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van Rensburg DJ, Womersley JS, Martin L, Seedat S, Hemmings SMJ. Differential microRNA expression in adolescent anxiety proneness. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:5680-5693. [PMID: 39189635 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16523] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Biological mechanisms underlying anxiety proneness (AP), the tendency to react fearfully to stressors due to the belief that experiencing anxiety has harmful consequences, remain unclear. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNAs (small, non-coding RNAs 19-20 nucleotides long), may be contributory. This study investigated AP-associated differences in microRNA expression among South African adolescents with variable exposure to childhood trauma (CT). AP was assessed using a composite score reflecting trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, while CT exposure was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. High-quality total RNA (n = 88) extracted from whole blood underwent microRNA-sequencing. Differential microRNA expression analysis was conducted with DESeq2 in R, messenger RNA target prediction analysis was performed using TargetScan and DIANA-microT, and the DIANA mirPATH tool was used for KEGG pathway analysis. The majority of participants were female (75.86%) with an average age of 15 (±1.19) years. MicroRNA expression analysis identified upregulation of hsa-miR-28-5p and downregulation of hsa-miR-502-3p and hsa-miR-500a-3p in high-AP individuals, irrespective of CT. Four KEGG pathways, each with ≥10% of their constituent genes predicted to be targets of the differentially expressed microRNAs, were identified and were enriched for genes involved in calcineurin and glutamate signalling. These findings suggest that epigenetically mediated effects on neuronal function contribute to the molecular aetiology of AP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danièlle Jansen van Rensburg
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jacqueline Samantha Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lindi Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Liang A, Gomaa N. Social Capital Associates With Better Cognitive Health, Oral Health and Epigenetic Age Deceleration: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2024; 99:267-286. [PMID: 37974418 PMCID: PMC11465599 DOI: 10.1177/00914150231208689] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Background: Social exposures are linked to an array of health outcomes, especially around aging. In this study, we examined the association of social capital, defined as social relationships and networks, with clinical and biological outcomes including cognitive health, oral inflammation, and epigenetic aging. Methods: We used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) (n = 1,479; aged 45-85 years), categorizing social capital as structural and cognitive capital. Oral inflammation was determined as the presence of gum bleeding. Epigenetic aging was computed as the difference between chronological age and DNA methylation age. We constructed multivariable regression models adjusted for covariates to assess the relationships of interest. Results: Higher structural social capital was associated with decelerated epigenetic aging and better cognitive health outcomes, while higher cognitive social capital was associated with better cognitive outcomes and less oral inflammation. Conclusion: Enhanced social capital may contribute to better clinical and biological outcomes around aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Liang
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Noha Gomaa
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
- Children’s Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Canada
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3
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DiMarzio K, Rojo-Wissar DM, Hernandez Valencia E, Ver Pault M, Denherder S, Lopez A, Lerch J, Metrailer G, Merrill SM, Highlander A, Parent J. Childhood Adversity and Adolescent Epigenetic Age Acceleration: The Role of Adolescent Sleep Health. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.09.02.24312939. [PMID: 39281758 PMCID: PMC11398434 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.02.24312939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
Study Objectives We investigated how a dimension of early life adversity (ELA) capturing threat in the home relates to later epigenetic age acceleration in adolescence through sleep (duration, efficiency, and timing), to empirically test theoretical models suggesting the importance of sleep as a key mechanism linking ELA with poor health outcomes, and to expand the limited literature on sleep and epigenetic aging among youth. Methods We utilized data from 861 participants from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) who participated in the actigraphy sub study at age 15. Sleep variables used were average total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and sleep onset timing. Home threat was determined at ages 3, 5, and 9 from parent reports on the Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-PC), and epigenetic aging was measured through DNA methylation analyses of saliva samples collected at age 15. Results Higher levels of childhood home threat exposure were associated with less adolescent TST, lower SE, and later sleep onset timing. Adolescent SE and timing were associated with a faster pace of aging and epigenetic age acceleration. Sleep efficiency and timing mediated the link between childhood home threat exposure and adolescent epigenetic aging. Conclusions Epigenetic embedding of childhood threat exposure in the home may occur through adversity-related sleep disturbances in adolescence. Findings warrant greater attention to pediatric sleep health in theoretical models of biological embedding of adversity and point to the examination of improving sleep health as a potential way to prevent adversity-related epigenetic age acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karissa DiMarzio
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL
| | - Darlynn M. Rojo-Wissar
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
- Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI
| | | | - Mikayla Ver Pault
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
| | - Shane Denherder
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
| | - Adamari Lopez
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
| | - Jena Lerch
- Zvart Onanian School of Nursing, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
| | - Georgette Metrailer
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Sarah M. Merrill
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
| | - April Highlander
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Justin Parent
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
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4
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Noches V, Campos-Melo D, Droppelmann CA, Strong MJ. Epigenetics in the formation of pathological aggregates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1417961. [PMID: 39290830 PMCID: PMC11405384 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1417961] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The progressive degeneration of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is accompanied by the formation of a broad array of cytoplasmic and nuclear neuronal inclusions (protein aggregates) largely containing RNA-binding proteins such as TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) or fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS). This process is driven by a liquid-to-solid phase separation generally from proteins in membrane-less organelles giving rise to pathological biomolecular condensates. The formation of these protein aggregates suggests a fundamental alteration in the mRNA expression or the levels of the proteins involved. Considering the role of the epigenome in gene expression, alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, non-coding RNAs, and RNA modifications become highly relevant to understanding how this pathological process takes effect. In this review, we explore the evidence that links epigenetic mechanisms with the formation of protein aggregates in ALS. We propose that a greater understanding of the role of the epigenome and how this inter-relates with the formation of pathological LLPS in ALS will provide an attractive therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Noches
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Danae Campos-Melo
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Cristian A Droppelmann
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J Strong
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Gonzalez-Gomez R, Legaz A, Moguilner S, Cruzat J, Hernández H, Baez S, Cocchi R, Coronel-Olivero C, Medel V, Tagliazuchi E, Migeot J, Ochoa-Rosales C, Maito MA, Reyes P, Santamaria Garcia H, Godoy ME, Javandel S, García AM, Matallana DL, Avila-Funes JA, Slachevsky A, Behrens MI, Custodio N, Cardona JF, Brusco IL, Bruno MA, Sosa Ortiz AL, Pina-Escudero SD, Takada LT, Resende EDPF, Valcour V, Possin KL, Okada de Oliveira M, Lopera F, Lawlor B, Hu K, Miller B, Yokoyama JS, Gonzalez Campo C, Ibañez A. Educational disparities in brain health and dementia across Latin America and the United States. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 39136296 DOI: 10.1002/alz.14085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Education influences brain health and dementia. However, its impact across regions, specifically Latin America (LA) and the United States (US), is unknown. METHODS A total of 1412 participants comprising controls, patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) from LA and the US were included. We studied the association of education with brain volume and functional connectivity while controlling for imaging quality and variability, age, sex, total intracranial volume (TIV), and recording type. RESULTS Education influenced brain measures, explaining 24%-98% of the geographical differences. The educational disparities between LA and the US were associated with gray matter volume and connectivity variations, especially in LA and AD patients. Education emerged as a critical factor in classifying aging and dementia across regions. DISCUSSION The results underscore the impact of education on brain structure and function in LA, highlighting the importance of incorporating educational factors into diagnosing, care, and prevention, and emphasizing the need for global diversity in research. HIGHLIGHTS Lower education was linked to reduced brain volume and connectivity in healthy controls (HCs), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Latin American cohorts have lower educational levels compared to the those in the United States. Educational disparities majorly drive brain health differences between regions. Educational differences were significant in both conditions, but more in AD than FTLD. Education stands as a critical factor in classifying aging and dementia across regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Gonzalez-Gomez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Agustina Legaz
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Moguilner
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Josephine Cruzat
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Hernán Hernández
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sandra Baez
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Rafael Cocchi
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Coronel-Olivero
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Vicente Medel
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enzo Tagliazuchi
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (FIBA -CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joaquín Migeot
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Ochoa-Rosales
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcelo Adrián Maito
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Reyes
- Instituto de Envejecimiento, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Hernando Santamaria Garcia
- Instituto de Envejecimiento, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Center for Memory and Cognition, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio Bogotá, San Ignacio, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Maria E Godoy
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shireen Javandel
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diana L Matallana
- Instituto de Envejecimiento, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Center for Memory and Cognition, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio Bogotá, San Ignacio, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - José Alberto Avila-Funes
- Dirección de Enseñanza, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición, Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, D.C., México
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Center (CMYN), Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador & Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Program - Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - María I Behrens
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación Clínica Avanzada (CICA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nilton Custodio
- Unit Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Prevention, Peruvian Institute of Neurosciences, Lima, Peru
| | - Juan F Cardona
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Ignacio L Brusco
- Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín A Bruno
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Católica de Cuyo, San Juan, Argentina
| | - Ana L Sosa Ortiz
- Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, D.C., México
| | - Stefanie D Pina-Escudero
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Elisa de Paula França Resende
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Victor Valcour
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katherine L Possin
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Maira Okada de Oliveira
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Cognitive Neurology and Behavioral Unit (GNCC), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco Lopera
- Neurosicence Research Group (GNA), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Brian Lawlor
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kun Hu
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruce Miller
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer S Yokoyama
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Cecilia Gonzalez Campo
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustin Ibañez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Hogan CM, Merrill SM, Hernandez Valencia E, McHayle AA, Sisitsky MD, McDermott JM, Parent J. The Impact of Early Life Adversity on Peripubertal Accelerated Epigenetic Aging and Psychopathology. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:S0890-8567(24)00352-6. [PMID: 38969335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.04.019] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine longitudinal associations between early life threat and deprivation on epigenetic age acceleration at ages 9 and 15 years, and to examine associations of age acceleration on later internalizing and externalizing symptoms. METHOD The study examines a large (n = 2,039) and racially diverse (Black/African American = 44%, Latino = 18%, White = 5%) sample from a national dataset. Epigenetic age acceleration was estimated using the pediatric buccal epigenetic clock. Early life threat and deprivation were measured using composites from the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale and county-level violent and property crime rate data. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms came from parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist. Path analysis models examined associations of threat and deprivation at age 3 years on epigenetic age acceleration at ages 9 and 15. Experiences of threat were further broken down into threat experienced in the home and in the community. RESULTS Home threat experienced at age 3 years predicted age acceleration at 9 and 15, and community threat experienced at 3 predicted age acceleration at 15, but not at 9. Deprivation was not a significant predictor of accelerated aging. Age acceleration at age 9 predicted externalizing, but not internalizing, symptoms at age 15. Community threat had a direct effect on externalizing. No association emerged with internalizing. CONCLUSION Findings revealed that threat, not deprivation, was predictive of age acceleration, demonstrating support for this pattern longitudinally, using an epigenetic clock that is accurate in children. The findings provide critical nuance to the examination of threat, and highlight associated risks and possible intervention points for externalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah M Merrill
- Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | - Allison A McHayle
- Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | | | - Justin Parent
- Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island; Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island
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7
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Merrill SM, Hogan C, Bozack AK, Cardenas A, Comer JS, Bagner DM, Highlander A, Parent J. Telehealth Parenting Program and Salivary Epigenetic Biomarkers in Preschool Children With Developmental Delay: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2424815. [PMID: 39073812 PMCID: PMC11287424 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.24815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Children with developmental delays are at a heightened risk of experiencing mental health challenges, and this risk is exacerbated among racially minoritized children who face disproportionate adversity. Understanding the impact of parenting interventions on biological markers associated with these risks is crucial for mitigating long-term health disparities. Objective To examine the effect of 20 weeks of an internet-based parent-child interaction training (iPCIT) program on biomarkers associated with aging and chronic inflammation among preschoolers with developmental delay at 12-month follow-up. Design, Setting, and Participants An observational secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial conducted from March 17, 2016, to December 15, 2020, to assess changes in salivary DNA methylation (DNAm)-derived biomarkers following iPCIT intervention. Participants were recruited from 3 Part C early intervention sites in a large southeastern US city. Eligible participants included children recruited within 3 months of their third birthday who had a Child Behavior Checklist Externalizing Problems T score greater than 60 and provided saliva in at least 1 study wave. Data analysis was conducted May 2023 to April 2024. Intervention Participants received either iPCIT (a telehealth therapeutic intervention focused on enhancing the parent-child relationship and addressing behavioral challenges in young children) or referrals as usual. Main Outcomes and Measures DNAm at the 12-month follow-up was assessed using the Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC Bead Chip Assay to derive biomarkers DunedinPACE, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Analyses were intent-to-treat and used path analysis. Results A total of 71 children (mean [SD] age, 36.27 [0.61] months 51 male [71.8%] and 20 female [28.2%]) were analyzed, of whom 34 received iPCIT and 37 received referrals as usual. The iPCIT group had a slower pace of aging (β = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.50; P = .03) and less DNAm-derived CRP (β = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.49; P = .01) relative to the control condition at the 12-month follow-up. These associations remained significant after accounting for baseline DNAm score, child demographics, and symptom severity, and were independent of predicted buccal epithelial cell proportion for both DunedinPACE and CRP. There was no association with DNAm-derived IL-6 (β = 0.14; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.36; P = .21). Conclusions and Relevance In this study of a parenting intervention, iPCIT, the association of intervention with decreased molecular markers of inflammation and biological aging suggests their potential to modify aspects of the biological embedding of stress. Understanding the systemic biological impact of such interventions offers insights into addressing health disparities and promoting resilience among vulnerable populations. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03260816.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Christina Hogan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
| | - Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | | | - Daniel M. Bagner
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami
| | - April Highlander
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Justin Parent
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
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8
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Raffington L, Tanksley PT, Vinnik L, Sabhlok A, Patterson MW, Mallard T, Malanchini M, Ayorech Z, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP. Associations of DNA-methylation measures of biological aging with social disparities in child and adolescent mental health. Clin Psychol Sci 2024; 12:551-562. [PMID: 39421195 PMCID: PMC11486221 DOI: 10.1177/21677026231186802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Children who experience environmental adversities are at increased risk of both internalizing and externalizing disorders. Epigenetic mechanisms may regulate the influence of environmental adversities on mental health. We examined the hypothesis that salivary DNA-methylation patterns of pace of biological aging (DunedinPoAm) and inflammation (DNAm-CRP) are socially stratified and associated with mental health in 1,183 children (609 female, age M=13.6y) from the Texas Twin Project. Analyses were preregistered. Participants' DNA-methylation algorithms and psychiatric symptoms differed by socioeconomic contexts and race/ethnicity. Children with more parent-reported internalizing symptoms had higher DunedinPoAm and DNAm-CRP scores, and children with more aggression problems had higher DNAm-CRP. DunedinPoAm partially mediated advantage of White racial identity on internalizing. Similarly, DNAm-CRP partially mediated advantage of higher family socioeconomic contexts and, in a separate model, White racial identity on reduced internalizing symptoms. Children's epigenetic measures of pace of biological aging and inflammation are associated with social inequalities and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development; Max Planck Institute for Human Development; Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - P T Tanksley
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - L Vinnik
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - A Sabhlok
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - M W Patterson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado, Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - T Mallard
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - M Malanchini
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Z Ayorech
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - E M Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - K P Harden
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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9
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Großbach A, Suderman MJ, Hüls A, Lussier AA, Smith AD, Walton E, Dunn EC, Simpkin AJ. Maximizing Insights from Longitudinal Epigenetic Age Data: Simulations, Applications, and Practical Guidance. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4482915. [PMID: 38947070 PMCID: PMC11213208 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4482915/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Background Epigenetic Age (EA) is an age estimate, developed using DNA methylation (DNAm) states of selected CpG sites across the genome. Although EA and chronological age are highly correlated, EA may not increase uniformly with time. Departures, known as epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), are common and have been linked to various traits and future disease risk. Limited by available data, most studies investigating these relationships have been cross-sectional - using a single EA measurement. However, the recent growth in longitudinal DNAm studies has led to analyses of associations with EA over time. These studies differ in (i) their choice of model; (ii) the primary outcome (EA vs. EAA); and (iii) in their use of chronological age or age-independent time variables to account for the temporal dynamic. We evaluated the robustness of each approach using simulations and tested our results in two real-world examples, using biological sex and birthweight as predictors of longitudinal EA. Results Our simulations showed most accurate effect sizes in a linear mixed model or generalized estimating equation, using chronological age as the time variable. The use of EA versus EAA as an outcome did not strongly impact estimates. Applying the optimal model in real-world data uncovered an accelerated EA rate in males and an advanced EA that decelerates over time in children with higher birthweight. Conclusion Our results can serve as a guide for forthcoming longitudinal EA studies, aiding in methodological decisions that may determine whether an association is accurately estimated, overestimated, or potentially overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Großbach
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Ireland
- The SFI Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science, Ireland
| | - Matthew J. Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anke Hüls
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alexandre A. Lussier
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew D.A.C. Smith
- Mathematics and Statistics Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Esther Walton
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Erin C. Dunn
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew J. Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Ireland
- The SFI Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science, Ireland
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10
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Ariza-Mateos A, Briones C, Perales C, Sobrino F, Domingo E, Gómez J. Natural languages and RNA virus evolution. J Physiol 2024; 602:2565-2580. [PMID: 37983617 DOI: 10.1113/jp284415] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Information concepts from physics, mathematics and computer science support many areas of research in biology. Their focus is on objective information, which provides correlations and patterns related to objects, processes, marks and signals. In these approaches only the quantitative aspects of the meaning of the information is relevant. In other areas of biology, 'meaningful information', which is subjective in nature, relies on the physiology of the organism's sensory organs and on the interpretation of the perceived signals, which is then translated into action, even if this is only mental (in brained animals). Information is involved, in terms of both amount and quality. Here we contextualize and review the main theories that deal with 'meaningful-information' at a molecular level from different areas of natural language research, namely biosemiotics, code-biology, biocommunication and biohermeneutics. As this information mediates between the organism and its environment, we emphasize how such theories compare with the neo-Darwinian treatment of genetic information, and how they project onto the rapid evolution of RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ascensión Ariza-Mateos
- Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra' (CSIC), Granada, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Briones
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Perales
- Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sobrino
- Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esteban Domingo
- Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Gómez
- Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra' (CSIC), Granada, Spain
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11
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Cánepa ET, Berardino BG. Epigenetic mechanisms linking early-life adversities and mental health. Biochem J 2024; 481:615-642. [PMID: 38722301 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230306] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
Early-life adversities, whether prenatal or postnatal exposure, have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes later in life increasing the risk of several psychiatric disorders. Research on its neurobiological consequences demonstrated an association between exposure to adversities and persistent alterations in the structure, function, and connectivity of the brain. Consistent evidence supports the idea that regulation of gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms are involved in embedding the impact of early-life experiences in the genome and mediate between social environments and later behavioral phenotypes. In addition, studies from rodent models and humans suggest that these experiences and the acquired risk factors can be transmitted through epigenetic mechanisms to offspring and the following generations potentially contributing to a cycle of disease or disease risk. However, one of the important aspects of epigenetic mechanisms, unlike genetic sequences that are fixed and unchangeable, is that although the epigenetic markings are long-lasting, they are nevertheless potentially reversible. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the mental health consequences derived from early-life exposure to malnutrition, maltreatment and poverty, adversities with huge and pervasive impact on mental health. We also discuss the evidence about transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals and experimental data suggesting that suitable social and pharmacological interventions could reverse adverse epigenetic modifications induced by early-life negative social experiences. In this regard, these studies must be accompanied by efforts to determine the causes that promote these adversities and that result in health inequity in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo T Cánepa
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires and IQUIBICEN, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bruno G Berardino
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires and IQUIBICEN, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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12
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Destoumieux-Garzón D, Montagnani C, Dantan L, Nicolas NDS, Travers MA, Duperret L, Charrière GM, Toulza E, Mitta G, Cosseau C, Escoubas JM. Cross-talk and mutual shaping between the immune system and the microbiota during an oyster's life. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230065. [PMID: 38497271 PMCID: PMC10945412 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas lives in microbe-rich marine coastal systems subjected to rapid environmental changes. It harbours a diversified and fluctuating microbiota that cohabits with immune cells expressing a diversified immune gene repertoire. In the early stages of oyster development, just after fertilization, the microbiota plays a key role in educating the immune system. Exposure to a rich microbial environment at the larval stage leads to an increase in immune competence throughout the life of the oyster, conferring a better protection against pathogenic infections at later juvenile/adult stages. This beneficial effect, which is intergenerational, is associated with epigenetic remodelling. At juvenile stages, the educated immune system participates in the control of the homeostasis. In particular, the microbiota is fine-tuned by oyster antimicrobial peptides acting through specific and synergistic effects. However, this balance is fragile, as illustrated by the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome, a disease causing mass mortalities in oysters worldwide. In this disease, the weakening of oyster immune defences by OsHV-1 µVar virus induces a dysbiosis leading to fatal sepsis. This review illustrates the continuous interaction between the highly diversified oyster immune system and its dynamic microbiota throughout its life, and the importance of this cross-talk for oyster health. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Destoumieux-Garzón
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Caroline Montagnani
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Luc Dantan
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Noémie de San Nicolas
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Agnès Travers
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Léo Duperret
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume M. Charrière
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Eve Toulza
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume Mitta
- Ifremer, IRD, ILM, Université de Polynésie Française, UMR EIO, Vairao 98179, French Polynesia
| | - Céline Cosseau
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Michel Escoubas
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia,34090 Montpellier, France
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13
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Creasey N, Beijers R, O'Donnell KJ, de Weerth C, Tollenaar MS. Maternal sensitivity and child internalizing and externalizing behavior: a mediating role for glucocorticoid receptor gene ( NR3C1) methylation? Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:967-978. [PMID: 36896668 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423000226] [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] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
The early caregiving environment can have lasting effects on child mental health. Animal models suggest that glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) DNA methylation plays a mediating role in linking more responsive caregiving to improved behavioral outcomes by its impact on the stress regulatory system. In this longitudinal study, we examined whether children's NR3C1 methylation levels mediate an effect of maternal sensitivity in infancy on levels of child internalizing and externalizing behavior in a community sample. Maternal sensitivity of 145 mothers was rated at infant age 5 weeks, 12 months, and 30 months by observing mother-infant interactions. Buccal DNA methylation was assessed in the same children at age 6 years and maternal-reported internalizing and externalizing behavior was assessed at age 6 and 10 years. Higher sensitivity at age 5 weeks significantly predicted lower DNA methylation levels at two NR3C1 CpG loci, although methylation levels at these loci did not mediate an effect of maternal sensitivity on levels of child internalizing and externalizing behavior. Overall, the study provides evidence that maternal sensitivity in early infancy is associated with DNA methylation levels at loci involved in stress regulation, but the significance of this finding for child mental health remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Creasey
- Preventive Youth Care, Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Social Development, Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University, the Netherlands, and Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Child and Brain Development Program, Canada; and Yale Child Study Center & Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, USA
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke S Tollenaar
- Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, the Netherlands
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14
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Eisen AM, Bratman GN, Olvera-Alvarez HA. Susceptibility to stress and nature exposure: Unveiling differential susceptibility to physical environments; a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301473. [PMID: 38630650 PMCID: PMC11023441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging epidemiological evidence indicates nature exposure could be associated with greater health benefits among groups in lower versus higher socioeconomic positions. One possible mechanism underpinning this evidence is described by our framework: (susceptibility) adults in low socioeconomic positions face higher exposure to persistent psychosocial stressors in early life, inducing a pro-inflammatory phenotype as a lifelong susceptibility to stress; (differential susceptibility) susceptible adults are more sensitive to the health risks of adverse (stress-promoting) environments, but also to the health benefits of protective (stress-buffering) environments. OBJECTIVE Experimental investigation of a pro-inflammatory phenotype as a mechanism facilitating greater stress recovery from nature exposure. METHODS We determined differences in stress recovery (via heart rate variability) caused by exposure to a nature or office virtual reality environment (10 min) after an acute stressor among 64 healthy college-age males with varying levels of susceptibility (socioeconomic status, early life stress, and a pro-inflammatory state [inflammatory reactivity and glucocorticoid resistance to an in vitro bacterial challenge]). RESULTS Findings for inflammatory reactivity and glucocorticoid resistance were modest but consistently trended towards better recovery in the nature condition. Differences in recovery were not observed for socioeconomic status or early life stress. DISCUSSION Among healthy college-age males, we observed expected trends according to their differential susceptibility when assessed as inflammatory reactivity and glucocorticoid resistance, suggesting these biological correlates of susceptibility could be more proximal indicators than self-reported assessments of socioeconomic status and early life stress. If future research in more diverse populations aligns with these trends, this could support an alternative conceptualization of susceptibility as increased environmental sensitivity, reflecting heightened responses to adverse, but also protective environments. With this knowledge, future investigators could examine how individual differences in environmental sensitivity could provide an opportunity for those who are the most susceptible to experience the greatest health benefits from nature exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Eisen
- School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Gregory N. Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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15
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Penner-Goeke S, Binder EB. Linking environmental factors and gene regulation. eLife 2024; 13:e96710. [PMID: 38497535 PMCID: PMC10948141 DOI: 10.7554/elife.96710] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A technique called mSTARR-seq sheds light on how DNA methylation may shape responses to external stimuli by altering the activity of sequences that control gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Penner-Goeke
- Department of Genes and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Genes and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
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16
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Margolis ET, Gabard-Durnam LJ. Prenatal influences on postnatal neuroplasticity: Integrating DOHaD and sensitive/critical period frameworks to understand biological embedding in early development. INFANCY 2024. [PMID: 38449347 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Early environments can have significant and lasting effects on brain, body, and behavior across the lifecourse. Here, we address current research efforts to understand how experiences impact neurodevelopment with a new perspective integrating two well-known conceptual frameworks - the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) and sensitive/critical period frameworks. Specifically, we consider how prenatal experiences characterized in the DOHaD model impact two key neurobiological mechanisms of sensitive/critical periods for adapting to and learning from the postnatal environment. We draw from both animal and human research to summarize the current state of knowledge on how particular prenatal substance exposures (psychoactive substances and heavy metals) and nutritional profiles (protein-energy malnutrition and iron deficiency) each differentially impact brain circuits' excitation/GABAergic inhibition balance and myelination. Finally, we highlight new research directions that emerge from this integrated framework, including testing how prenatal environments alter sensitive/critical period timing and learning and identifying potential promotional/buffering prenatal exposures to impact postnatal sensitive/critical periods. We hope this integrative framework considering prenatal influences on postnatal neuroplasticity will stimulate new research to understand how early environments have lasting consequences on our brains, behavior, and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma T Margolis
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Creasey N, Leijten P, Tollenaar MS, Boks MP, Overbeek G. DNA methylation variation after a parenting program for child conduct problems: Findings from a randomized controlled trial. Child Dev 2024. [PMID: 38436454 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.14090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated associations of the Incredible Years (IY) parenting program with children's DNA methylation. Participants were 289 Dutch children aged 3-9 years (75% European ancestry, 48% female) with above-average conduct problems. Saliva was collected 2.5 years after families were randomized to IY or care as usual (CAU). Using an intention-to-treat approach, confirmatory multiple-regression analyses revealed no significant differences between the IY and CAU groups in children's methylation levels at the NR3C1 and FKBP5 genes. However, exploratory epigenome-wide analyses revealed nine differentially methylated regions between groups, coinciding with SLAMF1, MITF, FAM200B, PSD3, SNX31, and CELSR1. The study provides preliminary evidence for associations of IY with children's salivary methylation levels and highlights the need for further research into biological outcomes of parenting programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Creasey
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patty Leijten
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke S Tollenaar
- Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marco P Boks
- Institute of Psychology & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Geertjan Overbeek
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Taha AA, Bowen F, Jordan J, Johnson-Smith A, Salvetti B, Yue K, Wilson P, Woosley MC, Tate N. Through the Looking Glass: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: A Call for Action from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. J Pediatr Health Care 2024; 38:225-232. [PMID: 38429034 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2023.09.014] [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: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
In response to growing health disparities, social inequities, structural racism, and discrimination, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce. In 2020, this group transitioned into a national committee to infuse equity across the organization and empower pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses as agents of change to address health disparities. Emphasizing the critical need for understanding health disparities in the context of racism and discrimination, this committee champions a paradigm shift, transcending educational initiatives, advisory roles, advocacy efforts, leadership strategies, and community services to illuminate an equitable future for all children and families.
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19
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Johnston RA, Aracena KA, Barreiro LB, Lea AJ, Tung J. DNA methylation-environment interactions in the human genome. eLife 2024; 12:RP89371. [PMID: 38407202 PMCID: PMC10942648 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89371] [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] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Previously, we showed that a massively parallel reporter assay, mSTARR-seq, could be used to simultaneously test for both enhancer-like activity and DNA methylation-dependent enhancer activity for millions of loci in a single experiment (Lea et al., 2018). Here, we apply mSTARR-seq to query nearly the entire human genome, including almost all CpG sites profiled either on the commonly used Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC array or via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. We show that fragments containing these sites are enriched for regulatory capacity, and that methylation-dependent regulatory activity is in turn sensitive to the cellular environment. In particular, regulatory responses to interferon alpha (IFNA) stimulation are strongly attenuated by methyl marks, indicating widespread DNA methylation-environment interactions. In agreement, methylation-dependent responses to IFNA identified via mSTARR-seq predict methylation-dependent transcriptional responses to challenge with influenza virus in human macrophages. Our observations support the idea that pre-existing DNA methylation patterns can influence the response to subsequent environmental exposures-one of the tenets of biological embedding. However, we also find that, on average, sites previously associated with early life adversity are not more likely to functionally influence gene regulation than expected by chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Johnston
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke UniversityDurhamUnited States
- Zoo New EnglandBostonUnited States
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeUnited States
| | | | - Luis B Barreiro
- Department of Human Genetics, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
- Section of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
- Committee on Immunology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Amanda J Lea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleUnited States
- Canadian Institute for Advanced ResearchTorontoCanada
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke UniversityDurhamUnited States
- Canadian Institute for Advanced ResearchTorontoCanada
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke UniversityDurhamUnited States
- Department of Biology, Duke UniversityDurhamUnited States
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLeipzigGermany
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20
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Choi W, Choe MS, Kim SM, Kim SJ, Lee J, Lee Y, Lee SM, Dho SH, Lee MY, Kim LK. RFX4 is an intrinsic factor for neuronal differentiation through induction of proneural genes POU3F2 and NEUROD1. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:99. [PMID: 38386071 PMCID: PMC10884155 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05129-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Proneural genes play a crucial role in neuronal differentiation. However, our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing proneural genes during neuronal differentiation remains limited. RFX4, identified as a candidate regulator of proneural genes, has been reported to be associated with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. To uncover the regulatory relationship, we utilized a combination of multi-omics data, including ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, Hi-C, and RNA-seq, to identify RFX4 as an upstream regulator of proneural genes. We further validated the role of RFX4 using an in vitro model of neuronal differentiation with RFX4 knock-in and a CRISPR-Cas9 knock-out system. As a result, we found that RFX4 directly interacts with the promoters of POU3F2 and NEUROD1. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a set of genes associated with neuronal development, which are highly implicated in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Notably, ectopic expression of RFX4 can drive human embryonic stem cells toward a neuronal fate. Our results strongly indicate that RFX4 serves as a direct upstream regulator of proneural genes, a role that is essential for normal neuronal development. Impairments in RFX4 function could potentially be related to the development of various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, understanding the precise mechanisms by which the RFX4 gene influences the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders requires further investigation through human genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyoung Choi
- Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated OMICS for Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Mu Seog Choe
- College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Min Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 06230, Republic of Korea
| | - So Jin Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 06230, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 06230, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Min Lee
- Department of Physics, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - So Hee Dho
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 06230, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Young Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Lark Kyun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 06230, Republic of Korea.
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21
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Grobman WA, Entringer S, Headen I, Janevic T, Kahn RS, Simhan H, Yee LM, Howell EA. Social determinants of health and obstetric outcomes: A report and recommendations of the workshop of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 230:B2-B16. [PMID: 37832813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.10.013] [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] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
This article is a report of a 2-day workshop, entitled "Social determinants of health and obstetric outcomes," held during the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2022 Annual Pregnancy Meeting. Participants' fields of expertise included obstetrics, pediatrics, epidemiology, health services, health equity, community-based research, and systems biology. The Commonwealth Foundation and the Alliance of Innovation on Maternal Health cosponsored the workshop and the Society for Women's Health Research provided additional support. The workshop included presentations and small group discussions, and its goals were to accomplish the following.
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22
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Gallazzi M, Pizzolante M, Biganzoli EM, Bollati V. Wonder symphony: epigenetics and the enchantment of the arts. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2024; 10:dvae001. [PMID: 38496252 PMCID: PMC10944288 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, has gained significant attention due to its implications for gene regulation and chromatin stability. Epigenetic mechanisms play a fundamental role in gene-environment interactions, shaping individual development and adaptation. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs are key epigenetic regulators. Epigenetic changes can be triggered by environmental factors, including stress, toxins, and social interactions, influencing health and well-being. Positive experiences, such as engagement with the arts, have been linked to emotional responses and neurotransmitter release. While the impacts of detrimental factors on epigenetics have been widely studied, the effects of positive influences are less explored. Specifically, visual art and music have profound effects on emotions, cognition, and mood regulation. Exposure to arts enhances memory, reduces stress, and fosters social inclusion. Recent research has begun to explore the links between positive experiences and epigenetic modifications, suggesting that aesthetic experiences, including visual art and music fruition, might induce dynamic and/or stable changes in gene expression profiles. However, this field is in its infancy, and more research is needed to establish clear connections. Collaborative efforts among genetics, epigenetics, neuroscience, psychology, and the arts are essential for a comprehensive understanding. Longitudinal studies tracking sustained exposure to positive experiences and examining the influence of childhood artistic education on the biological bases of therapeutic effects of art and music are promising avenues for future research. Ultimately, understanding how positive experiences influence epigenetics could provide insights into the long-term enhancement of human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gallazzi
- Catholic University of Milan, Milan 20123, Italy
- EPIGET LAB, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via San Barnaba 8, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Marta Pizzolante
- Research Center in Communication Psychology (PSICOM), Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan 20123, Italy
| | - Elia Mario Biganzoli
- Unit of Medical Statistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC), University of Milan, Via Giovanni Battista Grassi, 74, Milan 20157, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Research and Medical Statistics, Ospedale “L. Sacco” LITA Campus, Via Giovanni Battista Grassi, 74 Milan 20157, Italy
| | - Valentina Bollati
- EPIGET LAB, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via San Barnaba 8, Milan 20122, Italy
- Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via San Barnaba 8, Milan 20122, Italy
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23
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Merrill SM, Letourneau N, Giesbrecht GF, Edwards K, MacIsaac JL, Martin JW, MacDonald AM, Kinniburgh DW, Kobor MS, Dewey D, England-Mason G, The APrON Study Team. Sex-Specific Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Epigenetic Age Acceleration, and Susceptibility to Early Childhood Upper Respiratory Infections. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:3. [PMID: 38390895 PMCID: PMC10885049 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer that can affect immune system development and susceptibility to infection. Aging processes (measured as epigenetic age acceleration (EAA)) may mediate the immune-related effects of prenatal exposure to DEHP. This study's objective was to examine associations between prenatal DEHP exposure, EAA at three months of age, and the number of upper respiratory infections (URIs) from 12 to 18 months of age using a sample of 69 maternal-child pairs from a Canadian pregnancy cohort. Blood DNA methylation data were generated using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip; EAA was estimated using Horvath's pan-tissue clock. Robust regressions examined overall and sex-specific associations. Higher prenatal DEHP exposure (B = 6.52, 95% CI = 1.22, 11.81) and increased EAA (B = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.64, 4.32) independently predicted more URIs. In sex-specific analyses, some similar effects were noted for boys, and EAA mediated the association between prenatal DEHP exposure and URIs. In girls, higher prenatal DEHP exposure was associated with decreased EAA, and no mediation was noted. Higher prenatal DEHP exposure may be associated with increased susceptibility to early childhood URIs, particularly in boys, and aging biomarkers such as EAA may be a biological mechanism. Larger cohort studies examining the potential developmental immunotoxicity of phthalates are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Karlie Edwards
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amy M MacDonald
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
- Program in Child and Brain Development, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Gillian England-Mason
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - The APrON Study Team
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
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24
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Johnston RA, Aracena KA, Barreiro LB, Lea AJ, Tung J. DNA methylation-environment interactions in the human genome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.19.541437. [PMID: 37293015 PMCID: PMC10245841 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.19.541437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Previously we showed that a massively parallel reporter assay, mSTARR-seq, could be used to simultaneously test for both enhancer-like activity and DNA methylation-dependent enhancer activity for millions of loci in a single experiment (Lea et al., 2018). Here we apply mSTARR-seq to query nearly the entire human genome, including almost all CpG sites profiled either on the commonly used Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC array or via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. We show that fragments containing these sites are enriched for regulatory capacity, and that methylation-dependent regulatory activity is in turn sensitive to the cellular environment. In particular, regulatory responses to interferon alpha (IFNA) stimulation are strongly attenuated by methyl marks, indicating widespread DNA methylation-environment interactions. In agreement, methylation-dependent responses to IFNA identified via mSTARR-seq predict methylation-dependent transcriptional responses to challenge with influenza virus in human macrophages. Our observations support the idea that pre-existing DNA methylation patterns can influence the response to subsequent environmental exposures-one of the tenets of biological embedding. However, we also find that, on average, sites previously associated with early life adversity are not more likely to functionally influence gene regulation than expected by chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Johnston
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Zoo New England, Boston, MA 02121, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Luis B Barreiro
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Section of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Amanda J Lea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada M5G 1Z8
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada M5G 1Z8
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
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25
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Fresnedo-Ramírez J, Anderson ES, D'Amico-Willman K, Gradziel TM. A review of plant epigenetics through the lens of almond. THE PLANT GENOME 2023; 16:e20367. [PMID: 37434488 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
While genomes were originally seen as static entities that stably held and organized genetic information, recent advances in sequencing have uncovered the dynamic nature of the genome. New conceptualizations of the genome include complex relationships between the environment and gene expression that must be maintained, regulated, and sometimes even transmitted over generations. The discovery of epigenetic mechanisms has allowed researchers to understand how traits like phenology, plasticity, and fitness can be altered without changing the underlying deoxyribonucleic acid sequence. While many discoveries were first made in animal systems, plants provide a particularly complex set of epigenetic mechanisms due to unique aspects of their biology and interactions with human selective breeding and cultivation. In the plant kingdom, annual plants have received the most attention; however, perennial plants endure and respond to their environment and human management in distinct ways. Perennials include crops such as almond, for which epigenetic effects have long been linked to phenomena and even considered relevant for breeding. Recent discoveries have elucidated epigenetic phenomena that influence traits such as dormancy and self-compatibility, as well as disorders like noninfectious bud failure, which are known to be triggered by the environment and influenced by inherent aspects of the plant. Thus, epigenetics represents fertile ground to further understand almond biology and production and optimize its breeding. Here, we provide our current understanding of epigenetic regulation in plants and use almond as an example of how advances in epigenetics research can be used to understand biological fitness and agricultural performance in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth S Anderson
- Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, USA
| | | | - Thomas M Gradziel
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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26
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Quinn EB, Hsiao CJ, Maisha FM, Mulligan CJ. Prenatal maternal stress is associated with site-specific and age acceleration changes in maternal and newborn DNA methylation. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2222473. [PMID: 37300821 PMCID: PMC10259347 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2222473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stress has a negative impact on child health but the mechanisms through which maternal stress affects child health are unclear. Epigenetic variation, such as DNA methylation, is a likely mechanistic candidate as DNA methylation is sensitive to environmental insults and can regulate long-term changes in gene expression. We recruited 155 mother-newborn dyads in the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate the effects of maternal stress on DNA methylation in mothers and newborns. We used four measures of maternal stress to capture a range of stressful experiences: general trauma, sexual trauma, war trauma, and chronic stress. We identified differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with general trauma, sexual trauma, and war trauma in both mothers and newborns. No DMPs were associated with chronic stress. Sexual trauma was positively associated with epigenetic age acceleration across several epigenetic clocks in mothers. General trauma and war trauma were positively associated with newborn epigenetic age acceleration using the extrinsic epigenetic age clock. We tested the top DMPs for enrichment of DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHS) and found no enrichment in mothers. In newborns, top DMPs associated with war trauma were enriched for DHS in embryonic and foetal cell types. Finally, one of the top DMPs associated with war trauma in newborns also predicted birthweight, completing the cycle from maternal stress to DNA methylation to newborn health outcome. Our results indicate that maternal stress is associated with site-specific changes in DNAm and epigenetic age acceleration in both mothers and newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward B. Quinn
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chu J. Hsiao
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Felicien M. Maisha
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Democratic Republic of Congo, HEAL Africa Hospital, Goma, USA
- Democratic Republic of Congo, Maisha Institute, Goma, USA
| | - Connie J. Mulligan
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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27
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Onuzulu CD, Lee S, Basu S, Comte J, Hai Y, Hizon N, Chadha S, Fauni MS, Kahnamoui S, Xiang B, Halayko AJ, Dolinsky VW, Pascoe CD, Jones MJ. Early-life exposure to cigarette smoke primes lung function and DNA methylation changes at Cyp1a1 upon exposure later in life. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2023; 325:L552-L567. [PMID: 37642652 PMCID: PMC11068412 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00192.2023] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal and early-life exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) has repeatedly been shown to induce stable, long-term changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) in offspring. It has been hypothesized that these changes might be functionally related to the known outcomes of prenatal and early-life CS exposure, which include impaired lung development, altered lung function, and increased risk of asthma and wheeze. However, to date, few studies have examined DNAm changes induced by prenatal CS in tissues of the lung, and even fewer have attempted to examine the specific influences of prenatal versus early postnatal exposures. Here, we have established a mouse model of CS exposure which isolates the effects of prenatal and early postnatal CS exposures in early life. We have used this model to measure the effects of prenatal and/or postnatal CS exposures on lung function and immune cell infiltration as well as DNAm and expression of Cyp1a1, a candidate gene previously observed to demonstrate DNAm differences on CS exposure in humans. Our study revealed that exposure to CS prenatally and in the early postnatal period causes long-lasting differences in offspring lung function, gene expression, and lung Cyp1a1 DNAm, which wane over time but are reestablished on reexposure to CS in adulthood. This study creates a testable mouse model that can be used to investigate the effects of prenatal and early postnatal CS exposures and will contribute to the design of intervention strategies to mediate these detrimental effects.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we isolated effects of prenatal from early postnatal cigarette smoke and showed that exposure to cigarette smoke early in life causes changes in offspring DNA methylation at Cyp1a1 that last through early adulthood but not into late adulthood. We also showed that smoking in adulthood reestablished these DNA methylation patterns at Cyp1a1, suggesting that a mechanism other than DNA methylation results in long-term memory associated with early-life cigarette smoke exposures at this gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinonye Doris Onuzulu
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Samantha Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Sujata Basu
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jeannette Comte
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Yan Hai
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nikho Hizon
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Shivam Chadha
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Maria Shenna Fauni
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Shana Kahnamoui
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Bo Xiang
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Andrew J Halayko
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Vernon W Dolinsky
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Christopher D Pascoe
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Meaghan J Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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28
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Lawton R, Frankenberg E, Seeman T, Crimmins E, Sumantri C, Thomas D. Exposure to the Indian Ocean Tsunami shapes the HPA-axis resulting in HPA "burnout" 14 years later. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306497120. [PMID: 37844215 PMCID: PMC10622908 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306497120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant research on the effects of stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, questions remain regarding long-term impacts of large-scale stressors. Leveraging data on exposure to an unanticipated major natural disaster, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, we provide causal evidence of its imprint on hair cortisol levels fourteen years later. Data are drawn from the Study of the Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery, a population-representative longitudinal study of tsunami survivors who were living along the coast of Aceh, Indonesia, when the tsunami hit. Annual rounds of data, collected before, the year after and 2 y after the disaster provide detailed information about tsunami exposures and self-reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Hair samples collected 14 y after the tsunami from a sample of adult participants provide measures of cortisol levels, integrated over several months. Hair cortisol concentrations are substantially and significantly lower among females who were living, at the time of the tsunami, in communities directly damaged by the tsunami, in comparison with similar females living in other, nearby communities. Differences among males are small and not significant. Cortisol concentrations are lowest among those females living in damaged communities who reported elevated post-traumatic stress symptoms persistently for two years after the tsunami, indicating that the negative effects of exposure were largest for them. Low cortisol is also associated with contemporaneous reports of poor self-rated general and psychosocial health. Taken together, the evidence points to dysregulation in the HPA axis and "burnout" among these females fourteen years after exposure to the disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Lawton
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02115
| | | | - Teresa Seeman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Eileen Crimmins
- Andrus Gerontology Center, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | | | - Duncan Thomas
- Department of Economics, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
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29
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Wang Z, Liu J, Qiu X, Zhang D, Inuzuka H, Chen L, Chen H, Xie L, Kaniskan HÜ, Chen X, Jin J, Wei W. Methylated Nucleotide-Based Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera Enables Targeted Degradation of Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21871-21878. [PMID: 37774414 PMCID: PMC10979653 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a reader of DNA methylation, has been extensively investigated for its function in neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. Emerging evidence indicates that MeCP2 exerts an oncogenic function in cancer; however, the endeavor to develop a MeCP2-targeted therapy remains a challenge. This work attempts to address it by introducing a methylated nucleotide-based targeting chimera termed methyl-proteolysis-targeting chimera (methyl-PROTAC). The methyl-PROTAC incorporates a methylated cytosine into an oligodeoxynucleotide moiety to recruit MeCP2 for targeted degradation in a von Hippel-Lindau- and proteasome-dependent manner, thus displaying antiproliferative effects in cancer cells reliant on MeCP2 overexpression. This selective cytotoxicity endows methyl-PROTAC with the capacity to selectively eliminate cancer cells that are addicted to the overexpression of the MeCP2 oncoprotein. Furthermore, methyl-PROTAC-mediated MeCP2 degradation induces apoptosis in cancer cells. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of methyl-PROTAC to degrade undruggable epigenetic regulatory proteins. In summary, the development of methyl-PROTAC introduces an innovative strategy by designing a modified nucleotide-based degradation approach for manipulating epigenetic factors, thereby representing a promising avenue for the advancement of PROTAC-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Xing Qiu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Dingpeng Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Hiroyuki Inuzuka
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - He Chen
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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30
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Raffington L, Schneper L, Mallard T, Fisher J, Vinnik L, Hollis-Hansen K, Notterman DA, Tucker-Drob EM, Mitchell C, Harden KP. Salivary Epigenetic Measures of Body Mass Index and Social Determinants of Health Across Childhood and Adolescence. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:1047-1054. [PMID: 37669030 PMCID: PMC10481322 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Importance Children who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are at increased risk for high body mass index (BMI) and multiple diseases in adulthood. The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis proposes that early life conditions affect later-life health in a manner that is only partially modifiable by later-life experiences. Objective To examine whether epigenetic measures of BMI developed in adults are valid biomarkers of childhood BMI and if they are sensitive to early life social determinants of health. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based study of over 3200 children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years included data from 2 demographically diverse US pediatric cohort studies that combine longitudinal and twin study designs. Analyses were conducted from 2021 to 2022. Exposures Socioeconomic status, marginalized groups. Main Outcome and Measure Salivary epigenetic BMI, BMI. Analyses were conducted to validate the use of saliva epigenetic BMI as a potential biomarker of child BMI and to examine associations between epigenetic BMI and social determinants of health. Results Salivary epigenetic BMI was calculated from 2 cohorts: (1) 1183 individuals aged 8 to 18 years (609 female [51%]; mean age, 13.4 years) from the Texas Twin Project and (2) 2020 children (1011 female [50%]) measured at 9 years of age and 15 years of age from the Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study. Salivary epigenetic BMI was associated with children's BMI (r = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.31-0.40 to r = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.42-0.59). Longitudinal analysis found that epigenetic BMI was highly stable across adolescence but remained both a leading and lagging indicator of BMI change. Twin analyses showed that epigenetic BMI captured differences in BMI between monozygotic twins. Moreover, children from more disadvantaged socioeconomic status (b = -0.13 to -0.15 across samples) and marginalized racial and ethnic groups (b = 0.08-0.34 across samples) had higher epigenetic BMI, even when controlling for concurrent BMI, pubertal development, and tobacco exposure. Socioeconomic status at birth relative to concurrent socioeconomic status best predicted epigenetic BMI in childhood and adolescence (b = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.20 to -0.09). Conclusion and Relevance This study demonstrated that epigenetic measures of BMI calculated from pediatric saliva samples were valid biomarkers of childhood BMI and may be associated with early-life social inequalities. The findings are in line with the hypothesis that early-life conditions are especially important factors in epigenetic regulation of later-life health. Research showing that health later in life is linked to early-life conditions has important implications for the development of early-life interventions that could significantly extend healthy life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Travis Mallard
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonah Fisher
- Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Liza Vinnik
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
| | | | - Daniel A. Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - K. Paige Harden
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
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Mastrotheodoros S, Boks MP, Rousseau C, Meeus W, Branje S. Negative parenting, epigenetic age, and psychological problems: prospective associations from adolescence to young adulthood. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:1446-1461. [PMID: 37203368 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic clocks are based on DNA methylation levels of several genomic loci and have been developed as indices of biological aging. Studies examining the effects of stressful environmental exposures have shown that stress is associated with differences between epigenetic age and chronological age (i.e., Epigenetic Age acceleration, EA). This pre-registered longitudinal study examined the long-term effects of negative parenting and psychological problems throughout adolescence (ages 13-17 years) on EA in late adolescence (age 17 years) and EA changes from late adolescence to young adulthood (age 25 years). Further, it examined how (change in) EA is related to changes in psychological problems from adolescence to young adulthood. METHODS We used data from a sample of 434 participants followed from age 13 to age 25, with saliva collected at ages 17 and 25. We estimated EA using four commonly used epigenetic clocks and analyzed the data using Structural Equation Modeling. RESULTS While negative parenting was not related to EA nor change in EA, (change in) EA was related to developmental indices such as externalizing problems and self-concept clarity. CONCLUSIONS Declining psychological well-being during young adulthood was preceded by EA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanos Mastrotheodoros
- Department of Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece
| | - Marco P Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Céline Rousseau
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Meeus
- Department of Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Susan Branje
- Department of Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Sullivan ADW, Bozack AK, Cardenas A, Comer JS, Bagner DM, Forehand R, Parent J. Parenting Practices May Buffer the Impact of Adversity on Epigenetic Age Acceleration Among Young Children With Developmental Delays. Psychol Sci 2023; 34:1173-1185. [PMID: 37733001 PMCID: PMC10626625 DOI: 10.1177/09567976231194221] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined whether children exposed to adversity would exhibit lower epigenetic age acceleration in the context of improved parenting. Children with developmental delays and externalizing behavior problems (N = 62; Mage = 36.26 months; 70.97% boys, 29.03% girls; 71% Latinx, 22.6% Black) were drawn from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT), which randomized them to receive Internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy (iPCIT; n = 30) or community referrals as usual (RAU; n = 32). Epigenetic age acceleration was estimated with the pediatric buccal epigenetic clock, using saliva. Adversity was assessed using parent, family, and neighborhood-level cumulative-risk indicators. Adversity interacted with Time 2 (T2) observations of positive and negative-parenting practices to predict epigenetic age acceleration 1.5 years later, regardless of treatment assignment. Children exposed to more adversity displayed lower epigenetic age acceleration when parents evidenced increased positive (b = -0.15, p = .001) and decreased negative (b = -0.12, p = .01) parenting practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra D. W. Sullivan
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Jonathan S. Comer
- Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University
| | - Daniel M. Bagner
- Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University
| | - Rex Forehand
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont
| | - Justin Parent
- Bradley-Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University
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Womersley JS, du Plessis M, Greene MC, van den Heuwel LL, Kinyanda E, Seedat S. Advances in the molecular neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder from global contexts: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e62. [PMID: 37854422 PMCID: PMC10579657 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Trauma exposure is prevalent globally and is a defining event for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterised by intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviours, hypervigilance and negative alterations in cognition and mood. Exposure to trauma elicits a range of physiological responses which can interact with environmental factors to confer relative risk or resilience for PTSD. This systematic review summarises the findings of longitudinal studies examining biological correlates predictive of PTSD symptomology. Databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science) were systematically searched using relevant keywords for studies published between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. English language studies were included if they were original research manuscripts or meta-analyses of cohort investigations that assessed longitudinal relationships between one or more molecular-level measures and either PTSD status or symptoms. Eighteen of the 1,042 records identified were included. Studies primarily included military veterans/personnel, individuals admitted to hospitals after acute traumatic injury, and women exposed to interpersonal violence or rape. Genomic, inflammation and endocrine measures were the most commonly assessed molecular markers and highlighted processes related to inflammation, stress responding, and learning and memory. Quality assessments were done using the Systematic Appraisal of Quality in Observational Research, and the majority of studies were rated as being of high quality, with the remainder of moderate quality. Studies were predominantly conducted in upper-income countries. Those performed in low- and middle-income countries were not broadly representative in terms of demographic, trauma type and geographic profiles, with three out of the four studies conducted assessing only female participants, rape exposure and South Africa, respectively. They also did not generate multimodal data or use machine learning or multilevel modelling, potentially reflecting greater resource limitations in LMICs. Research examining molecular contributions to PTSD does not adequately reflect the global burden of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Morne du Plessis
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - M Claire Greene
- Program on Forced Migration and Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leigh L van den Heuwel
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Eugene Kinyanda
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Extramural Unit, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Sur D, Agranyoni O, Kirby M, Cohen N, Bagaev A, Karandasheva K, Shmerkin E, Gorobets D, Savita BK, Avneri R, Divon MS, Lax E, Michaelevski I, Pinhasov A. Nurture outpaces nature: fostering with an attentive mother alters social dominance in a mouse model of stress sensitivity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3816-3828. [PMID: 37845494 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02273-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Maternal care is critical for epigenetic programming during postnatal brain development. Stress is recognized as a critical factor that may affect maternal behavior, yet owing to high heterogeneity in stress response, its impact varies among individuals. We aimed here to understand the connection between inborn stress vulnerability, maternal care, and early epigenetic programming using mouse populations that exhibit opposite poles of the behavioral spectrum (social dominance [Dom] and submissiveness [Sub]) and differential response to stress. In contrast to stress-resilient Dom dams, stress-vulnerable Sub dams exhibit significantly lower maternal attachment, serum oxytocin, and colonic Lactobacillus reuteri populations. Sub offspring showed a reduced hippocampal expression of key methylation genes at postnatal day (PND) 7 and a lack of developmentally-dependent increase in 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) at PND 21. In addition, Sub pups exhibit significant hypermethylation of gene promoters connected with glutamatergic synapses and behavioral responses. We were able to reverse the submissive endophenotype through cross-fostering Sub pups with Dom dams (Sub/D). Thus, Sub/D pups exhibited elevated hippocampal expression of DNMT3A at PND 7 and increased 5-mC levels at PND 21. Furthermore, adult Sub/D offspring exhibited increased sociability, social dominance, and hippocampal glutamate and monoamine levels resembling the neurochemical profile of Dom mice. We postulate that maternal inborn stress vulnerability governs epigenetic patterning sculpted by maternal care and intestinal microbiome diversity during early developmental stages and shapes the array of gene expression patterns that may dictate neuronal architecture with a long-lasting impact on stress sensitivity and the social behavior of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debpali Sur
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Oryan Agranyoni
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Michael Kirby
- Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Naamah Cohen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Anastasia Bagaev
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Kristina Karandasheva
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Elena Shmerkin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Denis Gorobets
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Brajesh Kumar Savita
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Raphael Avneri
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Mali-Salmon Divon
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
- Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Elad Lax
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Izhak Michaelevski
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel
| | - Albert Pinhasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ariel University, Ramat HaGolan St 65, 4077625, Ariel, Israel.
- Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
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Zhang ZZ, Moeckel C, Mustafa M, Pham H, Olson AE, Mehta D, Dorn LD, Engeland CG, Shenk CE. The association of epigenetic age acceleration and depressive and anxiety symptom severity among children recently exposed to substantiated maltreatment. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 165:7-13. [PMID: 37441927 PMCID: PMC10529086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Child maltreatment is a major risk factor for both depressive and anxiety disorders. However, many children exposed to maltreatment never meet diagnostic threshold for either disorder while experiencing only transitory symptoms post-exposure. Recent research suggests DNA methylation adds predictive value in explaining variation in the onset and course of multiple psychiatric disorders following exposure to child maltreatment. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), the biological aging of cells not attributable to chronological aging, is a stress-sensitive biomarker capturing genome-wide variation in DNA methylation with the potential to identify children who have been maltreated at greatest risk for depressive and anxiety disorders. The current study examined two EAA clocks appropriate for the pediatric population, the Horvath and Pediatric Buccal Epigenetic (PedBE) clocks, and their associations with depressive and anxiety symptom severity following child maltreatment. Children (N = 71) 8-15 years of age, all of whom were exposed to substantiated child maltreatment in the 12 months prior to study entry, were enrolled. Risk modeling adjusting for several confounders revealed that EAA estimated via the Horvath clock was significantly associated with more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms. The PedBE clock was not associated with either depressive or anxiety symptom severity. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that EAA via the Horvath clock robustly predicted depressive and anxiety symptom severity across multiple modeling scenarios. Our findings advance existing research suggesting EAA, as estimated with the Horvath clock, may be a promising biomarker for identifying children at greatest risk for more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms following maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Z Zhang
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Camille Moeckel
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| | - Manal Mustafa
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| | - Hung Pham
- The Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Anneke E Olson
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Divya Mehta
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Lorah D Dorn
- Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Christopher G Engeland
- Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Chad E Shenk
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Zhou A, Ryan J. Biological Embedding of Early-Life Adversity and a Scoping Review of the Evidence for Intergenerational Epigenetic Transmission of Stress and Trauma in Humans. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1639. [PMID: 37628690 PMCID: PMC10454883 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe or chronic stress and trauma can have a detrimental impact on health. Evidence suggests that early-life adversity can become biologically embedded and has the potential to influence health outcomes decades later. Epigenetics is one mechanism that has been implicated in these long-lasting effects. Observational studies in humans indicate that the effects of stress could even persist across generations, although whether or not epigenetic mechanisms are involved remains under debate. Here, we provide an overview of studies in animals and humans that demonstrate the effects of early-life stress on DNA methylation, one of the most widely studied epigenetic mechanisms, and summarize findings from animal models demonstrating the involvement of epigenetics in the transmission of stress across generations. We then describe the results of a scoping review to determine the extent to which the terms intergenerational or transgenerational have been used in human studies investigating the transmission of trauma and stress via epigenetic mechanisms. We end with a discussion of key areas for future research to advance understanding of the role of epigenetics in the legacy effects of stress and trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoshuang Zhou
- Division of Epidemiology, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joanne Ryan
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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37
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Lussier AA, Zhu Y, Smith BJ, Cerutti J, Fisher J, Melton PE, Wood NM, Cohen-Woods S, Huang RC, Mitchell C, Schneper L, Notterman DA, Simpkin AJ, Smith ADAC, Suderman MJ, Walton E, Relton CL, Ressler KJ, Dunn EC. Association between the timing of childhood adversity and epigenetic patterns across childhood and adolescence: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective cohort. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2023; 7:532-543. [PMID: 37327798 PMCID: PMC10527482 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00127-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood adversity is a potent determinant of health across development and is associated with altered DNA methylation signatures, which might be more common in children exposed during sensitive periods in development. However, it remains unclear whether adversity has persistent epigenetic associations across childhood and adolescence. We aimed to examine the relationship between time-varying adversity (defined through sensitive period, accumulation of risk, and recency life course hypotheses) and genome-wide DNA methylation, measured three times from birth to adolescence, using data from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. METHODS We first investigated the relationship between the timing of exposure to childhood adversity between birth and 11 years and blood DNA methylation at age 15 years in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective cohort study. Our analytic sample included ALSPAC participants with DNA methylation data and complete childhood adversity data between birth and 11 years. We analysed seven types of adversity (caregiver physical or emotional abuse, sexual or physical abuse [by anyone], maternal psychopathology, one-adult households, family instability, financial hardship, and neighbourhood disadvantage) reported by mothers five to eight times between birth and 11 years. We used the structured life course modelling approach (SLCMA) to identify time-varying associations between childhood adversity and adolescent DNA methylation. Top loci were identified using an R2 threshold of 0·035 (ie, ≥3·5% of DNA methylation variance explained by adversity). We attempted to replicate these associations using data from the Raine Study and Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). We also assessed the persistence of adversity-DNA methylation associations we previously identified from age 7 blood DNA methylation into adolescence and the influence of adversity on DNA methylation trajectories from ages 0-15 years. FINDINGS Of 13 988 children in the ALSPAC cohort, 609-665 children (311-337 [50-51%] boys and 298-332 [49-50%] girls) had complete data available for at least one of the seven childhood adversities and DNA methylation at 15 years. Exposure to adversity was associated with differences in DNA methylation at 15 years for 41 loci (R2 ≥0·035). Sensitive periods were the most often selected life course hypothesis by the SLCMA. 20 (49%) of 41 loci were associated with adversities occurring between age 3 and 5 years. Exposure to one-adult households was associated with differences in DNA methylation at 20 [49%] of 41 loci, exposure to financial hardship was associated with changes at nine (22%) loci, and physical or sexual abuse was associated with changes at four (10%) loci. We replicated the direction of associations for 18 (90%) of 20 loci associated with exposure to one-adult household using adolescent blood DNA methylation from the Raine Study and 18 (64%) of 28 loci using saliva DNA methylation from the FFCWS. The directions of effects for 11 one-adult household loci were replicated in both cohorts. Differences in DNA methylation at 15 years were not present at 7 years and differences identified at 7 years were no longer apparent by 15 years. We also identified six distinct DNA methylation trajectories from these patterns of stability and persistence. INTERPRETATION These findings highlight the time-varying effect of childhood adversity on DNA methylation profiles across development, which might link exposure to adversity to potential adverse health outcomes in children and adolescents. If replicated, these epigenetic signatures could ultimately serve as biological indicators or early warning signs of initiated disease processes, helping identify people at greater risk for the adverse health consequences of childhood adversity. FUNDING Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Cohort and Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resources, EU's Horizon 2020, US National Institute of Mental Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A Lussier
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Yiwen Zhu
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brooke J Smith
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Janine Cerutti
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonah Fisher
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| | - Phillip E Melton
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia; Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Natasha M Wood
- College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sarah Cohen-Woods
- College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Rae-Chi Huang
- Nutrition Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel A Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Andrew J Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Andrew D A C Smith
- Mathematics and Statistics Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | - Matthew J Suderman
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Esther Walton
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Caroline L Relton
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Erin C Dunn
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Reddy D, Wickman JR, Ajit SK. Epigenetic regulation in opioid induced hyperalgesia. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 14:100146. [PMID: 38099284 PMCID: PMC10719581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
About 25 million American adults experience pain daily and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat pain are opioids. Prolonged opioid usage and dose escalations can cause a paradoxical response where patients experience enhanced pain sensitivity. This opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is a major hurdle when treating pain in the clinic because its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. OIH is also commonly overlooked and lacks guidelines to prevent its onset. Research on pain disorders and opioid usage have recognized potential epigenetic drivers of disease including DNA methylation, histone modifications, miRNA regulation, but their involvement in OIH has not been well studied. This article discusses epigenetic changes that may contribute to pathogenesis, with an emphasis on miRNA alterations in OIH. There is a crucial gap in knowledge including how multiple epigenetic modulators contribute to OIH. Elucidating the epigenetic changes underlying OIH and the crosstalk among these mechanisms could lead to the development of novel targets for the prevention and treatment of this painful phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Reddy
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Jason R. Wickman
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Seena K. Ajit
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
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Jackson P, Spector AL, Strath LJ, Antoine LH, Li P, Goodin BR, Hidalgo BA, Kempf MC, Gonzalez CE, Jones AC, Foster TC, Peterson JA, Quinn T, Huo Z, Fillingim R, Cruz-Almeida Y, Aroke EN. Epigenetic age acceleration mediates the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and pain severity in adults with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis pain. Soc Sci Med 2023; 331:116088. [PMID: 37473540 PMCID: PMC10407756 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116088] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
An estimated 250 million people worldwide suffer from knee osteoarthritis (KOA), with older adults having greater risk. Like other age-related diseases, residents of high-deprivation neighborhoods experience worse KOA pain outcomes compared to their more affluent neighbors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and pain severity in KOA and the influence of epigenetic age acceleration (EpAA) on that relationship. The sample of 128 participants was mostly female (60.9%), approximately half non-Hispanic Black (49.2%), and had a mean age of 58 years. Spearman bivariate correlations revealed that pain severity positively correlated with EpAA (ρ = 0.47, p ≤ 0.001) and neighborhood deprivation (ρ = 0.25, p = 0.004). We found a positive significant relationship between neighborhood deprivation and EpAA (ρ = 0.47, p ≤ 0.001). Results indicate a mediating relationship between neighborhood deprivation (predictor), EpAA (mediator), and pain severity (outcome variable). There was a significant indirect effect of neighborhood deprivation on pain severity through EpAA, as the mediator accounted for a moderate portion of the total effect, PM = 0.44. Epigenetic age acceleration may act as a mechanism through which neighborhood deprivation leads to worse KOA pain outcomes and may play a role in the well-documented relationship between the neighborhood of residence and age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Jackson
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Antoinette L Spector
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA; Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Larissa J Strath
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, 1329 16th Street Southwest, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA; Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Lisa H Antoine
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Peng Li
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Burel R Goodin
- Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA.
| | - Bertha A Hidalgo
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Mirjam-Colette Kempf
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Cesar E Gonzalez
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Alana C Jones
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, 1149 Newell Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Jessica A Peterson
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Tammie Quinn
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Zhiguang Huo
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA.
| | - Roger Fillingim
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, 1329 16th Street Southwest, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA; Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, 1329 16th Street Southwest, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA; Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, 1149 Newell Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Edwin N Aroke
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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Vergunst F, Berry HL, Minor K, Chadi N. Climate Change and Substance-Use Behaviors: A Risk-Pathways Framework. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:936-954. [PMID: 36441663 PMCID: PMC10336608 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221132739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is undermining the mental and physical health of global populations, but the question of how it is affecting substance-use behaviors has not been systematically examined. In this narrative synthesis, we find that climate change could increase harmful substance use worldwide through at least five pathways: psychosocial stress arising from the destabilization of social, environmental, economic, and geopolitical support systems; increased rates of mental disorders; increased physical-health burden; incremental harmful changes to established behavior patterns; and worry about the dangers of unchecked climate change. These pathways could operate independently, additively, interactively, and cumulatively to increase substance-use vulnerability. Young people face disproportionate risks because of their high vulnerability to mental-health problems and substance-use disorders and greater number of life years ahead in which to be exposed to current and worsening climate change. We suggest that systems thinking and developmental life-course approaches provide practical frameworks for conceptualizing this relationship. Further conceptual, methodological, and empirical work is urgently needed to evaluate the nature and scope of this burden so that effective adaptive and preventive action can be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Vergunst
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal
- Ste-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Helen L Berry
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
| | - Kelton Minor
- Center for Social Data Science, University of Copenhagen
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University
| | - Nicholas Chadi
- Ste-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
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Weng X, Zhu Q, Liao C, Jiang G. Cumulative Exposure to Phthalates and Their Alternatives and Associated Female Reproductive Health: Body Burdens, Adverse Outcomes, and Underlying Mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37196176 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The global birth rate has recently shown a decreasing trend, and exposure to environmental pollutants has been identified as a potential factor affecting female reproductive health. Phthalates have been widely used as plasticizers in plastic containers, children's toys, and medical devices, and their ubiquitous presence and endocrine-disrupting potential have already raised particular concerns. Phthalate exposure has been linked to various adverse health outcomes, including reproductive diseases. Given that many phthalates are gradually being banned, a growing number of phthalate alternatives are becoming popular, such as di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP), and they are beginning to have a wide range of environmental effects. Studies have shown that many phthalate alternatives may disrupt female reproductive function by altering the estrous cycle, causing ovarian follicular atresia, and prolonging the gestational cycle, which raises growing concerns about their potential health risks. Herein, we summarize the effects of phthalates and their common alternatives in different female models, the exposure levels that influence the reproductive system, and the effects on female reproductive impairment, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and offspring development. Additionally, we scrutinize the effects of phthalates and their alternatives on hormone signaling, oxidative stress, and intracellular signaling to explore the underlying mechanisms of action on female reproductive health, because these chemicals may affect reproductive tissues directly or indirectly through endocrine disruption. Given the declining global trends of female reproductive capacity and the potential ability of phthalates and their alternatives to negatively impact female reproductive health, a more comprehensive study is needed to understand their effects on the human body and their underlying mechanisms. These findings may have an important role in improving female reproductive health and in turn decreasing the number of complications during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyu Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingqing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chunyang Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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42
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Hagenbeek FA, Hirzinger JS, Breunig S, Bruins S, Kuznetsov DV, Schut K, Odintsova VV, Boomsma DI. Maximizing the value of twin studies in health and behaviour. Nat Hum Behav 2023:10.1038/s41562-023-01609-6. [PMID: 37188734 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01609-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the classical twin design, researchers compare trait resemblance in cohorts of identical and non-identical twins to understand how genetic and environmental factors correlate with resemblance in behaviour and other phenotypes. The twin design is also a valuable tool for studying causality, intergenerational transmission, and gene-environment correlation and interaction. Here we review recent developments in twin studies, recent results from twin studies of new phenotypes and recent insights into twinning. We ask whether the results of existing twin studies are representative of the general population and of global diversity, and we conclude that stronger efforts to increase representativeness are needed. We provide an updated overview of twin concordance and discordance for major diseases and mental disorders, which conveys a crucial message: genetic influences are not as deterministic as many believe. This has important implications for public understanding of genetic risk prediction tools, as the accuracy of genetic predictions can never exceed identical twin concordance rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona A Hagenbeek
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jana S Hirzinger
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sophie Breunig
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Susanne Bruins
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dmitry V Kuznetsov
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Faculty of Sociology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kirsten Schut
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Nightingale Health Plc, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Veronika V Odintsova
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction & Development (AR&D) Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center of Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Reproduction & Development (AR&D) Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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43
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Czaja AJ. Incorporating the Molecular Mimicry of Environmental Antigens into the Causality of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Dig Dis Sci 2023:10.1007/s10620-023-07967-5. [PMID: 37160542 PMCID: PMC10169207 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-07967-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mimicry between foreign and self-antigens has been implicated as a cause of autoimmune hepatitis in experimental models and cross-reacting antibodies in patients. This review describes the experimental and clinical evidence for molecular mimicry as a cause of autoimmune hepatitis, indicates the limitations and uncertainties of this premise, and encourages investigations that assess diverse environmental antigens as sources of disease-relevant molecular mimics. Pertinent articles were identified in PubMed using multiple search phrases. Several pathogens have linear or conformational epitopes that mimic the self-antigens of autoimmune hepatitis. The occurrence of an acute immune-mediated hepatitis after vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has suggested that vaccine-induced peptides may mimic disease-relevant tissue antigens. The intestinal microbiome is an under-evaluated source of gut-derived antigens that could also engage in molecular mimicry. Chaperone molecules may enhance the pathogenicity of molecular mimics, and they warrant investigation. Molecular mimics of immune dominant epitopes within cytochrome P450 IID6, the autoantigen most closely associated with autoimmune hepatitis, should be sought in diverse environmental antigens and assessed for pathogenicity. Avoidance strategies, dietary adjustments, vaccine improvement, and targeted manipulation of the intestinal microbiota may emerge as therapeutic possibilities. In conclusion, molecular mimicry may be a missing causality of autoimmune hepatitis. Molecular mimics of key immune dominant epitopes of disease-specific antigens must be sought in diverse environmental antigens. The ubiquity of molecular mimicry compels rigorous assessments of peptide mimics for immunogenicity and pathogenicity in experimental models. Molecular mimicry may complement epigenetic modifications as causative mechanisms of autoimmune hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Czaja
- Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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Zúñiga-Hernández JM, Olivares GH, Olguín P, Glavic A. Low-nutrient diet in Drosophila larvae stage causes enhancement in dopamine modulation in adult brain due epigenetic imprinting. Open Biol 2023; 13:230049. [PMID: 37161288 PMCID: PMC10170216 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrient scarcity is a frequent adverse condition that organisms face during their development. This condition may lead to long-lasting effects on the metabolism and behaviour of adults due to developmental epigenetic modifications. Here, we show that reducing nutrient availability during larval development affects adult spontaneous activity and sleep behaviour, together with changes in gene expression and epigenetic marks in the mushroom bodies (MBs). We found that open chromatin regions map to 100 of 241 transcriptionally upregulated genes in the adult MBs, these new opening zones are preferentially located in regulatory zones such as promoter-TSS and introns. Importantly, opened chromatin at the Dopamine 1-like receptor 2 regulatory zones correlate with increased expression. In consequence, adult administration of a dopamine antagonist reverses increased spontaneous activity and diminished sleep time observed in response to early-life nutrient restriction. In comparison, reducing dop1R2 expression in MBs also ameliorates these effects, albeit to a lesser degree. These results lead to the conclusion that increased dopamine signalling in the MBs of flies reared in a poor nutritional environment underlies the behavioural changes observed due to this condition during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Zúñiga-Hernández
- Laboratorio Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Gonzalo H Olivares
- Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Center of Integrative Biology (CIB), Universidad Mayor, Chile
| | - Patricio Olguín
- Programa de Genética Humana, ICBM, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Departamento de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Alvaro Glavic
- Laboratorio Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Chile
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van Oers K, van den Heuvel K, Sepers B. The Epigenetics of Animal Personality. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105194. [PMID: 37094740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Animal personality, consistent individual differences in behaviour, is an important concept for understanding how individuals vary in how they cope with environmental challenges. In order to understand the evolutionary significance of animal personality, it is crucial to understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation are hypothesised to play a major role in explaining variation in phenotypic changes in response to environmental alterations. Several characteristics of DNA methylation also align well with the concept of animal personality. In this review paper, we summarise the current literature on the role that molecular epigenetic mechanisms may have in explaining personality variation. We elaborate on the potential for epigenetic mechanisms to explain behavioural variation, behavioural development and temporal consistency in behaviour. We then suggest future routes for this emerging field and point to potential pitfalls that may be encountered. We conclude that a more inclusive approach is needed for studying the epigenetics of animal personality and that epigenetic mechanisms cannot be studied without considering the genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Krista van den Heuvel
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bernice Sepers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands; Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Chan MHM, Merrill SM, Konwar C, Kobor MS. An integrative framework and recommendations for the study of DNA methylation in the context of race and ethnicity. DISCOVER SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH 2023; 3:9. [PMID: 37122633 PMCID: PMC10118232 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00039-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Human social epigenomics research is critical to elucidate the intersection of social and genetic influences underlying racial and ethnic differences in health and development. However, this field faces major challenges in both methodology and interpretation with regard to disentangling confounded social and biological aspects of race and ethnicity. To address these challenges, we discuss how these constructs have been approached in the past and how to move forward in studying DNA methylation (DNAm), one of the best-characterized epigenetic marks in humans, in a responsible and appropriately nuanced manner. We highlight self-reported racial and ethnic identity as the primary measure in this field, and discuss its implications in DNAm research. Racial and ethnic identity reflects the biological embedding of an individual's sociocultural experience and environmental exposures in combination with the underlying genetic architecture of the human population (i.e., genetic ancestry). Our integrative framework demonstrates how to examine DNAm in the context of race and ethnicity, while considering both intrinsic factors-including genetic ancestry-and extrinsic factors-including structural and sociocultural environment and developmental niches-when focusing on early-life experience. We reviewed DNAm research in relation to health disparities given its relevance to race and ethnicity as social constructs. Here, we provide recommendations for the study of DNAm addressing racial and ethnic differences, such as explicitly acknowledging the self-reported nature of racial and ethnic identity, empirically examining the effects of genetic variants and accounting for genetic ancestry, and investigating race-related and culturally regulated environmental exposures and experiences. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44155-023-00039-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meingold Hiu-ming Chan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Sarah M. Merrill
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Chaini Konwar
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- Edwin S. H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
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Mendonça MS, Mangiavacchi PM, Mendes AV, Loureiro SR, Martín-Santos R, Glória LS, Marques W, De Marco SPG, Kanashiro MM, Hallak JEC, Crippa JAS, Rios ÁFL. DNA methylation in regulatory elements of the FKBP5 and NR3C1 gene in mother-child binomials with depression. J Affect Disord 2023; 331:287-299. [PMID: 36933666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.031] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The FKBP5 and NR3C1 genes play an important role in stress response, thus impacting mental health. Stress factor exposure in early life, such as maternal depression, may contribute to epigenetic modifications in stress response genes, increasing the susceptibility to different psychopathologies. The present study aimed to evaluate the DNA methylation profile in maternal-infant depression in regulatory regions of the FKBP5 gene and the alternative promoter of the NR3C1 gene. METHODS We evaluated 60 mother-infant pairs. The levels of DNA methylation were analyzed by the MSRED-qPCR technique. RESULTS We observed an increased DNA methylation profile in the NR3C1 gene promoter in children with depression and children exposed to maternal depression (p < 0.05). In addition, we observed a correlation of DNA methylation between mothers and offspring exposed to maternal depression. This correlation shows a possible intergenerational effect of maternal MDD exposure on the offspring. For FKBP5, we found a decrease in DNA methylation at intron 7 in children exposed to maternal MDD during pregnancy and a correlation of DNA methylation between mothers and children exposed to maternal MDD (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS Although the individuals of this study are a rare group, the sample size of the study was small, and we evaluated the DNA methylation of only one CpG site for each region. CONCLUSION These results indicate changes in DNA methylation levels in regulatory regions of FKBP5 and NR3C1 in the mother-child MDD context and represent a potential target of studies to understand the depression etiology and how it occurs between generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana S Mendonça
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Paula M Mangiavacchi
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Animal Breeding, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Ana V Mendes
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil
| | - Sonia R Loureiro
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil
| | - Rocio Martín-Santos
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic, Institut d' Investigacions Biomedicas August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Neurociencias, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Leonardo S Glória
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Wilson Marques
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil
| | - Silmara P G De Marco
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil
| | - Milton M Kanashiro
- Laboratory of Recognition Biology, North Fluminense State University (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Jaime E C Hallak
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José A S Crippa
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Translacional em Medicina Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Álvaro F L Rios
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil.
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48
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Grobman WA, Entringer S, Headen I, Janevic T, Kahn RS, Simhan H, Yee LM, Howell EA. Executive summary: Workshop on social determinants of health and obstetrical outcomes, February 1-2, 2022, cosponsored by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the Commonwealth Foundation, and the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, with support from the Society for Women's Health Research. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 228:B18-B24. [PMID: 36473505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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49
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Xia M, Yan R, Kim MH, Xu X. Tet Enzyme-Mediated Response in Environmental Stress and Stress-Related Psychiatric Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1594-1608. [PMID: 36534335 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03168-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mental disorders caused by stress have become a worldwide public health problem. These mental disorders are often the results of a combination of genes and environment, in which epigenetic modifications play a crucial role. At present, the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder or depression caused by environmental stress are not entirely clear. Although many epigenetic modifications affect gene regulation, the most well-known modification in eukaryotic cells is the DNA methylation of CpG islands. Stress causes changes in DNA methylation in the brain to participate in the neuronal function or mood-modulating behaviors, and these epigenetic modifications can be passed on to offspring. Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) enzymes are the 5-methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylases of DNA, which recognize 5mC on the DNA sequence and oxidize it to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). Tet regulates gene expression at the transcriptional level through the demethylation of DNA. This review will elaborate on the molecular mechanism and the functions of Tet enzymes in environmental stress-related disorders and discuss future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Xia
- Departments of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, 215006, China.,Department of Physiology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul City, 03080, Korea
| | - Rui Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Myoung-Hwan Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul City, 03080, Korea.
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Departments of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, 215006, China. .,Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.
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50
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Faul JD, Kim JK, Levine ME, Thyagarajan B, Weir DR, Crimmins EM. Epigenetic-based age acceleration in a representative sample of older Americans: Associations with aging-related morbidity and mortality. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215840120. [PMID: 36802439 PMCID: PMC9992763 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215840120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers developed from DNA methylation (DNAm) data are of growing interest as predictors of health outcomes and mortality in older populations. However, it is unknown how epigenetic aging fits within the context of known socioeconomic and behavioral associations with aging-related health outcomes in a large, population-based, and diverse sample. This study uses data from a representative, panel study of US older adults to examine the relationship between DNAm-based age acceleration measures in the prediction of cross-sectional and longitudinal health outcomes and mortality. We examine whether recent improvements to these scores, using principal component (PC)-based measures designed to remove some of the technical noise and unreliability in measurement, improve the predictive capability of these measures. We also examine how well DNAm-based measures perform against well-known predictors of health outcomes such as demographics, SES, and health behaviors. In our sample, age acceleration calculated using "second and third generation clocks," PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE, is consistently a significant predictor of health outcomes including cross-sectional cognitive dysfunction, functional limitations and chronic conditions assessed 2 y after DNAm measurement, and 4-y mortality. PC-based epigenetic age acceleration measures do not significantly change the relationship of DNAm-based age acceleration measures to health outcomes or mortality compared to earlier versions of these measures. While the usefulness of DNAm-based age acceleration as a predictor of later life health outcomes is quite clear, other factors such as demographics, SES, mental health, and health behaviors remain equally, if not more robust, predictors of later life outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D. Faul
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48104
| | - Jung Ki Kim
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Morgan E. Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
| | - Bharat Thyagarajan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - David R. Weir
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48104
| | - Eileen M. Crimmins
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
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