on OXTR expression are, however, not explained by differences in DNA methylation within and around the MT region of the OXTR gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Almeida
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Laura M Fiori
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Gary G Chen
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Zahia Aouabed
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives UPR3212, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tie-Yuan Zhang
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T5, Canada; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore City, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada.
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23
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Multi-level hypothalamic neuromodulation of self-regulation and cognition in preterm infants: Towards a control systems model. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 9:100109. [PMID: 35755927 PMCID: PMC9216652 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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24
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Nasrullah, Hussain A, Ahmed S, Rasool M, Shah AJ. DNA methylation across the tree of life, from micro to macro-organism. Bioengineered 2022; 13:1666-1685. [PMID: 34986742 PMCID: PMC8805842 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2014387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a process in which methyl (CH3) groups are added to the DNA molecule. The DNA segment does not change in the sequence, but DNA methylation could alter the action of DNA. Different enzymes like DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) take part in methylation of cytosine/adenine nucleosides in DNA. In prokaryotes, DNA methylation is performed to prevent the attack of phage and also plays a role in the chromosome replication and repair. In fungi, DNA methylation is studied to see the transcriptional changes, as in insects, the DNA methylation is not that well-known, it plays a different role like other organisms. In mammals, the DNA methylation is related to different types of cancers and plays the most important role in the placental development and abnormal DNA methylation connected with diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasrullah
- Center for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology & Biotechnology (Casvab), University of Baluchistan, Quetta- Pakistan. E-mails:
| | - Abrar Hussain
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Buitems, Quetta-Pakistan. E-mails:
| | - Sagheer Ahmed
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan. E-mails:
| | - Mahmood Rasool
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. E-mails:
| | - Abdul Jabbar Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Comsats University, Abbottabad. E-mails:
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25
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Danoff JS, Connelly JJ, Morris JP, Perkeybile AM. An epigenetic rheostat of experience: DNA methylation of OXTR as a mechanism of early life allostasis. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 8:100098. [PMID: 35757665 PMCID: PMC9216658 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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26
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Kirca N, Adibelli D. Effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on postpartum depression: A systematic review. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2021; 57:2014-2023. [PMID: 33476428 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of the skin-to-skin contact (SSC) method on postpartum depression. DESIGN AND METHODS A systematic review of the literature was performed. FINDINGS This review was completed with three studies meeting the research criteria. Two studies were randomized controlled studies and one study had a quasi-experimental design. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS SSC is such a low-cost intervention that it would be accessible, simple, and feasible for most mothers in the first postpartum weeks. By reducing mothers' depressive symptoms and physiological stress, SSC facilitates mothers' wellbeing and ultimately affects infants' development by enhancing the mother/infant relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurcan Kirca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Derya Adibelli
- Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences Kumluca, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
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27
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Feng LY, Yan BB, Huang YZ, Li L. Abnormal methylation characteristics predict chemoresistance and poor prognosis in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:141. [PMID: 34289901 PMCID: PMC8296752 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01133-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Primary or acquired chemoresistance is a key link in the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer. There is no reliable method to predict chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. We hypothesized that specific methylation characteristics could distinguish chemoresistant and chemosensitive ovarian cancer patients. Methods In this study, we used 450 K Infinium Methylation BeadChip to detect the different methylation CpGs between ovarian cancer patients. The differential methylation genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG Pathway bioinformatics analysis. The candidate CpGs were confirmed by pyrosequencing. The expression of abnormal methylation gene was identified by QRT-PCR and IHC. ROC analysis confirmed the ability to predict chemotherapy outcomes. Prognosis was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier. Results In advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer, 8 CpGs (ITGB6:cg21105318, cg07896068, cg18437633; NCALD: cg27637873, cg26782361, cg16265707; LAMA3: cg20937934, cg13270625) remained hypermethylated in chemoresistant patients. The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of 8 CpGs (ITGB6:cg21105318, cg07896068, cg18437633; NCALD: cg27637873, cg26782361, cg16265707; LAMA3: cg20937934, cg13270625) methylation to predict chemotherapy sensitivity were 63.60–97.00%, 46.40–89.30% and 0.774–0.846. PFS of 6 candidate genes (ITGB6:cg21105318, cg07896068; NCALD: cg27637873, cg26782361, cg16265707; LAMA3: cg20937934) hypermethylation patients was significantly shorter. The expression of NCALD and LAMA3 in chemoresistant patients was lower than that of chemosensitive patients. Spearman analysis showed that NCALD and LAMA3 methylations were negatively correlated with their expression. Conclusions As a new biomarker of chemotherapy sensitivity, hypermethylation of NCALD and LAMA3 is associated with poor PFS in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer. In the future, further research on NCALD and LAMA3 will be needed to provide guidance for clinical stratification of demethylation therapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01133-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Yuan Feng
- Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital and Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, 71 Hedi Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing-Bing Yan
- Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital and Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, 71 Hedi Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Zhi Huang
- Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital and Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, 71 Hedi Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital and Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, 71 Hedi Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
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28
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Bey K, Campos-Martin R, Klawohn J, Reuter B, Grützmann R, Riesel A, Wagner M, Ramirez A, Kathmann N. Hypermethylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in obsessive-compulsive disorder: further evidence for a biomarker of disease and treatment response. Epigenetics 2021; 17:642-652. [PMID: 34269138 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1943864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has recently been linked to increased methylation levels in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene, and OXTR hypermethylation has predicted a worse treatment response to cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Furthermore, OCD is associated with childhood trauma and stressful life events, which have both been shown to affect OXTR methylation. Here, we aimed to replicate findings of increased OXTR methylation as a predictor of disease and worse treatment response in an independent sample that received treatment within the public health care system. In addition, we aimed to extend previous findings by examining associations between OXTR hypermethylation, environmental stressors, OCD diagnosis, and treatment response. Methylation levels at two CpGs within OXTR exon III were compared between n = 181 OCD patients and n = 199 healthy controls using linear regression analysis. In a subsample of OCD patients (n = 98) with documented treatment data, we examined associations between methylation and treatment response to CBT. Childhood adversity and stressful life events were assessed using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Life Experience Survey, respectively. OCD patients exhibited significant hypermethylation at CpG site cg04523291 compared to controls, and increased methylation was associated with impaired treatment response. Moreover, hypermethylation at cg04523291 was associated with stressful life events in OCD patients, and with childhood adversity in controls. Yet, there were no significant mediation effects. In conclusion, we replicated the association between OXTR hypermethylation and OCD in the largest sample, so far. Furthermore, our findings support the role of OXTR methylation as a promising biomarker for treatment response in OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Bey
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Rafael Campos-Martin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julia Klawohn
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt Reuter
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rosa Grützmann
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Riesel
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Department for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alfredo Ramirez
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Norbert Kathmann
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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29
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Liebl AL, Wesner JS, Russell AF, Schrey AW. Methylation patterns at fledging predict delayed dispersal in a cooperatively breeding bird. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252227. [PMID: 34086730 PMCID: PMC8177507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals may delay dispersing from their natal habitat, even after maturation to adulthood. Such delays can have broad consequences from determining population structure to allowing an individual to gain indirect fitness by helping parents rear future offspring. Dispersal in species that use delayed dispersal is largely thought to be opportunistic; however, how individuals, particularly inexperienced juveniles, assess their environments to determine the appropriate time to disperse is unknown. One relatively unexplored possibility is that dispersal decisions are the result of epigenetic mechanisms interacting between a genome and environment during development to generate variable dispersive phenotypes. Here, we tested this using epiRADseq to compare genome-wide levels of DNA methylation of blood in cooperatively breeding chestnut-crowned babblers (Pomatostomus ruficeps). We measured dispersive and philopatric individuals at hatching, before fledging, and at 1 year (following when first year dispersal decisions would be made). We found that individuals that dispersed in their first year had a reduced proportion of methylated loci than philopatric individuals before fledging, but not at hatching or as adults. Further, individuals that dispersed in the first year had a greater number of loci change methylation state (i.e. gain or lose) between hatching and fledging. The existence and timing of these changes indicate some influence of development on epigenetic changes that may influence dispersal behavior. However, further work needs to be done to address exactly how developmental environments may be associated with dispersal decisions and which loci in particular are manipulated to generate such changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Liebl
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Jeff S Wesner
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Andrew F Russell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron W Schrey
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong, Georgia, United States of America
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30
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Warrener CD, Valentin EM, Gallin C, Richey L, Ross DB, Hood CJ, Lori A, Cubells J, Rauch SA, Rilling JK. The role of oxytocin signaling in depression and suicidality in returning war veterans. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 126:105085. [PMID: 33582574 PMCID: PMC8483597 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Many war veterans struggle with depression and suicidality, and separation from the military is a time of particularly high risk. Based on research in non-human animals, we hypothesized that reduced oxytocin signaling would mediate symptoms of depression and suicidality in war veterans recently separated from their close comrades. We also hypothesized that veterans with more frequent contact with comrades would have fewer symptoms of depression and suicidality. In this cross-sectional study, male veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (n = 86) provided blood and urine samples for measurement of peripheral oxytocin (OT) levels, as well as saliva samples for DNA extraction followed by genotyping of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, and CpG-methylation assessment. Participants also completed a series of mental health questionnaires and interviews. Veterans reported feeling very close to their comrades during war, and missing them greatly upon returning home. Neither peripheral OT levels nor OXTR genotypes were related to symptoms of depression or suicidality. On the other hand, methylation at OXTR CpG -924 was negatively correlated with depressive symptomology, after controlling for possible confounds. Veterans who socialized with comrades more frequently had higher levels of urinary, but not plasma OT, as well as less depressive symptomology. Social connectedness was a strong negative predictor of symptoms of both depression and suicidality, eclipsing the predictive power of other variables such as post-deployment social support, the degree to which participants reported missing their comrades, and the frequency with which they socialized with comrades. Our results suggest that veteran mental health is more impacted by lack of social connectedness than by separation from close comrades per se. While there is some evidence that OXTR methylation relates to depressive symptomology, decreased OT signaling does not appear to mediate the relationship between social disconnectedness and depression or suicidality. Sleep quality and anxiety disorders were also significantly associated with mental health symptoms, independent of social connectedness. Our findings suggest that efforts aimed at alleviating the burden of depression and suicidality in returning war veterans should focus on re-integrating veterans into society and establishing a feeling of social connectedness, as well as on treating anxiety disorders and sleep problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne D. Warrener
- The Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, USA
| | - Edward M. Valentin
- The Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, USA
| | - Camilla Gallin
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University, USA
| | | | | | - Chelsea J. Hood
- The Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, USA
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Joseph Cubells
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sheila A.M. Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA,Mental Health Service Line, VA Atlanta Healthcare System, USA
| | - James K. Rilling
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA,Department of Anthropology, Emory University, USA,Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, USA,Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, USA,Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, USA,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, USA,Corresponding author at: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, USA. (J.K. Rilling)
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31
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Craig F, Tenuta F, Rizzato V, Costabile A, Trabacca A, Montirosso R. Attachment-related dimensions in the epigenetic era: A systematic review of the human research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:654-666. [PMID: 33727029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of studies documented potential links between parental care and epigenetic mechanisms. The present systematic review focuses on the potential association and interrelationship between attachment-related dimensions and DNA methylation in human studies. We performed a literature review using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. Thirteen papers were included in the review. Findings support significant associations between attachment-related dimensions and epigenetic status in studies which considered different populations, age ranges, attachment measures and peripheral tissues. Although research in this area is still under investigation, available results suggest that DNA methylation associated with attachment-related dimensions might affect the development of stress regulation system and social-emotional capacities, thus contributing to the emerging phenotypic outcomes. However, identifying mediator and moderator effects in the interrelationship between these parameters was problematic owing to heterogeneous methodologies. Finally, we discuss clinical implications, unanswered questions, and future directions for human development in epigenetics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Craig
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Flaviana Tenuta
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Veronica Rizzato
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Angela Costabile
- Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Trabacca
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults, Brindisi, Italy.
| | - Rosario Montirosso
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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Liu J, Liang Y, Jiang X, Xu J, Sun Y, Wang Z, Lin L, Niu Y, Song S, Zhang H, Xue Z, Lu J, Yao P. Maternal Diabetes-Induced Suppression of Oxytocin Receptor Contributes to Social Deficits in Offspring. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:634781. [PMID: 33633538 PMCID: PMC7900564 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.634781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired skills in social interaction and communication in addition to restricted and repetitive behaviors. Many different factors may contribute to ASD development; in particular, oxytocin receptor (OXTR) deficiency has been reported to be associated with ASD, although the detailed mechanism has remained largely unknown. Epidemiological study has shown that maternal diabetes is associated with ASD development. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential role of OXTR on maternal diabetes-mediated social deficits in offspring. Our in vitro study of human neuron progenitor cells showed that hyperglycemia induces OXTR suppression and that this suppression remains during subsequent normoglycemia. Further investigation showed that OXTR suppression is due to hyperglycemia-induced persistent oxidative stress and epigenetic methylation in addition to the subsequent dissociation of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) from the OXTR promoter. Furthermore, our in vivo mouse study showed that maternal diabetes induces OXTR suppression; prenatal OXTR deficiency mimics and potentiates maternal diabetes-mediated anxiety-like behaviors, while there is less of an effect on autism-like behaviors. Additionally, postnatal infusion of OXTR partly, while infusion of ERβ completely, reverses maternal diabetes-induced social deficits. We conclude that OXTR may be an important factor for ASD development and that maternal diabetes-induced suppression of oxytocin receptor contributes to social deficits in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Liu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yujie Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianchang Xu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yumeng Sun
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zichen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanbin Niu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiqi Song
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huawei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhenpeng Xue
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Paul Yao
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
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Danoff JS, Wroblewski KL, Graves AJ, Quinn GC, Perkeybile AM, Kenkel WM, Lillard TS, Parikh HI, Golino HF, Gregory SG, Carter CS, Bales KL, Connelly JJ. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors controlling oxytocin receptor gene expression. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:23. [PMID: 33516250 PMCID: PMC7847178 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuropeptide oxytocin regulates mammalian social behavior. Disruptions in oxytocin signaling are a feature of many psychopathologies. One commonly studied biomarker for oxytocin involvement in psychiatric diseases is DNA methylation at the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Such studies focus on DNA methylation in two regions of OXTR, exon 3 and a region termed MT2 which overlaps exon 1 and intron 1. However, the relative contribution of exon 3 and MT2 in regulating OXTR gene expression in the brain is currently unknown. RESULTS Here, we use the prairie vole as a translational animal model to investigate genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors affecting Oxtr gene expression in a region of the brain that has been shown to drive Oxtr related behavior in the vole, the nucleus accumbens. We show that the genetic structure of Oxtr in prairie voles resembles human OXTR. We then studied the effects of early life experience on DNA methylation in two regions of a CpG island surrounding the Oxtr promoter: MT2 and exon 3. We show that early nurture in the form of parental care results in DNA hypomethylation of Oxtr in both MT2 and exon 3, but only DNA methylation in MT2 is associated with Oxtr gene expression. Network analyses indicate that CpG sites in the 3' portion of MT2 are most highly associated with Oxtr gene expression. We also identify two novel SNPs in exon 3 of Oxtr in prairie voles and a novel alternative transcript originating from the third intron of the gene. Expression of the novel alternative transcript is associated with genotype at SNP KLW2. CONCLUSIONS These results identify putative regulatory features of Oxtr in prairie voles which inform future studies examining OXTR in human social behaviors and disorders. These studies indicate that in prairie voles, DNA methylation in MT2, particularly in the 3' portion, is more predictive of Oxtr gene expression than DNA methylation in exon 3. Similarly, in human temporal cortex, we find that DNA methylation in the 3' portion of MT2 is associated with OXTR expression. Together, these results suggest that among the CpG sites studied, DNA methylation of MT2 may be the most reliable indicator of OXTR gene expression. We also identify novel features of prairie vole Oxtr, including SNPs and an alternative transcript, which further develop the prairie vole as a translational model for studies of OXTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Danoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Kelly L Wroblewski
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Andrew J Graves
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Graham C Quinn
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Allison M Perkeybile
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 150 S Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - William M Kenkel
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 150 S Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Travis S Lillard
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Hardik I Parikh
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, 345 Crispell Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Research Computing, University of Virginia, 560 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Hudson F Golino
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Simon G Gregory
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, 300 N Duke St, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - C Sue Carter
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 150 S Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
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34
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Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Perkeybile AM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Nazarloo HP, Porges SW, Davis JM, Connelly JJ, Kingsbury MA. Is Oxytocin "Nature's Medicine"? Pharmacol Rev 2021; 72:829-861. [PMID: 32912963 PMCID: PMC7495339 DOI: 10.1124/pr.120.019398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a pleiotropic, peptide hormone with broad implications for general health, adaptation, development, reproduction, and social behavior. Endogenous oxytocin and stimulation of the oxytocin receptor support patterns of growth, resilience, and healing. Oxytocin can function as a stress-coping molecule, an anti-inflammatory, and an antioxidant, with protective effects especially in the face of adversity or trauma. Oxytocin influences the autonomic nervous system and the immune system. These properties of oxytocin may help explain the benefits of positive social experiences and have drawn attention to this molecule as a possible therapeutic in a host of disorders. However, as detailed here, the unique chemical properties of oxytocin, including active disulfide bonds, and its capacity to shift chemical forms and bind to other molecules make this molecule difficult to work with and to measure. The effects of oxytocin also are context-dependent, sexually dimorphic, and altered by experience. In part, this is because many of the actions of oxytocin rely on its capacity to interact with the more ancient peptide molecule, vasopressin, and the vasopressin receptors. In addition, oxytocin receptor(s) are epigenetically tuned by experience, especially in early life. Stimulation of G-protein–coupled receptors triggers subcellular cascades allowing these neuropeptides to have multiple functions. The adaptive properties of oxytocin make this ancient molecule of special importance to human evolution as well as modern medicine and health; these same characteristics also present challenges to the use of oxytocin-like molecules as drugs that are only now being recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - William M Kenkel
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Evan L MacLean
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Steven R Wilson
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Allison M Perkeybile
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Jason R Yee
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Hossein P Nazarloo
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Stephen W Porges
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - John M Davis
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Marcy A Kingsbury
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
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35
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Siu MT, Goodman SJ, Yellan I, Butcher DT, Jangjoo M, Grafodatskaya D, Rajendram R, Lou Y, Zhang R, Zhao C, Nicolson R, Georgiades S, Szatmari P, Scherer SW, Roberts W, Anagnostou E, Weksberg R. DNA Methylation of the Oxytocin Receptor Across Neurodevelopmental Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:3610-3623. [PMID: 33394241 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04792-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) share common learning and behavioural impairments, as well as features such as dysregulation of the oxytocin hormone. Here, we examined DNA methylation (DNAm) in the 1st intron of the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR, in patients with autism spectrum (ASD), attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive (OCD) disorders. DNAm of OXTR was assessed for cohorts of ASD (blood), ADHD (saliva), OCD (saliva), which uncovered sex-specific DNAm differences compared to neurotypical, tissue-matched controls. Individuals with ASD or ADHD exhibiting extreme DNAm values had lower IQ and more social problems, respectively, than those with DNAm within normative ranges. This suggests that OXTR DNAm patterns are altered across NDDs and may be correlated with common clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle T Siu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah J Goodman
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Isaac Yellan
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Darci T Butcher
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Maryam Jangjoo
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daria Grafodatskaya
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Rageen Rajendram
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Youliang Lou
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rujun Zhang
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chunhua Zhao
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Szatmari
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wendy Roberts
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rosanna Weksberg
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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36
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The promiscuity of the oxytocin-vasopressin systems and their involvement in autism spectrum disorder. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 182:121-140. [PMID: 34266588 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819973-2.00009-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin and vasopressin systems have been studied separately in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we provide evidence from an evolutionary and neuroscience perspective about the shared mechanisms and the common roles in regulating social behaviors. We first discuss findings on the evolutionary history of oxytocin and vasopressin ligands and receptors that highlight their common origin and clarify the evolutionary background of the crosstalk between them. Second, we conducted a comprehensive review of the increasing evidence for the role of both neuropeptides in regulating social behaviors. Third, we reviewed the growing evidence on the associations between the oxytocin/vasopressin systems and ASD, which includes oxytocin and vasopressin dysfunction in animal models of autism and in human patients, and the impact of treatments targeting the oxytocin or the vasopressin systems in children and in adults. Here, we highlight the potential of targeting the oxytocin/vasopressin systems to improve social deficits observed in ASD and the need for further investigations on how to transfer these research innovations into clinical applications.
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37
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De Leon D, Nishitani S, Walum H, McCormack KM, Wilson ME, Smith AK, Young LJ, Sanchez MM. Methylation of OXT and OXTR genes, central oxytocin, and social behavior in female macaques. Horm Behav 2020; 126:104856. [PMID: 32979349 PMCID: PMC7725942 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and its receptor (OXTR) are encoded by OXT and OXTR, respectively. Variable methylation of these genes has been linked to variability in sociability and neuroendophenotypes. Here we examine whether OXTR or OXT methylation in blood predicts concentrations of OXT in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (n = 166) and social behavior (n = 207) in socially-housed female rhesus macaques. We report a similarity between human and rhesus CpG sites for OXT and OXTR and a putative negative association between methylation of two OXTR CpG units with aggressive behavior (both P = 0.003), though this finding does not survive the most stringent correction for multiple comparison testing. We did not detect a statistically significant association between methylation of any CpG sites and CSF OXT concentrations, either. Because none of the tested associations survived statistical corrections, if there is any relationship between blood-derived methylation of these genes and the behavioral and physiological outcomes measured here, the effect size is too small to be detected reliably with this sample size. These results do not support the hypothesis that blood methylation of OXT or OXTR is robustly associated with CSF OXT concentration or social behavior in rhesus. It is possible, though, that methylation of these loci in the brain or in cheek epithelia may be associated with central OXT release and behavior. Finally, we consider the limitations of this exploratory study in the context of statistical power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirée De Leon
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Shota Nishitani
- Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Hasse Walum
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Kai M McCormack
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Dept. of Psychology, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Mark E Wilson
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Larry J Young
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Mar M Sanchez
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
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Parianen Lesemann FH, Spencer H, Montoya ER, Kraaijenvanger EJ, He Y, Branje S, Boks MP, Bos PA. Methylation of oxytocin related genes and early life trauma together shape the N170 response to human faces. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 39:19-28. [PMID: 32993882 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Childhood trauma fundamentally shapes social cognition and basic processing of social cues, which frequently cascade into adverse behavioral outcomes. Recent studies indicate that epigenetic changes in oxytocin functioning might contribute to these long-term effects, although a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms is still lacking. The electroencephalographic N170 response to faces might capture a neural response at the core of these interactive effects of oxytocin gene methylation and childhood adversity, given that this response is considered to reflect fundamental face processing, to be susceptible to oxytocin administration and also to be a biomarker of various psychiatric disorders. We assessed the N170 response to neutral faces in relation to participant's (81, women) recalled childhood trauma, methylation of their oxytocin structural (OXTg) and oxytocin receptor (OXTRg) genes, and endogenous levels of cortisol and testosterone. Additionally, we investigated the interactive effect of OXTg methylation and CTQ across three face sets of varying maturity. Methylation of OXTg relates to a weakened N170 response towards adults, children and infants. Moreover, methylation of both OXTRg and OXTg shaped the directionality of adversity effects, predicting a weakened N170 response in those with high methylation and hyper-vigilance with participants with low methylation. Our results are the first to relate OXT(R)g methylation to the N170 response. They shed light on biological processes linking childhood adversity and epigenetic marks to altered behavior and potentially psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca H Parianen Lesemann
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Hannah Spencer
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 15780, 1001 NG Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Estrella R Montoya
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eline J Kraaijenvanger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim / Heidelberg University, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Yujie He
- Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Susan Branje
- Department of Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marco P Boks
- Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter A Bos
- Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Womersley JS, Hemmings SMJ, Ziegler C, Gutridge A, Ahmed-Leitao F, Rosenstein D, Domschke K, Seedat S. Childhood emotional neglect and oxytocin receptor variants: Association with limbic brain volumes. World J Biol Psychiatry 2020; 21:513-528. [PMID: 30806136 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2019.1584331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Childhood emotional neglect (EN) is a predictor for the development of affective disorders. Oxytocin (OXT) may mediate the interplay between EN and changes in stress biological systems, brain development, and mental health outcomes. We investigated, in a cross-sectional study, the associations between EN, (epi)genetic variation in the OXT receptor (OXTR) gene, and amygdalar and hippocampal volumes, two brain regions implicated in emotional processing.Methods: We recruited 63 Caucasian South African adults (35 women) with and without social anxiety disorder. Childhood EN was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. rs53576 and rs2254298 genotypes, as well as methylation status, was determined using DNA purified from whole blood. Bilateral amygdalar and hippocampal volumes were determined by structural magnetic resonance imaging. The relationships between these variables were investigated using linear regression.Results: The interaction of the rs2254298 A risk allele and EN was nominally associated with reduced left hippocampal volume. The rs2254298 A risk allele was independently associated with reduced bilateral amygdalar volumes. We found no association between EN, OXTR methylation and amygdalar or hippocampal volumes. The rs53576 GG risk genotype was, however, associated with decreased OXTR methylation.Conclusions: The rs2254298 A allele may increase susceptibility to the structural brain effects of EN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Samantha Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Christiane Ziegler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 70104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ashley Gutridge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Fatima Ahmed-Leitao
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - David Rosenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 70104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
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Abstract
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Forschungsergebnisse weisen übereinstimmend darauf hin, dass Kinder von Müttern mit einer Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung (BPS) ein erhöhtes Risiko aufweisen, emotionale und verhaltensbezogene Auffälligkeiten zu entwickeln und/oder im Jugendalter selbst BPS-spezifische Symptomausprägungen zu zeigen.
Fragestellung
Welche Faktoren sind bei der familiären Transmission der BPS involviert, und welche Implikationen für die Praxis können darauf aufbauend abgeleitet werden?
Material und Methode
Auf der Basis einer umfassenden Literaturrecherche wurden aktuelle Forschungsbefunde zur familiären Transmission der BPS von Müttern zu ihren Kindern zusammengetragen und Kernbefunde in einem Transmissionsmodell integriert.
Ergebnisse
Das hier postulierte Transmissionsmodell bildet ein komplexes Zusammenspiel verschiedener Einflussfaktoren und Übertragungsmechanismen ab. Neben Faktoren aufseiten der Mutter und des Kindes werden externe Faktoren in das Modell integriert. Darüber hinaus werden (epi-)genetische und pränatale Einflüsse, die Bedeutung der Mutter-Kind-Interaktion und familiäre sowie soziale bzw. gesellschaftliche Einflüsse als Übertragungsmechanismen betont. Zudem wird eine potenziell präventive Wirkung der Hilfesysteme angenommen.
Schlussfolgerung
Aus dem Modell werden Ansatzpunkte abgeleitet, die dazu beitragen könnten, die Vulnerabilität sowie Belastungsfaktoren zu reduzieren und somit eine gesunde kindliche Entwicklung in dieser Risikogruppe zu fördern.
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Puglia MH, Krol KM, Missana M, Williams CL, Lillard TS, Morris JP, Connelly JJ, Grossmann T. Epigenetic tuning of brain signal entropy in emergent human social behavior. BMC Med 2020; 18:244. [PMID: 32799881 PMCID: PMC7429788 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01683-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND How the brain develops accurate models of the external world and generates appropriate behavioral responses is a vital question of widespread multidisciplinary interest. It is increasingly understood that brain signal variability-posited to enhance perception, facilitate flexible cognitive representations, and improve behavioral outcomes-plays an important role in neural and cognitive development. The ability to perceive, interpret, and respond to complex and dynamic social information is particularly critical for the development of adaptive learning and behavior. Social perception relies on oxytocin-regulated neural networks that emerge early in development. METHODS We tested the hypothesis that individual differences in the endogenous oxytocinergic system early in life may influence social behavioral outcomes by regulating variability in brain signaling during social perception. In study 1, 55 infants provided a saliva sample at 5 months of age for analysis of individual differences in the oxytocinergic system and underwent electroencephalography (EEG) while listening to human vocalizations at 8 months of age for the assessment of brain signal variability. Infant behavior was assessed via parental report. In study 2, 60 infants provided a saliva sample and underwent EEG while viewing faces and objects and listening to human speech and water sounds at 4 months of age. Infant behavior was assessed via parental report and eye tracking. RESULTS We show in two independent infant samples that increased brain signal entropy during social perception is in part explained by an epigenetic modification to the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and accounts for significant individual differences in social behavior in the first year of life. These results are measure-, context-, and modality-specific: entropy, not standard deviation, links OXTR methylation and infant behavior; entropy evoked during social perception specifically explains social behavior only; and only entropy evoked during social auditory perception predicts infant vocalization behavior. CONCLUSIONS Demonstrating these associations in infancy is critical for elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms accounting for individual differences in cognition and behavior relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. Our results suggest that an epigenetic modification to the oxytocin receptor gene and brain signal entropy are useful indicators of social development and may hold potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan H Puglia
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 800834, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Krol
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manuela Missana
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Early Child Development and Culture, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cabell L Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Travis S Lillard
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - James P Morris
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Tobias Grossmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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Gonzalez MZ, Wroblewski KL, Allen JP, Coan JA, Connelly JJ. OXTR DNA methylation moderates the developmental calibration of neural reward sensitivity. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 63:114-124. [PMID: 32803764 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The Adaptive Calibration Model of Stress Responsivity (ACM) suggests that developmental experiences predictably tune biological systems to meet the demands of the environment. Particularly important is the calibration of reward systems. Using a longitudinal sample (N = 184) followed since adolescence, this study models the dimensions of early life stress and their effects on epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and individual differences in neural response to reward anticipation. We first created a latent variable model of developmental context using measures collected when participants were 13 years old. As adults, two subsets of participants completed a reward anticipation fMRI paradigm (N = 82) and agreed to have their blood assayed for (OXTR) DNA methylation (N = 112) at two CpG sites. Three latent constructs of developmental context emerged: Neighborhood Harshness, Family Harshness, and Abuse and Disorder. Greater OXTR DNA methylation at CpG sites -924 and -934 blunted the association between greater Neighborhood Harshness and increased neural activation in caudate in anticipation of rewards. Interaction effects were also found outside of reward-related areas for all three latent constructs. Results indicate an epigenetically derived differential susceptibility model whereby high methylation coincides with decreased association between developmental environment and neural reward anticipation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - James A Coan
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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43
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Brown GL, Kogan SM, Cho J. Pathways linking childhood trauma to rural, unmarried, African American father involvement through oxytocin receptor gene methylation. Dev Psychol 2020; 56:1496-1508. [PMID: 32790448 DOI: 10.1037/dev0000929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Father involvement contributes uniquely to children's developmental outcomes. The antecedents of father involvement among unmarried, African American fathers from rural areas, however, have been largely overlooked. The present study tested a conceptual model linking retrospective reports of childhood trauma and early adulthood social instability to father involvement among unmarried, African American men living in resource-poor, rural communities in the southeastern United States. We hypothesized these factors would influence father involvement indirectly, via DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). A sample of 192 fathers participated in 3 waves of data collection in early adulthood. Fathers reported on social instability at Wave 1; OXTR methylation was assessed via saliva samples at Wave 2; and measures of father involvement, retrospective childhood trauma, and quality of the fathers' relationships with their children's mothers were collected at Wave 3. Structural equation modeling indicated that childhood trauma was related directly to reduced levels of father involvement and to increased social instability. Social instability was associated with elevated levels of OXTR methylation, which in turn predicted decreased father involvement. The indirect effect from social instability to father involvement via OXTR methylation was significant. These associations did not operate through fathers' relationship with the child's mother and remained significant even accounting for associations between interparental relationship quality and father involvement. Findings suggest that OXTR methylation might be a biological mechanism linking social instability to father involvement among unmarried, African American fathers in vulnerable contexts and underscore the detrimental influence of childhood trauma on father involvement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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44
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Pathways linking adverse environments to emerging adults' substance abuse and depressive symptoms: A prospective analysis of rural African American men. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 33:1496-1506. [PMID: 32693849 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420000632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
For African American emerging adult men, developmental challenges are evident in their escalating substance abuse and depressive symptoms; this is particularly true for men from low-resource communities. The present study tests a developmental model linking childhood adversity and contemporaneous contextual stressors to increases in emerging adults' substance use and depressive symptoms, indirectly, via increases in defensive/hostile relational schemas and social developmental risk factors (e.g., risky peers and romantic partners, lack of involvement in school or work). We also advance exploratory hypotheses regarding DNA methylation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) as a moderator of the effects of stress on relational schemas. Hypotheses were tested with three waves of data from 505 rural African American men aged 19-25 years. Adverse childhood experiences predicted exposure to emerging adult contextual stressors. Contextual stressors forecast increases in defensive/hostile relational schemas, which increased social developmental risk factors. Social developmental risk factors proximally predicted increases in substance abuse and depressive symptoms. OXTR DNA methylation moderated the effects of contextual stressors on defensive/hostile relational schemas. Findings suggest that early exposures to stress carry forward to affect the development of social developmental risk factors in emerging adulthood, which place rural African American men at risk for increased substance abuse and depressive symptoms during the emerging adult years.
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45
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Park CI, Kim HW, Jeon S, Kang JI, Kim SJ. Reduced DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:101. [PMID: 32631409 PMCID: PMC7336407 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00890-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Oxytocin is an important neuromodulator involved in cognition and socio-emotional processing that exerts its central activities via oxytocin receptors. Epigenetic alterations in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) may be a molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study investigated the association between OXTR DNA methylation and the OCD status of a Korean population. Results Quantitative leukocyte DNA methylation levels of three cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of OXTR exon 2 and eight CpG sites within OXTR exon 3 were analyzed using the pyrosequencing method in 151 patients with OCD (including 45 drug-naïve patients) and 108 healthy controls. DNA methylation levels were compared between the groups using multiple analyses of covariance separately by sex after controlling for age and educational level. Patients with OCD showed significantly lower methylation levels at CpG1 and CpG2 sites on the UTR of OXTR exon 2 than those of healthy controls for both sexes. In a subset of 45 drug-naïve patients with OCD, the DNA methylation levels also remained significantly lower than those in the controls and their CpG1 methylation levels were significantly negatively associated with the ordering symptom dimension. Conclusions Our findings suggest that epigenetic OXTR alterations may affect the pathophysiology of OCD. The potential role of the oxytocin system in OCD development and treatment warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Il Park
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Won Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumoa Jeon
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee In Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea. .,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Se Joo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea. .,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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46
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Matsunaga M, Kikusui T, Mogi K, Nagasawa M, Ooyama R, Myowa M. Breastfeeding dynamically changes endogenous oxytocin levels and emotion recognition in mothers. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200139. [PMID: 32486937 PMCID: PMC7336852 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding behaviours can significantly change mothers' physiological and psychological states. The hormone oxytocin may mediate breastfeeding and mothers' emotion recognition. This study examined the effects of endogenous oxytocin fluctuation via breastfeeding on emotion recognition in 51 primiparous mothers. Saliva oxytocin was assessed before and after the manipulation (breastfeeding or holding an infant), and emotion recognition tasks were conducted. Among mothers who breastfed daily, mothers with more increased levels of oxytocin after breastfeeding showed more reduced negative recognition and enhanced positive recognition of adult facial expressions. These oxytocin functions accompanying breastfeeding may support continued nurturing behaviours and also affect the general social cognition of other adults beyond any specific effect on infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Matsunaga
- Department of Education, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takefumi Kikusui
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mogi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Miho Nagasawa
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Rumi Ooyama
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Masako Myowa
- Department of Education, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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47
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Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene: implications for autism symptom severity and brain functional connectivity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:1150-1158. [PMID: 31931508 PMCID: PMC7235273 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0610-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The role of oxytocin in social cognition has attracted tremendous interest in social neuroscience and psychiatry. Some studies have reported improvement in social symptoms following oxytocin treatment in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), while others point to endogenous factors influencing its efficiency and to mixed results in terms of long-term clinical benefits. Epigenetic modification to the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in ASD could be an informative biomarker of treatment efficacy. Yet, little is known about the relationship between OXTR methylation, clinical severity, and brain function in ASD. Here, we investigated the relationship between OXTR methylation, ASD diagnosis (in N = 35 ASD and N = 64 neurotypical group), measures of social responsiveness, and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between areas involved in social cognition and reward processing (in a subset of ASD, N = 30). Adults with ASD showed higher OXTR methylation levels in the intron 1 area compared with neurotypical subjects. This hypermethylation was related to clinical symptoms and to a hypoconnectivity between cortico-cortical areas involved in theory of mind. Methylation at a CpG site in the exon 1 area was positively related to social responsiveness deficits in ASD and to a hyperconnectivity between striatal and cortical brain areas. Taken together, these findings provide initial evidence for OXTR hypermethylation in the intron area as a potential biomarker for adults with ASD with less severe developmental communication deficits, but with impairments in theory of mind and self-awareness. Also, OXTR methylation in the exon 1 area could be a potential biomarker of sociability sensitive to life experiences.
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48
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Wheater ENW, Stoye DQ, Cox SR, Wardlaw JM, Drake AJ, Bastin ME, Boardman JP. DNA methylation and brain structure and function across the life course: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:133-156. [PMID: 32151655 PMCID: PMC7237884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
MRI has enhanced our capacity to understand variations in brain structure and function conferred by the genome. We identified 60 studies that report associations between DNA methylation (DNAm) and human brain structure/function. Forty-three studies measured candidate loci DNAm; seventeen measured epigenome-wide DNAm. MRI features included region-of-interest and whole-brain structural, diffusion and functional imaging features. The studies report DNAm-MRI associations for: neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders; major depression and suicidality; alcohol use disorder; schizophrenia and psychosis; ageing, stroke, ataxia and neurodegeneration; post-traumatic stress disorder; and socio-emotional processing. Consistency between MRI features and differential DNAm is modest. Sources of bias: variable inclusion of comparator groups; different surrogate tissues used; variation in DNAm measurement methods; lack of control for genotype and cell-type composition; and variations in image processing. Knowledge of MRI features associated with differential DNAm may improve understanding of the role of DNAm in brain health and disease, but caution is required because conventions for linking DNAm and MRI data are not established, and clinical and methodological heterogeneity in existing literature is substantial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N W Wheater
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David Q Stoye
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Simon R Cox
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna M Wardlaw
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mark E Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - James P Boardman
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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Perspectives of Pitocin administration on behavioral outcomes in the pediatric population: recent insights and future implications. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04047. [PMID: 32509991 PMCID: PMC7264063 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin plays an important role in the regulation of parturition as this peptide hormone promotes uterine smooth muscle contractility in gravid women undergoing labor. Here, we review the impact of Pitocin administration on behavioral outcomes in the pediatric population. Pitocin is a synthetic preparation of oxytocin widely used in the obstetric practice for the management of labor and postpartum hemorrhage. We begin by tracing the neuroanatomy of oxytocin-containing cells from an evolutionary perspective and then summarize key findings on behavioral and neural activity reported from offspring dosed with Pitocin during vaginal delivery. Finally, we discuss future directions that are experimentally tractable for understanding the developmental consequences of Pitocin administration on a small but growing subset of children worldwide. Given that fetal past experiences can shape the future behavior of the adult, further work on oxytocin signaling pathways will provide valuable references and insights for early-brain development and state-dependent regulation of behavioral outcome.
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50
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Demin KA, Lakstygal AM, Volgin AD, de Abreu MS, Genario R, Alpyshov ET, Serikuly N, Wang D, Wang J, Yan D, Wang M, Yang L, Hu G, Bytov M, Zabegalov KN, Zhdanov A, Harvey BH, Costa F, Rosemberg DB, Leonard BE, Fontana BD, Cleal M, Parker MO, Wang J, Song C, Amstislavskaya TG, Kalueff AV. Cross-species Analyses of Intra-species Behavioral Differences in Mammals and Fish. Neuroscience 2020; 429:33-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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