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Paes T, Feelders RA, Hofland LJ. Epigenetic Mechanisms Modulated by Glucocorticoids With a Focus on Cushing Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:e1424-e1433. [PMID: 38517306 PMCID: PMC11099489 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In Cushing syndrome (CS), prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels results in a wide range of devastating effects causing multisystem morbidity. Despite the efficacy of treatment leading to disease remission and clinical improvement, hypercortisolism-induced complications may persist. Since glucocorticoids use the epigenetic machinery as a mechanism of action to modulate gene expression, the persistence of some comorbidities may be mediated by hypercortisolism-induced long-lasting epigenetic changes. Additionally, glucocorticoids influence microRNA expression, which is an important epigenetic regulator as it modulates gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Evidence suggests that chronically elevated glucocorticoid levels may induce aberrant microRNA expression which may impact several cellular processes resulting in cardiometabolic disorders. The present article reviews the evidence on epigenetic changes induced by (long-term) glucocorticoid exposure. Key aspects of some glucocorticoid-target genes and their implications in the context of CS are described. Lastly, the effects of epigenetic drugs influencing glucocorticoid effects are discussed for their ability to be potentially used as adjunctive therapy in CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ticiana Paes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
| | - Richard A Feelders
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leo J Hofland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Eachus H, Ryu S. Glucocorticoid effects on the brain: from adaptive developmental plasticity to allostatic overload. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246128. [PMID: 38449327 PMCID: PMC10949071 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246128] [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: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to stress during early life may alter the developmental trajectory of an animal by a mechanism known as adaptive plasticity. For example, to enhance reproductive success in an adverse environment, it is known that animals accelerate their growth during development. However, these short-term fitness benefits are often associated with reduced longevity, a phenomenon known as the growth rate-lifespan trade-off. In humans, early life stress exposure compromises health later in life and increases disease susceptibility. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are major stress hormones implicated in these processes. This Review discusses the evidence for GC-mediated adaptive plasticity in development, leading to allostatic overload in later life. We focus on GC-induced effects on brain structure and function, including neurogenesis; highlight the need for longitudinal studies; and discuss approaches to identify molecular mechanisms mediating GC-induced alteration of the brain developmental trajectory leading to adult dysfunctions. Further understanding of how stress and GC exposure can alter developmental trajectories at the molecular and cellular level is of critical importance to reduce the burden of mental and physical ill health across the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute & Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute & Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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3
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Best C, Mennigen JA, Gilmour KM. Exploring transcriptional and post-transcriptional epigenetic regulation of crf and 11βhsd2 in rainbow trout brain during chronic social stress. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 288:111557. [PMID: 38043640 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111557] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Using dominance hierarchies in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as a model of chronic social stress in fish, we explored whether epigenetic transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms are involved in the gene expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βhsd2), key factors involved in the regulation of the endocrine stress axis response. In juvenile rainbow trout pairs, subordinate individuals display sustained elevation of circulating cortisol concentrations. Cortisol production is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in fish and initiated by CRF release from the preoptic area (POA). Given that crf is modulated during chronic social stress, and that such stress has been implicated in the epigenetic regulation of crf in other taxa, we probed a role for epigenetic regulation of crf transcript abundance in chronically stressed rainbow trout. We also investigated the regulation of the cortisol-metabolising enzyme 11βhsd2 in the POA, which is upregulated in subordinates. The potential involvement of DNA methylation and microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of crf transcript abundance was investigated during social stress in the POA of fish, as was the potential involvement of miRNAs in 11βhsd2 regulation. Although transcript abundances of crf were elevated in subordinate fish after 4 days, DNA methylation profiles within putative promoter sequences upstream of the crf gene were not significantly affected by chronic stress. An inverse relationship between crf and its predicted posttranscriptional regulator miR-103a-3p in the POA suggests that miRNAs may be involved in mediating the effects of chronic social stress on key components of the endocrine stress axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Best
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Jan A Mennigen
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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4
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Arcego DM, Buschdorf JP, O'Toole N, Wang Z, Barth B, Pokhvisneva I, Rayan NA, Patel S, de Mendonça Filho EJ, Lee P, Tan J, Koh MX, Sim CM, Parent C, de Lima RMS, Clappison A, O'Donnell KJ, Dalmaz C, Arloth J, Provençal N, Binder EB, Diorio J, Silveira PP, Meaney MJ. A Glucocorticoid-Sensitive Hippocampal Gene Network Moderates the Impact of Early-Life Adversity on Mental Health Outcomes. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:48-61. [PMID: 37406925 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.06.028] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early stress increases the risk for psychiatric disorders. Glucocorticoids are stress mediators that regulate transcriptional activity and morphology in the hippocampus, which is implicated in the pathophysiology of multiple psychiatric conditions. We aimed to establish the relevance of hippocampal glucocorticoid-induced transcriptional activity as a mediator of the effects of early life on later psychopathology in humans. METHODS RNA sequencing was performed with anterior and posterior hippocampal dentate gyrus from adult female macaques (n = 12/group) that were chronically treated with betamethasone (glucocorticoid receptor agonist) or vehicle. Coexpression network analysis identified a preserved gene network in the posterior hippocampal dentate gyrus that was strongly associated with glucocorticoid exposure. The single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes in this network were used to create an expression-based polygenic score in humans. RESULTS The expression-based polygenic score significantly moderated the association between early adversity and psychotic disorders in adulthood (UK Biobank, women, n = 44,519) and on child peer relations (ALSPAC [Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children], girls, n = 1666 for 9-year-olds and n = 1594 for 11-year-olds), an endophenotype for later psychosis. Analyses revealed that this network was enriched for glucocorticoid-induced epigenetic remodeling in human hippocampal cells. We also found a significant association between single nucleotide polymorphisms from the expression-based polygenic score and adult brain gray matter density. CONCLUSIONS We provide an approach for the use of transcriptomic data from animal models together with human data to study the impact of environmental influences on mental health. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that hippocampal glucocorticoid-related transcriptional activity mediates the effects of early adversity on neural mechanisms implicated in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danusa Mar Arcego
- Douglas Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Jan-Paul Buschdorf
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Nicholas O'Toole
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Zihan Wang
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Barbara Barth
- Douglas Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Irina Pokhvisneva
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sachin Patel
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Patrick Lee
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jennifer Tan
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ming Xuan Koh
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Chu Ming Sim
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Carine Parent
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Clappison
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kieran J O'Donnell
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Carla Dalmaz
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Janine Arloth
- Department Genes and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nadine Provençal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department Genes and Environment, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Josie Diorio
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Patrícia Pelufo Silveira
- Douglas Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Douglas Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Brain Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore
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5
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Lo JO, D’Mello RJ, Watch L, Schust DJ, Murphy SK. An epigenetic synopsis of parental substance use. Epigenomics 2023; 15:453-473. [PMID: 37282544 PMCID: PMC10308258 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0064] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The rate of substance use is rising, especially among reproductive-age individuals. Emerging evidence suggests that paternal pre-conception and maternal prenatal substance use may alter offspring epigenetic regulation (changes to gene expression without modifying DNA) and outcomes later in life, including neurodevelopment and mental health. However, relatively little is known due to the complexities and limitations of existing studies, making causal interpretations challenging. This review examines the contributions and influence of parental substance use on the gametes and potential transmissibility to the offspring's epigenome as possible areas to target public health warnings and healthcare provider counseling of individuals or couples in the pre-conception and prenatal periods to ultimately mitigate short- and long-term offspring morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie O Lo
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Rahul J D’Mello
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Lester Watch
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Danny J Schust
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA; Division of Environmental Sciences & Policy, Duke Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
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Peng X, Zhang W, Cui W, Ding B, Lyu Q, Wang J. ADmeth: A Manually Curated Database for the Differential Methylation in Alzheimer's Disease. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 20:843-851. [PMID: 35617175 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2022.3178087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease. More and more evidence show that DNA methylation is closely related to the pathological mechanism of AD. Many AD-associated differentially methylated genes, regions and CpG sites have been identified in recent researches, which may have great potential in clinical research. However, there is no dedicated database to collect AD-related differential methylation up to now. To provide a reference to researchers, we design a database named ADmeth by manually curating relevant articles, which contains a total of 16,709 AD-related differentially methylated items identified from different brain regions and different cell types in the blood, involving 209 genes, 2,229 regions and 14,271 CpG sites. The ADmeth database provides user-friendly pages to search, submit and download data. We hope that the ADmeth database can facilitate researchers to select candidate AD-associated methylation markers in revealing the pathological mechanism of AD and promote the cell-free DNA based non-invasive diagnosis of AD. The ADmeth database is available at http://www.biobdlab.cn/ADmeth.
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Sallam M, Mysara M, Benotmane MA, Crijns APG, Spoor D, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Deforce D, Baatout S, Guns PJ, Aerts A, Ramadan R. DNA Methylation Alterations in Fractionally Irradiated Rats and Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:16214. [PMID: 36555856 PMCID: PMC9783664 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-Induced CardioVascular Disease (RICVD) is an important concern in thoracic radiotherapy with complex underlying pathophysiology. Recently, we proposed DNA methylation as a possible mechanism contributing to RICVD. The current study investigates DNA methylation in heart-irradiated rats and radiotherapy-treated breast cancer (BC) patients. Rats received fractionated whole heart X-irradiation (0, 0.92, 6.9 and 27.6 Gy total doses) and blood was collected after 1.5, 3, 7 and 12 months. Global and gene-specific methylation of the samples were evaluated; and gene expression of selected differentially methylated regions (DMRs) was validated in rat and BC patient blood. In rats receiving an absorbed dose of 27.6 Gy, DNA methylation alterations were detected up to 7 months with differential expression of cardiac-relevant DMRs. Of those, SLMAP showed increased expression at 1.5 months, which correlated with hypomethylation. Furthermore, E2F6 inversely correlated with a decreased global longitudinal strain. In BC patients, E2F6 and SLMAP exhibited differential expression directly and 6 months after radiotherapy, respectively. This study describes a systemic radiation fingerprint at the DNA methylation level, elucidating a possible association of DNA methylation to RICVD pathophysiology, to be validated in future mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magy Sallam
- Radiobiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mohamed Mysara
- Radiobiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Anne P. G. Crijns
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Spoor
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Baatout
- Radiobiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter-Jan Guns
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - An Aerts
- Radiobiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Raghda Ramadan
- Radiobiology Unit, Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, 2400 Mol, Belgium
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Chronic stress-driven glucocorticoid receptor activation programs key cell phenotypes and functional epigenomic patterns in human fibroblasts. iScience 2022; 25:104960. [PMID: 36065188 PMCID: PMC9440308 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic environmental stress can profoundly impact cell and body function. Although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, epigenetics has emerged as a key link between environment and health. The genomic effects of stress are thought to be mediated by the action of glucocorticoid stress hormones, primarily cortisol in humans, which act via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). To dissect how chronic stress-driven GR activation influences epigenetic and cell states, human fibroblasts underwent prolonged exposure to physiological stress levels of cortisol and/or a selective GR antagonist. Cortisol was found to drive robust changes in cell proliferation, migration, and morphology, which were abrogated by concomitant GR blockade. The GR-driven cell phenotypes were accompanied by widespread, yet genomic context-dependent, changes in DNA methylation and mRNA expression, including gene loci with known roles in cell proliferation and migration. These findings provide insights into how chronic stress-driven functional epigenomic patterns become established to shape key cell phenotypes. Physiological stress levels of cortisol drive robust changes in key cell phenotypes Stress-driven changes in cell phenotypes are abrogated by concomitant GR blockade GR activation induces functional and phenotypically relevant epigenomic changes
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9
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Corticosterone induces discrete epigenetic signatures in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus that depend upon sex and genotype: focus on methylated Nr3c1 gene. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:109. [PMID: 35296634 PMCID: PMC8927334 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01864-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The genomic effects of circulating glucocorticoids are particularly relevant in cortico-limbic structures, which express a high concentration of steroid hormone receptors. To date, no studies have investigated genomic differences in hippocampal subregions, namely the dorsal (dHPC) and ventral (vHPC) hippocampus, in preclinical models treated with exogenous glucocorticoids. Chronic oral corticosterone (CORT) in mouse is a pharmacological approach that disrupts the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increases affective behavior, and induces genomic changes after stress in the HPC of wildtype (WT) mice and mice heterozygous for the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met (hMet), a variant associated with genetic susceptibility to stress. Using RNA-sequencing, we investigated the genomic signatures of oral CORT in the dHPC and vHPC of WT and hMet male and female mice, and examined sex and genotype differences in response to oral CORT. Males under CORT showed lower glycemia and increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior compared to females that showed instead opposite affective behavior in response to CORT. Rank-rank-hypergeometric overlap (RRHO) was used to identify genes from a continuous gradient of significancy that were concordant across groups. RRHO showed that CORT-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in WT mice and hMet mice converged in the dHPC of males and females, while in the vHPC, DEGs converged in males and diverged in females. The vHPC showed a higher number of DEGs compared to the dHPC and exhibited sex differences related to glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-binding genes and epigenetic modifiers. Methyl-DNA-immunoprecipitation in the vHPC revealed differential methylation of the exons 1C and 1F of the GR gene (Nr3c1) in hMet females. Together, we report behavioral and endocrinological sex differences in response to CORT, as well as epigenetic signatures that i) differ in the dHPC and vHPC,ii) are distinct in males and females, and iii) implicate differential methylation of Nr3c1 selectively in hMet females.
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10
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Armignacco R, Jouinot A, Bouys L, Septier A, Lartigue T, Neou M, Gaspar C, Perlemoine K, Braun L, Riester A, Bonnet-Serrano F, Blanchard A, Amar L, Scaroni C, Ceccato F, Rossi GP, Williams TA, Larsen CK, Allassonnière S, Zennaro MC, Beuschlein F, Reincke M, Bertherat J, Assié G. Identification of glucocorticoid-related molecular signature by whole blood methylome analysis. Eur J Endocrinol 2022; 186:297-308. [PMID: 34914631 PMCID: PMC8789024 DOI: 10.1530/eje-21-0907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cushing's syndrome represents a state of excessive glucocorticoids related to glucocorticoid treatments or to endogenous hypercortisolism. Cushing's syndrome is associated with high morbidity, with significant inter-individual variability. Likewise, adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening condition of cortisol deprivation. Currently, hormone assays contribute to identify Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency. However, no biomarker directly quantifies the biological glucocorticoid action. The aim of this study was to identify such markers. DESIGN We evaluated whole blood DNA methylome in 94 samples obtained from patients with different glucocorticoid states (Cushing's syndrome, eucortisolism, adrenal insufficiency). We used an independent cohort of 91 samples for validation. METHODS Leukocyte DNA was obtained from whole blood samples. Methylome was determined using the Illumina methylation chip array (~850 000 CpG sites). Both unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (Limma) methods were used to explore methylome profiles. A Lasso-penalized regression was used to select optimal discriminating features. RESULTS Whole blood methylation profile was able to discriminate samples by their glucocorticoid status: glucocorticoid excess was associated with DNA hypomethylation, recovering within months after Cushing's syndrome correction. In Cushing's syndrome, an enrichment in hypomethylated CpG sites was observed in the region of FKBP5 gene locus. A methylation predictor of glucocorticoid excess was built on a training cohort and validated on two independent cohorts. Potential CpG sites associated with the risk for specific complications, such as glucocorticoid-related hypertension or osteoporosis, were identified, needing now to be confirmed on independent cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Whole blood DNA methylome is dynamically impacted by glucocorticoids. This biomarker could contribute to better assessment of glucocorticoid action beyond hormone assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Armignacco
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Correspondence should be addressed to R Armignacco or G Assié; or
| | - Anne Jouinot
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Lucas Bouys
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Septier
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Lartigue
- ARAMIS Project-Team, Inria Paris, France
- CMAP, UMR 7641, CNRS, École polytechnique, I.P. Paris, France
| | - Mario Neou
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Cassandra Gaspar
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, UMS Pass, Plateforme Post-génomique de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, P3S, Paris, France
| | - Karine Perlemoine
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
| | - Leah Braun
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Riester
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Fidéline Bonnet-Serrano
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d’Hormonologie, Paris, France
| | - Anne Blanchard
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Centre d’Investigations Cliniques 9201, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Amar
- Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité Hypertension Artérielle, Paris, France
| | - Carla Scaroni
- UOC Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina DIMED, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Ceccato
- UOC Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina DIMED, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Rossi
- Clinica dell’Ipertensione Arteriosa, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Tracy Ann Williams
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria-Christina Zennaro
- Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Génétique, Paris, France
| | - Felix Beuschlein
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Reincke
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jérôme Bertherat
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d’Endocrinologie, Center for Rare Adrenal Diseases, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Assié
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d’Endocrinologie, Center for Rare Adrenal Diseases, Paris, France
- Correspondence should be addressed to R Armignacco or G Assié; or
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11
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Moore SR, Merrill SM, Sekhon B, MacIsaac JL, Kobor MS, Giesbrecht GF, Letourneau N. Infant DNA methylation: an early indicator of intergenerational trauma? Early Hum Dev 2022; 164:105519. [PMID: 34890904 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increases risk for mental and physical health problems. Intergenerationally, mothers' ACEs predict children's health problems including neurodevelopmental and behavioural problems and poorer physical health. Theories of intergenerational trauma suggest that ACEs experienced in one generation negatively affect the health and well-being of future generations, with DNA methylation (DNAm) being one of several potential biological explanations. To begin exploring this hypothesis, we tested whether infant DNA methylation associated with intergenerational trauma. Secondary analysis employed data from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study. Subsample data were collected from mothers during pregnancy and postpartum on measures of distress, stress and ACEs and from infants at 3 months of age on DNAm from blood (n = 92) and buccal epithelial cells (BECs; n = 124; primarily nonoverlapping individuals between tissues). Blood and BECs were examined in separate analyses. Preliminary associations identified in blood and BECs suggest that infant DNAm patterns may relate to maternal ACEs. For the majority of ACE-related DNAm sites, neither maternal perinatal distress, nor maternal cortisol awakening response (CAR; a measure of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function), substantially reduced associations between maternal ACEs and infant DNAm. However, accounting for maternal perinatal distress and cortisol substantially changed the effect of ACEs in a greater proportion of blood DNAm sites than BEC DNAm sites in the top ACEs-associated correlated methylated regions (CMRs), as well as across all CMRs and all remaining CpGs (that did not fall into CMRs). Possible DNAm patterns in infants, thus, might capture a signature of maternal intergenerational trauma, and this effect appears to be more dependent on maternal perinatal distress and CAR in blood relative to BECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Moore
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah M Merrill
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bikram Sekhon
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Pediatrics & Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Pediatrics & Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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12
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Lee RS, Zandi PP, Santos A, Aulinas A, Carey JL, Webb SM, McCaul ME, Resmini E, Wand GS. Cross-species Association Between Telomere Length and Glucocorticoid Exposure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e5124-e5135. [PMID: 34265046 PMCID: PMC8787853 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) or stress increases the risk of medical disorders, including cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric disorders. GCs contribute to accelerated aging; however, while the link between chronic GC exposure and disease onset is well established, the underpinning mechanisms are not clear. OBJECTIVE We explored the potential nexus between GCs or stress exposure and telomere length. METHODS In addition to rats exposed to 3 weeks of chronic stress, an iatrogenic mouse model of Cushing syndrome (CS), and a mouse neuronal cell line, we studied 32 patients with CS and age-matched controls and another cohort of 75 healthy humans. RESULTS (1) Exposure to stress in rats was associated with a 54.5% (P = 0.036) reduction in telomere length in T cells. Genomic DNA (gDNA) extracted from the dentate gyrus of stressed and unstressed rats showed 43.2% reduction in telomere length (P = 0.006). (2) Mice exposed to corticosterone had a 61.4% reduction in telomere length in blood gDNA (P = 5.75 × 10-5) and 58.8% reduction in telomere length in the dentate gyrus (P = 0.002). (3) We observed a 40.8% reduction in the telomere length in patients with active CS compared to healthy controls (P = 0.006). There was a 17.8% reduction in telomere length in cured CS patients, which was not different from that of healthy controls (P = 0.08). For both cured and active CS, telomere length correlated significantly with duration of hypercortisolism (R2 = 0.22, P = 0.007). (4) There was a 27.6% reduction in telomere length between low and high tertiles in bedtime cortisol levels of healthy participants (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that exposure to stress and/or GCs is associated with shortened telomeres, which may be partially reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Peter P Zandi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alicia Santos
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Aulinas
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jenny L Carey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Susan M Webb
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mary E McCaul
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Eugenia Resmini
- Correspondence: Eugenia Resmini, MD, PhD, Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, CIBER-ER, Unit747, IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gary S Wand
- Gary S. Wand, MD, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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13
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Naturalistic Stress Hormone Levels Drive Cumulative Epigenomic Changes along the Cellular Lifespan. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168778. [PMID: 34445485 PMCID: PMC8395735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental stress is ubiquitous in modern societies and can exert a profound and cumulative impact on cell function and health phenotypes. This impact is thought to be in large part mediated by the action of glucocorticoid stress hormones, primarily cortisol in humans. While the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear, epigenetics-the chemical changes that regulate genomic function without altering the genetic code-has emerged as a key link between environmental exposures and phenotypic outcomes. The present study assessed genome-wide DNA (CpG) methylation, one of the key epigenetic mechanisms, at three timepoints during prolonged (51-day) exposure of cultured human fibroblasts to naturalistic cortisol levels, which can be reached in human tissues during in vivo stress. The findings support a spatiotemporal model of profound and widespread stress hormone-driven methylomic changes that emerge at selected CpG sites, are more likely to spread to nearby located CpGs, and quantitatively accrue at open sea, glucocorticoid receptor binding, and chromatin-accessible sites. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights into how prolonged stress may impact the epigenome, with potentially important implications for stress-related phenotypes.
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14
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Stephen JM, Solis I, Janowich J, Stern M, Frenzel MR, Eastman JA, Mills MS, Embury CM, Coolidge NM, Heinrichs-Graham E, Mayer A, Liu J, Wang YP, Wilson TW, Calhoun VD. The Developmental Chronnecto-Genomics (Dev-CoG) study: A multimodal study on the developing brain. Neuroimage 2020; 225:117438. [PMID: 33039623 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain development has largely been studied through unimodal analysis of neuroimaging data, providing independent results for structural and functional data. However, structure clearly impacts function and vice versa, pointing to the need for performing multimodal data collection and analysis to improve our understanding of brain development, and to further inform models of typical and atypical brain development across the lifespan. Ultimately, such models should also incorporate genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying brain structure and function, although currently this area is poorly specified. To this end, we are reporting here a multi-site, multi-modal dataset that captures cognitive function, brain structure and function, and genetic and epigenetic measures to better quantify the factors that influence brain development in children originally aged 9-14 years. Data collection for the Developmental Chronnecto-Genomics (Dev-CoG) study (http://devcog.mrn.org/) includes cognitive, emotional, and social performance scales, structural and functional MRI, diffusion MRI, magnetoencephalography (MEG), and saliva collection for DNA analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and DNA methylation patterns. Across two sites (The Mind Research Network and the University of Nebraska Medical Center), data from over 200 participants were collected and these children were re-tested annually for at least 3 years. The data collection protocol, sample demographics, and data quality measures for the dataset are presented here. The sample will be made freely available through the collaborative informatics and neuroimaging suite (COINS) database at the conclusion of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Stephen
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - I Solis
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - J Janowich
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - M Stern
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - M R Frenzel
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - J A Eastman
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - M S Mills
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - C M Embury
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - N M Coolidge
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | | | - A Mayer
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - J Liu
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Y P Wang
- Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - T W Wilson
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - V D Calhoun
- The Mind Research Network a division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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15
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Güiza F, Vanhorebeek I, Verstraete S, Verlinden I, Derese I, Ingels C, Dulfer K, Verbruggen SC, Garcia Guerra G, Joosten KF, Wouters PJ, Van den Berghe G. Effect of early parenteral nutrition during paediatric critical illness on DNA methylation as a potential mediator of impaired neurocognitive development: a pre-planned secondary analysis of the PEPaNIC international randomised controlled trial. THE LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2020; 8:288-303. [DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(20)30046-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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16
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Littlejohn BP, Price DM, Neuendorff DA, Carroll JA, Vann RC, Riggs PK, Riley DG, Long CR, Randel RD, Welsh TH. Influence of prenatal transportation stress-induced differential DNA methylation on the physiological control of behavior and stress response in suckling Brahman bull calves. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:skz368. [PMID: 31807776 PMCID: PMC6986441 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to examine potential differential methylation of DNA as a mechanism for altered behavioral and stress responses in prenatally stressed (PNS) compared with nonprenatally stressed (Control) young bull calves. Mature Brahman cows (n = 48) were transported for 2-h periods at 60 ± 5, 80 ± 5, 100 ± 5, 120 ± 5, and 140 ± 5 d of gestation (Transported group) or maintained as nontransported Controls (n = 48). From the offspring born to Transported and Control cows, a subset of 28-d-old intact bulls (n = 7 PNS; n = 7 Control) were evaluated for methylation of DNA of behavior and stress response-associated genes. Methylation of DNA from white blood cells was assessed via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing methods. Because increased methylation of DNA within gene promoter regions has been associated with decreased transcriptional activity of the corresponding gene, differentially methylated (P ≤ 0.05) CG sites (cytosine followed by a guanine nucleotide) located within promoter regions (n = 1,205) were used to predict (using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software) alterations to canonical pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves. Among differentially methylated genes (P ≤ 0.05) related to behavior and the stress response were OPRK1, OPRM1, PENK, POMC, NR3C2, TH, DRD1, DRD5, COMT, HTR6, HTR5A, GABRA4, GABRQ, and GAD2. Among altered (P < 0.05) signaling pathways related to behavior and the stress response were Opioid Signaling, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling, Dopamine Receptor Signaling, Dopamine-DARPP32 Feedback in cAMP Signaling, Serotonin Receptor Signaling, and GABA Receptor Signaling. Alterations to behavior and stress response-related genes and canonical pathways supported previously observed elevations in temperament score and serum cortisol through weaning in the larger population of PNS calves from which bulls in this study were derived. Differential methylation of DNA and predicted alterations to behavior and stress response-related pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves suggest epigenetic programming of behavior and the stress response in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittni P Littlejohn
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Deborah M Price
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | | | | | - Rhonda C Vann
- Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, Raymond, MS
| | - Penny K Riggs
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - David G Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Charles R Long
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | | | - Thomas H Welsh
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
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17
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Glucocorticoid exposure during hippocampal neurogenesis primes future stress response by inducing changes in DNA methylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 117:23280-23285. [PMID: 31399550 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820842116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress exposure is associated with risk for psychiatric disorders later in life. This may be mediated in part via enhanced exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs), which are known to impact neurogenesis. We aimed to identify molecular mediators of these effects, focusing on long-lasting epigenetic changes. In a human hippocampal progenitor cell (HPC) line, we assessed the short- and long-term effects of GC exposure during neurogenesis on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles. GC exposure induced changes in DNAm at 27,812 CpG dinucleotides and in the expression of 3,857 transcripts (false discovery rate [FDR] ≤ 0.1 and absolute fold change [FC] expression ≥ 1.15). HPC expression and GC-affected DNAm profiles were enriched for changes observed during human fetal brain development. Differentially methylated sites (DMSs) with GC exposure clustered into 4 trajectories over HPC differentiation, with transient as well as long-lasting DNAm changes. Lasting DMSs mapped to distinct functional pathways and were selectively enriched for poised and bivalent enhancer marks. Lasting DMSs had little correlation with lasting expression changes but were associated with a significantly enhanced transcriptional response to a second acute GC challenge. A significant subset of lasting DMSs was also responsive to an acute GC challenge in peripheral blood. These tissue-overlapping DMSs were used to compute a polyepigenetic score that predicted exposure to conditions associated with altered prenatal GCs in newborn's cord blood DNA. Overall, our data suggest that early exposure to GCs can change the set point of future transcriptional responses to stress by inducing lasting DNAm changes. Such altered set points may relate to differential vulnerability to stress exposure later in life.
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18
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Braun PR, Tanaka-Sahker M, Chan AC, Jellison SS, Klisares MJ, Hing BW, Shabbir Y, Gaul LN, Nagahama Y, Robles J, Heinzman JT, Sabbagh S, Cramer EM, Duncan GN, Yuki K, Close LN, Dlouhy BJ, Howard MA, Kawasaki H, Stein KM, Potash JB, Shinozaki G. Genome-wide DNA methylation investigation of glucocorticoid exposure within buccal samples. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:323-330. [PMID: 30821055 PMCID: PMC6561812 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Glucocorticoids play a major role in regulating the stress response, and an imbalance of glucocorticoids has been implicated in stress-related disorders. Within mouse models, CpGs across the genome have been shown to be differentially methylated in response to glucocorticoid treatment, and using the Infinium 27K array, it was shown that humans given synthetic glucocorticoids had DNA methylation (DNAm) changes in blood. However, further investigation of the extent to which glucocorticoids affect DNAm across a larger proportion of the genome is needed. METHODS Buccal samples were collected before and after synthetic glucocorticoid treatment in the context of a dental procedure. This included 30 tooth extraction surgery patients who received 10 mg of dexamethasone. Genome-wide DNAm was assessed with the Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC array. RESULTS Five CpGs showed genome-wide significant DNAm changes that were >10%. These differentially methylated CpGs were in or nearest the following genes: ZNF438, KLHDC10, miR-544 or CRABP1, DPH5, and WDFY2. Using previously published datasets of human blood gene expression changes following dexamethasone exposure, a significant proportion of genes with false-discovery-rate-adjusted significant CpGs were also differentially expressed. A pathway analysis of the genes with false-discovery-rate-adjusted significant CpGs revealed significant enrichment of olfactory transduction, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. CONCLUSION High-dose synthetic glucocorticoid administration in the setting of a dental procedure was significantly associated with DNAm changes within buccal samples. These findings are consistent with prior findings of an influence of glucocorticoids on DNAm in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Braun
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Mai Tanaka-Sahker
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Aubrey C Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Sydney S Jellison
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Mason J Klisares
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Benjamin W Hing
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Yaseen Shabbir
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Lindsey N Gaul
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Yasunori Nagahama
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Julian Robles
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Jonathan T Heinzman
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Sayeh Sabbagh
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Ellyn M Cramer
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Gabrielle N Duncan
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Kumi Yuki
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Liesl N Close
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Brian J Dlouhy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Matthew A Howard
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Hiroto Kawasaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Kyle M Stein
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - James B Potash
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Gen Shinozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.,Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
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19
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Wiechmann T, Röh S, Sauer S, Czamara D, Arloth J, Ködel M, Beintner M, Knop L, Menke A, Binder EB, Provençal N. Identification of dynamic glucocorticoid-induced methylation changes at the FKBP5 locus. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:83. [PMID: 31122292 PMCID: PMC6533766 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0682-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic mechanisms may play a major role in the biological embedding of early-life stress (ELS). One proposed mechanism is that glucocorticoid (GC) release following ELS exposure induces long-lasting alterations in DNA methylation (DNAm) of important regulatory genes of the stress response. Here, we investigate the dynamics of GC-dependent methylation changes in key regulatory regions of the FKBP5 locus in which ELS-associated DNAm changes have been reported. Results We repeatedly measured DNAm in human peripheral blood samples from 2 independent cohorts exposed to the GC agonist dexamethasone (DEX) using a targeted bisulfite sequencing approach, complemented by data from Illumina 450K arrays. We detected differentially methylated CpGs in enhancers co-localizing with GC receptor binding sites after acute DEX treatment (1 h, 3 h, 6 h), which returned to baseline levels within 23 h. These changes withstood correction for immune cell count differences. While we observed main effects of sex, age, body mass index, smoking, and depression symptoms on FKBP5 methylation levels, only the functional FKBP5 SNP (rs1360780) moderated the dynamic changes following DEX. This genotype effect was observed in both cohorts and included sites previously shown to be associated with ELS. Conclusion Our study highlights that DNAm levels within regulatory regions of the FKBP5 locus show dynamic changes following a GC challenge and suggest that factors influencing the dynamics of this regulation may contribute to the previously reported alterations in DNAm associated with current and past ELS exposure. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-019-0682-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Wiechmann
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Röh
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Susann Sauer
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Janine Arloth
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maik Ködel
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Madita Beintner
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisanne Knop
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Menke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany. .,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Nadine Provençal
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany. .,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. .,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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20
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Duis J, Cox OH, Ji Y, Seifuddin F, Lee RS, Wang X. Effect of Genotype and Maternal Affective Disorder on Intronic Methylation of FK506 Binding Protein 5 in Cord Blood DNA. Front Genet 2018; 9:648. [PMID: 30619472 PMCID: PMC6305129 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP: rs1360780) in FKBP5 (FK506 Binding Protein 5) has been shown to interact with exposure to childhood adversity to promote loss of methylation and increase in gene expression in adults. We asked whether rs1360780 can influence FKBP5 intronic methylation in the context of exposure to maternal affective disorders in utero. Sixty cord blood DNA samples from the Boston Birth Cohort were genotyped at rs1360780 and studied for methylation changes as they relate to genotype and exposure to affective disorders during pregnancy. Linear regression was employed to contrast the risk (TT) genotype to the heterozygous (CT) and homozygous (CC) genotypes with adjustment for potential confounders. The recessive genotype (TT) was associated with increased methylation at multiple CpGs in the FKBP5 intron 5 region (p < 0.01). These findings were enhanced among cases exposed to maternal affective disorders (p = 0.02). A human cell line treated with cortisol showed that changes in intron 5 CpG methylation and FKBP5 expression were inversely associated. These findings suggest that rs1360780 can influence FKBP5 intronic methylation by acting in cis as a methylation quantitative locus and highlight the impact of genotypic risk on methylation in utero. Additionally, prenatal stress exposure compounded with the risk genotype may lead to a compensatory increase in methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Duis
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Olivia H Cox
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yuelong Ji
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Fayaz Seifuddin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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21
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Littlejohn BP, Price DM, Neuendorff DA, Carroll JA, Vann RC, Riggs PK, Riley DG, Long CR, Welsh TH, Randel RD. Prenatal transportation stress alters genome-wide DNA methylation in suckling Brahman bull calves. J Anim Sci 2018; 96:5075-5099. [PMID: 30165450 PMCID: PMC6276578 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to identify genome-wide differential methylation of DNA in young prenatally stressed (PNS) bull calves. Mature Brahman cows (n = 48) were transported for 2-h periods at 60 ± 5, 80 ± 5, 100 ± 5, 120 ± 5, and 140 ± 5 d of gestation or maintained as nontransported Controls (n = 48). Methylation of DNA from white blood cells from a subset of 28-d-old intact male offspring (n = 7 PNS; n = 7 Control) was assessed via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Samples from PNS bulls contained 16,128 CG, 226 CHG, and 391 CHH (C = cytosine; G = guanine; H = either adenine, thymine, or cytosine) sites that were differentially methylated compared to samples from Controls. Of the CG sites, 7,407 were hypermethylated (at least 10% more methylated than Controls; P ≤ 0.05) and 8,721 were hypomethylated (at least 10% less methylated than Controls; P ≤ 0.05). Increased DNA methylation in gene promoter regions typically results in decreased transcriptional activity of the region. Therefore, differentially methylated CG sites located within promoter regions (n = 1,205) were used to predict (using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software) alterations to canonical pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves. In PNS bull calves, 113 pathways were altered (P ≤ 0.05) compared to Controls. Among these were pathways related to behavior, stress response, metabolism, immune function, and cell signaling. Genome-wide differential DNA methylation and predicted alterations to pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves suggest epigenetic programming of biological systems in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittni P Littlejohn
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Deborah M Price
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | | | | | - Rhonda C Vann
- Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, Raymond, MS
| | - Penny K Riggs
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - David G Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Charles R Long
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Overton, TX
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
| | - Thomas H Welsh
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX
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22
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Redox dysregulation as a link between childhood trauma and psychopathological and neurocognitive profile in patients with early psychosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:12495-12500. [PMID: 30455310 PMCID: PMC6298080 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812821115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Early traumatic experiences interact with redox regulation and oxidative stress. Blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, involved in reducing peroxides, may reflect the oxidation status of the organism, thus allowing for the stratification of patients. Traumatized patients with psychosis who have a high blood oxidation status (high-GPx) have smaller hippocampal volumes (but not a smaller amygdala or intracranial volume), and this is associated with more severe clinical symptoms, while those with a lower oxidation status (low-GPx) showed better cognition and a correlated activation of the antioxidant thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin system. Thus, in patients with psychosis, traumatic experiences during childhood may interact with various redox systems, leading to long-term neuroanatomical and clinical defects. This redox profile may represent important biomarkers for patient stratification, defining treatment strategies at early stages of psychosis. Exposure to childhood trauma (CT) increases the risk for psychosis and affects the development of brain structures, possibly through oxidative stress. As oxidative stress is also linked to psychosis, it may interact with CT, leading to a more severe clinical phenotype. In 133 patients with early psychosis (EPP), we explored the relationships between CT and hippocampal, amygdala, and intracranial volume (ICV); blood antioxidant defenses [glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin (Trx/Prx)]; psychopathological results; and neuropsychological results. Nonadjusted hippocampal volume correlated negatively with GPx activity in patients with CT, but not in patients without CT. In patients with CT with high GPx activity (high-GPx+CT), hippocampal volume was decreased compared with that in patients with low-GPx+CT and patients without CT, who had similar hippocampal volumes. Patients with high-GPx+CT had more severe positive and disorganized symptoms than other patients. Interestingly, Trx and oxidized Prx levels correlated negatively with GPx only in patients with low-GPx+CT. Moreover, patients with low-GPx+CT performed better than other patients on cognitive tasks. Discriminant analysis combining redox markers, hippocampal volume, clinical scores, and cognitive scores allowed for stratification of the patients into subgroups. In conclusion, traumatized EPP with high peripheral oxidation status (high-GPx activity) had smaller hippocampal volumes and more severe symptoms, while those with lower oxidation status (low-GPx activity) showed better cognition and regulation of GPx and Trx/Prx systems. These results suggest that maintained regulation of various antioxidant systems allowed for compensatory mechanisms preventing long-term neuroanatomical and clinical impacts. The redox marker profile may thus represent important biomarkers for defining treatment strategies in patients with psychosis.
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23
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Carey JL, Cox OH, Seifuddin F, Marque L, Tamashiro KLK, Zandi PP, Wand GS, Lee RS. A Rat Methyl-Seq Platform to Identify Epigenetic Changes Associated with Stress Exposure. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30417882 PMCID: PMC6235597 DOI: 10.3791/58617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As genomes of a wider variety of animals become available, there is an increasing need for tools that can capture dynamic epigenetic changes in these animal models. The rat is one particular model animal where an epigenetic tool can complement many pharmacological and behavioral studies to provide insightful mechanistic information. To this end, we adapted the SureSelect Target Capture System (referred to as Methyl-Seq) for the rat, which can assess DNA methylation levels across the rat genome. The rat design targeted promoters, CpG islands, island shores, and GC-rich regions from all RefSeq genes. To implement the platform on a rat experiment, male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to chronic variable stress for 3 weeks, after which blood samples were collected for genomic DNA extraction. Methyl-Seq libraries were constructed from the rat DNA samples by shearing, adapter ligation, target enrichment, bisulfite conversion, and multiplexing. Libraries were sequenced on a next-generation sequencing platform and the sequenced reads were analyzed to identify DMRs between DNA of stressed and unstressed rats. Top candidate DMRs were independently validated by bisulfite pyrosequencing to confirm the robustness of the platform. Results demonstrate that the rat Methyl-Seq platform is a useful epigenetic tool that can capture methylation changes induced by exposure to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Carey
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Olivia H Cox
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Fayaz Seifuddin
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Leonard Marque
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Kellie L K Tamashiro
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Peter P Zandi
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
| | - Gary S Wand
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Richard S Lee
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine;
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Liu J, Chen J, Perrone-Bizzozero N, Calhoun VD. A Perspective of the Cross-Tissue Interplay of Genetics, Epigenetics, and Transcriptomics, and Their Relation to Brain Based Phenotypes in Schizophrenia. Front Genet 2018; 9:343. [PMID: 30190726 PMCID: PMC6115489 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic association studies of psychiatric disorders have provided unprecedented insight into disease risk profiles with high confidence. Yet, the next research challenge is how to translate this rich information into mechanisms of disease, and further help interventions and treatments. Given other comprehensive reviews elsewhere, here we want to discuss the research approaches that integrate information across various tissue types. Taking schizophrenia as an example, the tissues, cells, or organisms being investigated include postmortem brain tissues or neurons, peripheral blood and saliva, in vivo brain imaging, and in vitro cell lines, particularly human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and iPSC derived neurons. There is a wealth of information on the molecular signatures including genetics, epigenetics, and transcriptomics of various tissues, along with neuronal phenotypic measurements including neuronal morphometry and function, together with brain imaging and other techniques that provide data from various spatial temporal points of disease development. Through consistent or complementary processes across tissues, such as cross-tissue methylation quantitative trait loci (QTL) and expression QTL effects, systemic integration of such information holds the promise to put the pieces of puzzle together for a more complete view of schizophrenia disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Liu
- Mind Research Network, Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Mind Research Network, Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Nora Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Mind Research Network, Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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25
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Lee RS, Oswald LM, Wand GS. Early Life Stress as a Predictor of Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Alcohol Res 2018; 39:147-159. [PMID: 31198654 PMCID: PMC6561395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During the critical developmental periods of childhood when neural plasticity is high, exposure to early life stress (ELS) or trauma may lead to enduring changes in physiological stress systems and enhanced vulnerability for psychopathological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adulthood. Clinical and preclinical studies have sought to understand the possible mechanisms linking ELS, PTSD, and AUD. Preclinical studies have employed animal models of stress to recapitulate PTSD-like behavioral deficits and alcohol dependence, providing a basic framework for identifying common physiological mechanisms that may underlie these disorders. Clinical studies have documented ELS-related endocrine dysregulation and genetic variations associated with PTSD and AUD, as well as disruption in crucial neural circuitry throughout the corticomesolimbic region. Despite limitations and challenges, both types of studies have implicated three interrelated mechanisms: hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and glucocorticoid signaling dysregulation, genetics, and epigenetics. ELS exposure leads to disruption of HPA axis function and glucocorticoid signaling, both of which affect homeostatic cortisol levels. However, individual response to ELS depends on genetic variations at specific genes that moderate HPA axis and brain function, thus influencing susceptibility or resilience to psychopathologies. Epigenetic-influenced pathways also are emerging as a powerful force in helping to create the PTSD and AUD phenotypes. Dysregulation of the HPA axis has an epigenetic effect on genes that regulate the HPA axis itself, as well as on brain-specific processes such as neurodevelopment and neurotransmitter regulation. These studies are only beginning to elucidate the underpinnings of ELS, PTSD, and AUD. Larger human cohorts, identification of additional genetic determinants, and better animal models capable of recapitulating the symptoms of PTSD and AUD are needed.
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26
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McGowan PO, Matthews SG. Prenatal Stress, Glucocorticoids, and Developmental Programming of the Stress Response. Endocrinology 2018; 159:69-82. [PMID: 29136116 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The early environment has a major impact on the developing embryo, fetus, and infant. Parental adversity (maternal and paternal) and glucocorticoid exposure before conception and during pregnancy have profound effects on the development and subsequent function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and related behaviors. These effects are species-, sex-, and age-specific and depend on the timing and duration of exposure. The impact of these early exposures can extend across multiple generations, via both the maternal and paternal lineage, and recent studies have begun to determine the mechanisms by which this occurs. Improved knowledge of the mechanisms by which adversity and glucocorticoids program stress systems will allow development of strategies to ameliorate and/or reverse these long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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27
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Arpón A, Milagro FI, Laja A, Segura V, de Pipaón MS, Riezu-Boj JI, Alfredo Martínez J. Methylation changes and pathways affected in preterm birth: a role for SLC6A3 in neurodevelopment. Epigenomics 2017; 10:91-103. [PMID: 29172706 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To analyze whether preterm newborns show differences in methylation patterns in comparison to full-term newborns in white blood cells. PATIENTS & METHODS Anthropometrical, biochemical features and methylation levels of preterm newborns (n = 24) and full-term newborns (n = 22) recruited in La Paz University Hospital (Spain) were assessed at 12 months of gestational age, whereas Bayley Scale of Infant Development was evaluated at 24/36 months. RESULTS From all the statistically significant CpGs, methylation levels of cg00997378 (SLC6A3 gene) showed the highest differences (p < 0.0001), being associated with prematurity risk factors. CONCLUSION SLC6A3 methylation, previously related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, neuronal function and behavior, might be a potential epigenetic biomarker with value in the early diagnosis and management of neurodevelopmental diseases in newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Arpón
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences & Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Centre for Nutrition Research, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fermín I Milagro
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences & Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Centre for Nutrition Research, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity & Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Laja
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, CEU San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Segura
- Unit of Bioinformatics, Centre for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miguel Sáenz de Pipaón
- Neonatology Department, Hospital Universitario de la Paz, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red de Salud Materno Infantil y Desarrollo (SAMID), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Pediatrics, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José-Ignacio Riezu-Boj
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences & Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Centre for Nutrition Research, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Digestive disease and Nutrition group, Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNa), Pamplona, Spain
| | - J Alfredo Martínez
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences & Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Centre for Nutrition Research, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity & Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Digestive disease and Nutrition group, Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNa), Pamplona, Spain.,Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies (IMDEA), IMDEA Food, Madrid, Spain
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