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Gao M, Shen Y, Yang P, Yuan C, Sun Y, Li Z. Transcriptomics integrated with metabolomics reveals partial molecular mechanisms of nutritional risk and neurodevelopment in children with congenital heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1414089. [PMID: 39185136 PMCID: PMC11341388 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1414089] [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: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To explore molecular mechanisms affecting nutritional risk and neurodevelopment in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) by combining transcriptome and metabolome analysis. Methods A total of 26 blood and serum samples from 3 groups of children with CHD low nutritional risk combined with normal neurodevelopment (group A), low nutritional risk combined with neurodevelopmental disorders (group B) and high nutritional risk combined with normal neurodevelopment (group C) were analyzed by transcriptome and metabolomics to search for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolites (DEMs). Functional analysis was conducted for DEGs and DEMs. Further, the joint pathway analysis and correlation analysis of DEGs and DEMs were performed. Results A total of 362 and 1,351 DEGs were detected in group B and C compared to A, respectively. A total of 6 and 7 DEMs were detected in group B and C compared to A in positive mode, respectively. There were 39 and 31 DEMs in group B and C compared to A in negative mode. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that neurodevelopment may be regulated by some genes such as NSUN7, SLC6A8, CXCL1 and LCN8, nutritional risk may be regulated by SLC1A3 and LCN8. Metabolome analysis and joint pathway analysis showed that tryptophan metabolism, linoleic and metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism may be related to neurodevelopment, and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway may be related to nutritional risk. Conclusion By integrating transcriptome and metabolome analyses, this study revealed key genes and metabolites associated with nutritional risk and neurodevelopment in children with CHD, as well as significantly altered pathways. It has important clinical translational significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minglei Gao
- Heart Center, Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Heart Center, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Yang Shen
- Clinical Laboratory, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Heart Center, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Chang Yuan
- Heart Center, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Yanan Sun
- Heart Center, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Zipu Li
- Heart Center, Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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Marra PS, Seki T, Nishizawa Y, Chang G, Yamanishi K, Nishiguchi T, Shibata K, Braun P, Shinozaki G. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in female veterans with military sexual trauma and comorbid PTSD/MDD. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:624-630. [PMID: 38309478 PMCID: PMC11107447 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military sexual trauma (MST) is a prevalent issue within the U.S. military. Victims are more likely to develop comorbid diseases such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Nonetheless, not everyone who suffers from MST develops PTSD and/or MDD. DNA methylation, which can regulate gene expression, might give us insight into the molecular mechanisms behind this discrepancy. Therefore, we sought to identify genomic loci and enriched biological pathways that differ between patients with and without MST, PTSD, and MDD. METHODS Saliva samples were collected from 113 female veterans. Following DNA extraction and processing, DNA methylation levels were measured through the Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip array. We used limma and bump hunting methods to generate the differentially methylated positions and differentially methylated regions (DMRs), respectively. Concurrently, we used Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome to find enriched pathways. RESULTS A DMR close to the transcription start site of ZFP57 was differentially methylated between subjects with and without PTSD, replicating previous findings and emphasizing the potential role of ZFP57 in PTSD susceptibility. In the pathway analyses, none survived multiple correction, although top GO terms included some potentially relevant to MST, PTSD, and MDD etiology. CONCLUSION We conducted one of the first DNA methylation analyses investigating MST along with PTSD and MDD. In addition, we found one DMR near ZFP57 to be associated with PTSD. The replication of this finding indicates further investigation of ZFP57 in PTSD may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro S Marra
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA; University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tomoteru Seki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nishizawa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan
| | - Gloria Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA; Developmental Psychology Graduate Program, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Kyosuke Yamanishi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Nishiguchi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Kazuki Shibata
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Patricia Braun
- Department of Biology, Clarke University, Dubuque, IA, USA
| | - Gen Shinozaki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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Baghaei A, Zoshk MY, Hosseini M, Fasihi H, Nassireslami E, Shayesteh S, Laripour R, Amoli AE, Heidari R, Chamanara M. Prominent genetic variants and epigenetic changes in post-traumatic stress disorder among combat veterans. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:325. [PMID: 38393604 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09276-0] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most widespread and disabling psychiatric disorders among combat veterans. Substantial interindividual variability in susceptibility to PTSD suggests the presence of different risk factors for this disorder. Twin and family studies confirm genetic factors as important risk factors for PTSD. In addition to genetic factors, epigenetic factors, especially DNA methylation, can be considered as a potential mechanism in changing the risk of PTSD. So far, many genetic and epigenetic association studies have been conducted in relation to PTSD. In genetic studies, many single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified as PTSD risk factors. Meanwhile, the variations in catecholamines-related genes, serotonin transporter and receptors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, inflammatory factors, and apolipoprotein E are the most prominent candidates. CpG methylation in the upstream regions of many genes is also considered a PTSD risk factor. Accurate identification of genetic and epigenetic changes associated with PTSD can lead to the presentation of suitable biomarkers for susceptible individuals to this disorder. This study aimed to delineate prominent genetic variations and epigenetic changes associated with post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans who have experienced combat, focusing on genetic and epigenetic association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmadali Baghaei
- Trauma Research center, AJA university of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohsen Hosseini
- The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Fasihi
- Biomaterial and Medicinal Chemistry Research Center, AJA University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Nassireslami
- Toxicology Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sevda Shayesteh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Reza Laripour
- Social and Preventive Medicine Department, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aynaz Eslami Amoli
- Trauma Research center, AJA university of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Heidari
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Center (AJA-CERTC), AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Medical Biotechnology Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Chamanara
- Toxicology Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Student research committee, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Marazziti D, Carmassi C, Cappellato G, Chiarantini I, Massoni L, Mucci F, Arone A, Violi M, Palermo S, De Iorio G, Dell’Osso L. Novel Pharmacological Targets of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1731. [PMID: 37629588 PMCID: PMC10455314 DOI: 10.3390/life13081731] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychopathological condition with a heterogeneous clinical picture that is complex and challenging to treat. Its multifaceted pathophysiology still remains an unresolved question and certainly contributes to this issue. The pharmacological treatment of PTSD is mainly empirical and centered on the serotonergic system. Since the therapeutic response to prescribed drugs targeting single symptoms is generally inconsistent, there is an urgent need for novel pathogenetic hypotheses, including different mediators and pathways. This paper was conceived as a narrative review with the aim of debating the current pharmacological treatment of PTSD and further highlighting prospective targets for future drugs. The authors accessed some of the main databases of scientific literature available and selected all the papers that fulfilled the purpose of the present work. The results showed that most of the current pharmacological treatments for PTSD are symptom-based and show only partial benefits; this largely reflects the limited knowledge of its neurobiology. Growing, albeit limited, data suggests that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, opioids, glutamate, cannabinoids, oxytocin, neuropeptide Y, and microRNA may play a role in the development of PTSD and could be targeted for novel treatments. Indeed, recent research indicates that examining different pathways might result in the development of novel and more efficient drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
- Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Carmassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Gabriele Cappellato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Ilaria Chiarantini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Leonardo Massoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Federico Mucci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Alessandro Arone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Miriam Violi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Stefania Palermo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Giovanni De Iorio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
| | - Liliana Dell’Osso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy (L.D.)
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5
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Al Jowf GI, Ahmed ZT, Reijnders RA, de Nijs L, Eijssen LMT. To Predict, Prevent, and Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review of Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065238. [PMID: 36982313 PMCID: PMC10049301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can become a chronic and severely disabling condition resulting in a reduced quality of life and increased economic burden. The disorder is directly related to exposure to a traumatic event, e.g., a real or threatened injury, death, or sexual assault. Extensive research has been done on the neurobiological alterations underlying the disorder and its related phenotypes, revealing brain circuit disruption, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Psychotherapy remains the first-line treatment option for PTSD given its good efficacy, although pharmacotherapy can also be used as a stand-alone or in combination with psychotherapy. In order to reduce the prevalence and burden of the disorder, multilevel models of prevention have been developed to detect the disorder as early as possible and to reduce morbidity in those with established diseases. Despite the clinical grounds of diagnosis, attention is increasing to the discovery of reliable biomarkers that can predict susceptibility, aid diagnosis, or monitor treatment. Several potential biomarkers have been linked with pathophysiological changes related to PTSD, encouraging further research to identify actionable targets. This review highlights the current literature regarding the pathophysiology, disease development models, treatment modalities, and preventive models from a public health perspective, and discusses the current state of biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazi I. Al Jowf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
| | - Ziyad T. Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al-Bukairyah 52726, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rick A. Reijnders
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars M. T. Eijssen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Bioinformatics—BiGCaT, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
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Raza Z, Hussain SF, Foster VS, Wall J, Coffey PJ, Martin JF, Gomes RSM. Exposure to war and conflict: The individual and inherited epigenetic effects on health, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder. FRONTIERS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 3:1066158. [PMID: 38455905 PMCID: PMC10910933 DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2023.1066158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
War and conflict are global phenomena, identified as stress-inducing triggers for epigenetic modifications. In this state-of-the-science narrative review based on systematic principles, we summarise existing data to explore the outcomes of these exposures especially in veterans and show that they may result in an increased likelihood of developing gastrointestinal, auditory, metabolic and circadian issues, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also note that, despite a potential "healthy soldier effect", both veterans and civilians with PTSD exhibit the altered DNA methylation status in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulatory genes such as NR3C1. Genes associated with sleep (PAX8; LHX1) are seen to be differentially methylated in veterans. A limited number of studies also revealed hereditary effects of war exposure across groups: decreased cortisol levels and a heightened (sex-linked) mortality risk in offspring. Future large-scale studies further identifying the heritable risks of war, as well as any potential differences between military and civilian populations, would be valuable to inform future healthcare directives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zara Raza
- Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, London, United Kingdom
- BRAVO VICTOR, Research & Innovation, London, United Kingdom
- Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Syeda F Hussain
- Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, London, United Kingdom
- BRAVO VICTOR, Research & Innovation, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria S Foster
- Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, London, United Kingdom
- BRAVO VICTOR, Research & Innovation, London, United Kingdom
- St George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Wall
- Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Haxby Group Hull, General Practice Surgery, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J Coffey
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John F Martin
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Renata S M Gomes
- Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK, London, United Kingdom
- BRAVO VICTOR, Research & Innovation, London, United Kingdom
- Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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7
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Cao-Lei L, Saumier D, Fortin J, Brunet A. A narrative review of the epigenetics of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:857087. [PMID: 36419982 PMCID: PMC9676221 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.857087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic research in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is essential, given that environmental stressors and fear play such a crucial role in its development. As such, it may provide a framework for understanding individual differences in the prevalence of the disorder and in treatment response. This paper reviews the epigenetic markers associated with PTSD and its treatment, including candidate genes and epigenome-wide studies. Because the etiopathogenesis of PTSD rests heavily on learning and memory, we also draw upon animal neuroepigenetic research on the acquisition, update and erasure of fear memory, focusing on the mechanisms associated with memory reconsolidation. Reconsolidation blockade (or impairment) treatment in PTSD has been studied in clinical trials and, from a neurological perspective, may hold promise for identifying epigenetic markers of successful therapy. We conclude this paper by discussing several key considerations and challenges in epigenetic research on PTSD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cao-Lei
- Research Center of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CIUSSS-ODIM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Daniel Saumier
- Research Center of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CIUSSS-ODIM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Justine Fortin
- Research Center of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CIUSSS-ODIM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alain Brunet
- Research Center of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CIUSSS-ODIM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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8
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Nicoloro-SantaBarbara JM, Carroll JE, Minissian M, Kilpatrick SJ, Cole S, Merz CNB, Accortt EE. Immune transcriptional profiles in mothers with clinically elevated depression and anxiety symptoms several years post-delivery. Am J Reprod Immunol 2022; 88:e13619. [PMID: 36098215 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13619] [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: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most research on maternal mental health focuses on the perinatal period and does not extend beyond 12 months postpartum. However, emerging evidence suggests that for some women (30%-50%), psychological symptoms may persist beyond the first year postpartum or even emerge later increasing the risk of chronic mood and anxiety symptoms. Despite the high prevalence rates and devastating maternal-child consequences, studies examining maternal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) beyond the first year postpartum are rare and our understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms is incomplete. Inflammatory processes are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of depression, anxiety, & PTSD outside of the postpartum period. Therefore, the purpose of the current investigation was to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and PTSD two to three years post-delivery, and transcriptional control pathways relevant to inflammatory and antiviral processes. METHODS Women over 18 years of age enrolled in ongoing research studies at Cedars Sinai Medical Center who were 2-3 years postpartum were invited to participate in the current study. Women (N = 33) reported on their levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD and provided a blood sample approximately 2-3 years post-delivery. Bioinformatic analyses of differential gene expression (DGEs) to infer transcription factor activity were used. Gene expression was assayed by RNA sequencing and TELiS bioinformatics analysis of transcription factor-binding motifs in the promoters of differentially expressed genes. RESULTS DGE analyses revealed that women with clinically elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD (n = 16) showed upregulation of genes activated by transcription control pathways associated with inflammation (NF-Κ B, p = 0.004; JUN, p = 0.02), including ꞵ-adrenergic responsive CREB (p = 0.01) and reduced activation of genes associated with the antiviral response (IRFs, p = 0.02) and the glucocorticoid signaling pathway (GR, p = 0.02) compared to women without clinical symptoms (n = 17). CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first investigations into the immune signaling pathways involved in depression, anxiety, and PTSD two to three years post-delivery. The results of this study suggest that clinically elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD two to three years post-delivery are associated with a gene expression profile characterized by upregulated expression of pro-inflammatory genes and downregulated expression of antiviral genes. The data also point to two potential stress responsive pathways linking symptoms to increased inflammatory signaling in immune cells: sympathetic nervous system mediated ꞵ-adrenergic signaling and reduced hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activity. Together, these findings highlight the need for investigations into maternal mental health beyond the first year postpartum. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith E Carroll
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Medicine, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Margo Minissian
- Geri & Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sarah J Kilpatrick
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Steve Cole
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Medicine, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - C Noel Bairey Merz
- Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Eynav E Accortt
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Long non-coding RNA LINC00926 regulates WNT10B signaling pathway thereby altering inflammatory gene expression in PTSD. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:200. [PMID: 35551428 PMCID: PMC9098154 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01971-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which frequently occurs in the aftermath of a psychologically traumatic event is characterized by heightened inflammation. People with PTSD also suffer from a number of comorbid clinical and behavioral disorders that are related to chronic inflammation. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of enhanced inflammation in PTSD can provide insights into the relationship between PTSD and associated comorbid disorders. In the current study, we investigated the role of large intervening non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) in the regulation of inflammation in people diagnosed with PTSD. We observed that WNT ligand, WNT10B, was upregulated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PTSD patients. This observation was associated with higher H3K4me3 signals around WNT10B promotor in PTSD patients compared to those without PTSD. Increased H3K4me3 resulted from LINC00926, which we found to be upregulated in the PTSD sample, bringing in histone methyltransferase, MLL1, onto WNT10B promotor leading to the introduction of H3K4 trimethylation. The addition of recombinant human WNT10B to pre-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) led to increased expression of inflammatory genes such as IFNG and IL17A, suggesting that WNT10B is involved in their upregulation. Together, our data suggested that LINC00926 interacts physically with MLL1 and thereby controls the expression of IFNG and IL17A. This is the first time a long non-coding RNA is shown to regulate the expression of WNT10B and consequently inflammation. This observation has high relevance to our understanding of disease mechanisms of PTSD and comorbidities associated with PTSD.
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Núñez-Rios DL, Martínez-Magaña JJ, Nagamatsu ST, Andrade-Brito DE, Forero DA, Orozco-Castaño CA, Montalvo-Ortiz JL. Central and Peripheral Immune Dysregulation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Convergent Multi-Omics Evidence. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051107. [PMID: 35625844 PMCID: PMC9138536 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and multifactorial disorder with a prevalence ranging between 6–10% in the general population and ~35% in individuals with high lifetime trauma exposure. Growing evidence indicates that the immune system may contribute to the etiology of PTSD, suggesting the inflammatory dysregulation as a hallmark feature of PTSD. However, the potential interplay between the central and peripheral immune system, as well as the biological mechanisms underlying this dysregulation remain poorly understood. The activation of the HPA axis after trauma exposure and the subsequent activation of the inflammatory system mediated by glucocorticoids is the most common mechanism that orchestrates an exacerbated immunological response in PTSD. Recent high-throughput analyses in peripheral and brain tissue from both humans with and animal models of PTSD have found that changes in gene regulation via epigenetic alterations may participate in the impaired inflammatory signaling in PTSD. The goal of this review is to assess the role of the inflammatory system in PTSD across tissue and species, with a particular focus on the genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and proteomics domains. We conducted an integrative multi-omics approach identifying TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) signaling, interleukins, chemokines, Toll-like receptors and glucocorticoids among the common dysregulated pathways in both central and peripheral immune systems in PTSD and propose potential novel drug targets for PTSD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana L. Núñez-Rios
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (D.L.N.-R.); (J.J.M.-M.); (S.T.N.); (D.E.A.-B.)
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - José J. Martínez-Magaña
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (D.L.N.-R.); (J.J.M.-M.); (S.T.N.); (D.E.A.-B.)
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Sheila T. Nagamatsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (D.L.N.-R.); (J.J.M.-M.); (S.T.N.); (D.E.A.-B.)
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Diego E. Andrade-Brito
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (D.L.N.-R.); (J.J.M.-M.); (S.T.N.); (D.E.A.-B.)
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Diego A. Forero
- Health and Sport Sciences Research Group, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (D.A.F.); (C.A.O.-C.)
| | - Carlos A. Orozco-Castaño
- Health and Sport Sciences Research Group, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (D.A.F.); (C.A.O.-C.)
| | - Janitza L. Montalvo-Ortiz
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (D.L.N.-R.); (J.J.M.-M.); (S.T.N.); (D.E.A.-B.)
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(203)-9325711 (ext. 7491)
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11
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Epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder identifies novel loci in U.S. military veterans. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:65. [PMID: 35177594 PMCID: PMC8854688 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01822-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder prevalent in military veterans. Epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in the etiology of PTSD, with DNA methylation being the most studied to identify novel molecular biomarkers associated with this disorder. We performed one of the largest single-sample epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of PTSD to date. Our sample included 1135 male European-American U.S. veterans who participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). DNA was collected from saliva samples and the Illumina HumanMethylation EPIC BeadChip was used for the methylation analysis. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist. An EWAS was conducted using linear regression adjusted for age, cell-type proportions, first 10 principal components, and smoking status. After Bonferroni correction, we identified six genome-wide significant (GWS) CpG sites associated with past-month PTSD and three CpGs with lifetime PTSD (prange = 10-10-10-8). These CpG sites map to genes involved in immune function, transcription regulation, axonal guidance, cell signaling, and protein binding. Among these, SENP7, which is involved in transcription regulation and has been linked to risk-taking behavior and alcohol consumption in genome-wide association studies, replicated in an independent veteran cohort and was downregulated in medial orbitofrontal cortex of PTSD postmortem brain tissue. These findings suggest potential epigenetic biomarkers of PTSD that may help inform the pathophysiology of this disorder in veterans and other trauma-affected populations.
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12
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Nöthling J, Abrahams N, Toikumo S, Suderman M, Mhlongo S, Lombard C, Seedat S, Hemmings SMJ. Genome-wide differentially methylated genes associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and longitudinal change in methylation in rape survivors. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:594. [PMID: 34799556 PMCID: PMC8604994 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01608-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rape is associated with a high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DNA methylation changes may confer risk or protection for PTSD following rape by regulating the expression of genes implicated in pathways affected by PTSD. We aimed to: (1) identify epigenome-wide differences in methylation profiles between rape-exposed women with and without PTSD at 3-months post-rape, in a demographically and ethnically similar group, drawn from a low-income setting; (2) validate and replicate the findings of the epigenome-wide analysis in selected genes (BRSK2 and ADCYAP1); and (3) investigate baseline and longitudinal changes in BRSK2 and ADCYAP1 methylation over six months in relation to change in PTSD symptom scores over 6 months, in the combined discovery/validation and replication samples (n = 96). Rape-exposed women (n = 852) were recruited from rape clinics in the Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation (RICE) umbrella study. Epigenome-wide differentially methylated CpG sites between rape-exposed women with (n = 24) and without (n = 24) PTSD at 3-months post-rape were investigated using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip in a discovery cohort (n = 48). Validation (n = 47) and replication (n = 49) of BRSK2 and ADCYAP1 methylation findings were investigated using EpiTYPER technology. Longitudinal change in BRSK2 and ADCYAP1 was also investigated using EpiTYPER technology in the combined sample (n = 96). In the discovery sample, after adjustment for multiple comparisons, one differentially methylated CpG site (chr10: 61385771/ cg01700569, p = 0.049) and thirty-four differentially methylated regions were associated with PTSD status at 3-months post-rape. Decreased BRSK2 and ADCYAP1 methylation at 3-months and 6-months post-rape were associated with increased PTSD scores at the same time points, but these findings did not remain significant in adjusted models. In conclusion, decreased methylation of BRSK2 may result in abnormal neuronal polarization, synaptic development, vesicle formation, and disrupted neurotransmission in individuals with PTSD. PTSD symptoms may also be mediated by differential methylation of the ADCYAP1 gene which is involved in stress regulation. Replication of these findings is required to determine whether ADCYAP1 and BRSK2 are biomarkers of PTSD and potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jani Nöthling
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
- South African Medical Research Council Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Naeemah Abrahams
- Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sylvanus Toikumo
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Shibe Mhlongo
- Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carl Lombard
- Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders, 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
- South African Medical Research Council Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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13
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Aykac A, Kalkan R. Epigenetic Approach to PTSD: In the Aspects of Rat Models. Glob Med Genet 2021; 9:7-13. [PMID: 35169777 PMCID: PMC8837403 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related mental disorder and develops after exposure to life-threatening traumatic experiences. The risk factors of PTSD included genetic factors; alterations in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis; neurotrophic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and catecholaminergic systems; and a variety of environmental factors, such as war, accident, natural disaster, pandemic, physical, or sexual abuse, that cause stress or trauma in individuals. To be able to understand the molecular background of PTSD, rodent animal models are widely used by researchers. When looking for a solution for PTSD, it is important to consider preexisting genetic risk factors and physiological, molecular, and biochemical processes caused by trauma that may cause susceptibility to this disorder. In studies, it is reported that epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in the biological response affected by environmental factors, as well as the task of programming cell identity. In this article, we provided an overview of the role of epigenetic modifications in understanding the biology of PTSD. We also summarized the data from animal studies and their importance during the investigation of PTSD. This study shed light on the epigenetic background of stress and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asli Aykac
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Rasime Kalkan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
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14
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Gupta S, Guleria RS, Szabo YZ. MicroRNAs as biomarker and novel therapeutic target for posttraumatic stress disorder in Veterans. Psychiatry Res 2021; 305:114252. [PMID: 34739954 PMCID: PMC8857765 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychiatric disorder for military Veterans, characterized by hyperarousal, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and distress after experiencing traumatic events. Some of the known physiological effects of PTSD include hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis imbalance, a cortical function resulting in neuronal deficit and changes in behavior. Moreover, excessive discharge of inflammatory molecules and a dysregulated immune system are implicated in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Due to complex nature of this disorder, the biological underpinnings of PTSD remain inexplicable. Investigating novel biomarkers to understanding the pathogenesis of PTSD may reflect the underlying molecular network for therapeutic use and treatment. Circulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) and exosomes are evolving biomarkers that have shown a key role in psychiatric and neurological disorders including PTSD. Given the unique nature of combat trauma, as well as evidence that a large portion of Veterans do not benefit from frontline treatments, focus on veterans specifically is warranted. In the present review, we delineate the identification and role of several miRNAs in PTSD among veterans. An association of miRNA with HPA-axis regulation through FKBP5, a key modulator in PTSD is discussed as an emerging molecule in psychiatric diseases. We conclude that miRNAs may be used as circulatory biomarker detection in Veterans with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhiranjan Gupta
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Biomarkers & Genetics Core, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 4800 Memorial Drive (151C), Waco, TX, 76711, USA.
| | - Rakeshwar S. Guleria
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Biomarkers & Genetics Core, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 4800 Memorial Drive (151C), Waco, Texas, 76711
| | - Yvette Z. Szabo
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Biomarkers & Genetics Core, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 4800 Memorial Drive (151C), Waco, Texas, 76711
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15
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The Molecular Biology of Susceptibility to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Highlights of Epigenetics and Epigenomics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910743. [PMID: 34639084 PMCID: PMC8509551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to trauma is one of the most important and prevalent risk factors for mental and physical ill-health. Excessive or prolonged stress exposure increases the risk of a wide variety of mental and physical symptoms. However, people differ strikingly in their susceptibility to develop signs and symptoms of mental illness after traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder affecting approximately 8% of the world’s population during their lifetime, and typically develops after exposure to a traumatic event. Despite that exposure to potentially traumatizing events occurs in a large proportion of the general population, about 80–90% of trauma-exposed individuals do not develop PTSD, suggesting an inter-individual difference in vulnerability to PTSD. While the biological mechanisms underlying this differential susceptibility are unknown, epigenetic changes have been proposed to underlie the relationship between exposure to traumatic stress and the susceptibility to develop PTSD. Epigenetic mechanisms refer to environmentally sensitive modifications to DNA and RNA molecules that regulate gene transcription without altering the genetic sequence itself. In this review, we provide an overview of various molecular biological, biochemical and physiological alterations in PTSD, focusing on changes at the genomic and epigenomic level. Finally, we will discuss how current knowledge may aid us in early detection and improved management of PTSD patients.
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16
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McD Young R, Lawford B, Mellor R, Morris CP, Voisey J. Investigation of C-reactive protein and AIM2 methylation as a marker for PTSD in Australian Vietnam veterans. Gene 2021; 803:145898. [PMID: 34391864 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Chronic inflammation is a key factor in symptomology and comorbidities of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Levels of a proinflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) are increased in individuals with PTSD but it is not clear if this is due to trauma exposure or PTSD. Our study aimed to assess the relationship between serum CRP levels, CRP SNPs, methylation, mRNA expression and PTSD in a homogenous trauma exposed Australian Vietnam veteran cohort. We hypothesized that decreased DNA methylation would be associated with increased gene expression and increased peripheral CRP levels in PTSD patients and that this would be independent of trauma. Participants were 299 Vietnam veterans who had all been exposed to trauma and approximately half were diagnosed with PTSD. We observed higher levels of serum CRP in the PTSD group compared to the non-PTSD group but after controlling for BMI and triglycerides the association did not remain significant. No association was found between CRP SNPs and PTSD or CRP levels. Absent in Melanoma 2 (AIM2) which is a mediator of inflammatory response and a determinant of CRP levels was analysed for DNA methylation and mRNA expression. We observed a trend level association between PTSD and AIM2 methylation after controlling for age, smoking, triglycerides, BMI and cell types. There was no significant interaction between PTSD and CRP levels on AIM2 methylation after controlling for covariates. We observed that as AIM2 methylation levels decreased, AIM2 mRNA expression increased. Elevated CRP levels were associated with AIM2 mRNA in the trauma exposed cohort but there was no significant interaction effect with PTSD. Our results could not confirm that CRP is a marker of PTSD independent of trauma in this group of older veterans. CRP may be a broad marker of disease risk, or a marker of PTSD in younger cohorts than those in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross McD Young
- Queensland University of Technology School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, 60 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059 Australia; Jamieson Trauma Institute Metro North Hospital and Health Service Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Bruce Lawford
- Queensland University of Technology School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, 60 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059 Australia
| | - Rebecca Mellor
- Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street Greenslopes, Queensland 4120, Australia
| | - Charles P Morris
- Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, 60 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059 Australia
| | - Joanne Voisey
- Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, 60 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059 Australia.
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17
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Garrett ME, Qin XJ, Mehta D, Dennis MF, Marx CE, Grant GA, Stein MB, Kimbrel NA, Beckham JC, Hauser MA, Ashley-Koch AE. Gene Expression Analysis in Three Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Cohorts Implicates Inflammation and Innate Immunity Pathways and Uncovers Shared Genetic Risk With Major Depressive Disorder. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:678548. [PMID: 34393704 PMCID: PMC8358297 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychiatric disorder that can develop following exposure to traumatic events. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD group (PGC-PTSD) has collected over 20,000 multi-ethnic PTSD cases and controls and has identified both genetic and epigenetic factors associated with PTSD risk. To further investigate biological correlates of PTSD risk, we examined three PGC-PTSD cohorts comprising 977 subjects to identify differentially expressed genes among PTSD cases and controls. Whole blood gene expression was quantified with the HumanHT-12 v4 Expression BeadChip for 726 OEF/OIF veterans from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), 155 samples from the Injury and Traumatic Stress (INTRuST) Clinical Consortium, and 96 Australian Vietnam War veterans. Differential gene expression analysis was performed in each cohort separately followed by meta-analysis. In the largest cohort, we performed co-expression analysis to identify modules of genes that are associated with PTSD and MDD. We then conducted expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis and assessed the presence of eQTL interactions involving PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD). Finally, we utilized PTSD and MDD GWAS summary statistics to identify regions that colocalize with eQTLs. Although not surpassing correction for multiple testing, the most differentially expressed genes in meta-analysis were interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), a pro-inflammatory cytokine previously associated with PTSD, and integrin-linked kinase (ILK), which is highly expressed in brain and can rescue dysregulated hippocampal neurogenesis and memory deficits. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of toll-like receptor (TLR) and interleukin-1 receptor genes, which are integral to cellular innate immune response. Co-expression analysis identified four modules of genes associated with PTSD, two of which are also associated with MDD, demonstrating common biological pathways underlying the two conditions. Lastly, we identified four genes (UBA7, HLA-F, HSPA1B, and RERE) with high probability of a shared causal eQTL variant with PTSD and/or MDD GWAS variants, thereby providing a potential mechanism by which the GWAS variant contributes to disease risk. In summary, we provide additional evidence for genes and pathways previously reported and identified plausible novel candidates for PTSD. These data provide further insight into genetic factors and pathways involved in PTSD, as well as potential regions of pleiotropy between PTSD and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie E Garrett
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Xue Jun Qin
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Divya Mehta
- Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Michelle F Dennis
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Christine E Marx
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Gerald A Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nathan A Kimbrel
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jean C Beckham
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States.,VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Michael A Hauser
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Allison E Ashley-Koch
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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18
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Katrinli S, Smith AK. Immune system regulation and role of the human leukocyte antigen in posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100366. [PMID: 34355049 PMCID: PMC8322450 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that adversely affect mental and physical health. Recent studies have increasingly explored the role of the immune system in risk for PTSD and its related symptoms. Dysregulation of the immune system may lead to central nervous system tissue damage and impair learning and memory processes. Individuals with PTSD often have comorbid inflammatory or auto-immune disorders. Evidence shows associations between PTSD and multiple genes that are involved in immune-related or inflammatory pathways. In this review, we will summarize the evidence of immune dysregulation in PTSD, outlining the contributions of distinct cell types, genes, and biological pathways. We use the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) locus to illustrate the contribution of genetic variation to function in different tissues that contribute to PTSD etiology, severity, and comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyma Katrinli
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
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19
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Jovasevic V, Zhang H, Sananbenesi F, Guedea AL, Soman KV, Wiktorowicz JE, Fischer A, Radulovic J. Primary cilia are required for the persistence of memory and stabilization of perineuronal nets. iScience 2021; 24:102617. [PMID: 34142063 PMCID: PMC8185192 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the formation of episodic memories requires multiple hippocampal mechanisms operating on different time scales. Early mechanisms of memory formation (synaptic consolidation) have been extensively characterized. However, delayed mechanisms, which maintain hippocampal activity as memories stabilize in cortical circuits, are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that contrary to the transient expression of early- and delayed-response genes, the expression of cytoskeleton- and extracellular matrix-associated genes remains dynamic even at remote time points. The most profound expression changes clustered around primary cilium-associated and collagen genes. These genes most likely contribute to memory by stabilizing perineuronal nets in the dorsohippocampal CA1 subfield, as revealed by targeted disruptions of the primary cilium or perineuronal nets. The findings show that nonsynaptic, primary cilium-mediated mechanisms are required for the persistence of context memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Jovasevic
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Room 13-100, Montgomery Ward Memorial Building, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Rose F. Kennedy Center, 1410 Pelham Parkway South, Room 115, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | | | - Anita L. Guedea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kizhake V. Soman
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, UTMB – Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | | | - Andre Fischer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen 37075, Germany
| | - Jelena Radulovic
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Room 13-100, Montgomery Ward Memorial Building, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Rose F. Kennedy Center, 1410 Pelham Parkway South, Room 115, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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20
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Bainomugisa CK, Sutherland HG, Parker R, Mcrae AF, Haupt LM, Griffiths LR, Heath A, Nelson EC, Wright MJ, Hickie IB, Martin NG, Nyholt DR, Mehta D. Using Monozygotic Twins to Dissect Common Genes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Migraine. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:678350. [PMID: 34239411 PMCID: PMC8258453 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms have been associated with genes involved in Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD often co-occurs with other health conditions such as depression, cardiovascular disorder and respiratory illnesses. PTSD and migraine have previously been reported to be symptomatically positively correlated with each other, but little is known about the genes involved. The aim of this study was to understand the comorbidity between PTSD and migraine using a monozygotic twin disease discordant study design in six pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for PTSD and 15 pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for migraine. DNA from peripheral blood was run on Illumina EPIC arrays and analyzed. Multiple testing correction was performed using the Bonferroni method and 10% false discovery rate (FDR). We validated 11 candidate genes previously associated with PTSD including DOCK2, DICER1, and ADCYAP1. In the epigenome-wide scan, seven novel CpGs were significantly associated with PTSD within/near IL37, WNT3, ADNP2, HTT, SLFN11, and NQO2, with all CpGs except the IL37 CpG hypermethylated in PTSD. These results were significantly enriched for genes whose DNA methylation was previously associated with migraine (p-value = 0.036). At 10% FDR, 132 CpGs in 99 genes associated with PTSD were also associated with migraine in the migraine twin samples. Genes associated with PTSD were overrepresented in vascular smooth muscle, axon guidance and oxytocin signaling pathways, while genes associated with both PTSD and migraine were enriched for AMPK signaling and longevity regulating pathways. In conclusion, these results suggest that common genes and pathways are likely involved in PTSD and migraine, explaining at least in part the co-morbidity between the two disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte K Bainomugisa
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Heidi G Sutherland
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard Parker
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Allan F Mcrae
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Larisa M Haupt
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Lyn R Griffiths
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Heath
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Elliot C Nelson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Margaret J Wright
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Dale R Nyholt
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Divya Mehta
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
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21
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Sheerin CM, Lancaster EE, York TP, Walker J, Danielson CK, Amstadter AB. Epigenome-Wide Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in a Treatment-Seeking Adolescent Sample. J Trauma Stress 2021; 34:607-615. [PMID: 33529416 PMCID: PMC8217087 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Emerging research has demonstrated that psychosocial trauma exposure may elicit epigenetic changes, with downstream effects on the transcriptional regulation of genes. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) offer an agnostic approach to examine DNA methylation (DNAm) associations and are a valuable tool to aid in the identification of biological pathways involved in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study represents the first EWAS of PTSD in an adolescent sample, an important group given the significance of this developmental period regarding both DNAm changes and PTSD risk. The sample (n = 39, M age = 15.41 years, SD = 1.27, 84.6% female) comprised adolescents who experienced interpersonal trauma and were enrolled in a treatment study. Participants were assessed using the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV-Adolescent Version and provided a blood sample at baseline. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood and assayed using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. The primary analysis estimated the associations among individual CpG sites and PTSD symptom scores. Of the 793,575 screened probes tested, two were significant at a false discovery rate (FDR) < 10%. Hypomethylation of both sites was associated with increased PTSD symptom scores. Analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMR) identified a DMR associated with PTSD symptom scores at an FDR < 10%. Results from follow-up models are also discussed. Findings from this preliminary investigation suggest the importance of further research conducted in adolescent samples. The analytic pipeline and results are documented for use in future meta-analytic work as more such samples become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Sheerin
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Eva E. Lancaster
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA,Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Timothy P. York
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA,Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jesse Walker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carla Kmett Danielson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ananda B. Amstadter
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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22
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Yang M, Barrios J, Yan J, Zhao W, Yuan S, Dong E, Ai X. Causal roles of stress kinase JNK2 in DNA methylation and binge alcohol withdrawal-evoked behavioral deficits. Pharmacol Res 2021; 164:105375. [PMID: 33316384 PMCID: PMC7867628 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Excessive binge alcohol intake is a common drinking pattern in humans, especially during holidays. Cessation of the binge drinking often leads to aberrant withdrawal behaviors, as well as serious heart rhythm abnormalities (clinically diagnosed as Holiday Heart Syndrome (HHS)). In our HHS mouse model with well-characterized binge alcohol withdrawal (BAW)-induced heart phenotypes, BAW leads to anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive impairment. We have previously reported that stress-activated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) plays a causal role in BAW-induced heart phenotypes. In the HHS brain, we found that activation of JNK2 (but not JNK1 and JNK3) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), but not hippocampus and amygdala, led to anxiety-like behaviors and impaired cognition. DNA methylation mediated by a crucial DNA methylation enzyme, DNA methyltransferase1 (DNMT1), is known to be critical in alcohol-associated behavioral deficits. In HHS mice, JNK2 in the PFC (but not hippocampus and amygdala) causally enhanced total genomic DNA methylation via increased DNMT1 expression, which was regulated by enhanced binding of JNK downstream transcriptional factor c-JUN to the DNMT1 promoter. JNK2-specific inhibition either by an inhibitor JNK2I or JNK2 knockout completely offset c-JUN-regulated DNMT1 upregulation and restored the level of DNA methylation in HHS PFC to the baseline levels seen in sham controls. Strikingly, either JNK2-specific inhibition or genetic JNK2 depletion or DNMT1 inhibition (by an inhibitor 5-Azacytidine) completely abolished BAW-evoked behavioral deficits. In conclusion, our studies revealed a novel mechanism by which JNK2 drives BAW-evoked behavioral deficits through a DNMT1-regulated DNA hypermethylation. JNK2 could be a novel therapeutic target for alcohol withdrawal treatment and/or prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yang
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Jasson Barrios
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Jiajie Yan
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Weiwei Zhao
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Shengtao Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Erbo Dong
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - Xun Ai
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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23
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Logue MW, Miller MW, Wolf EJ, Huber BR, Morrison FG, Zhou Z, Zheng Y, Smith AK, Daskalakis NP, Ratanatharathorn A, Uddin M, Nievergelt CM, Ashley-Koch AE, Baker DG, Beckham JC, Garrett ME, Boks MP, Geuze E, Grant GA, Hauser MA, Kessler RC, Kimbrel NA, Maihofer AX, Marx CE, Qin XJ, Risbrough VB, Rutten BPF, Stein MB, Ursano RJ, Vermetten E, Vinkers CH, Ware EB, Stone A, Schichman SA, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Hayes JP, Verfaellie M. An epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder in US veterans implicates several new DNA methylation loci. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:46. [PMID: 32171335 PMCID: PMC7071645 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-0820-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies using candidate gene and genome-wide approaches have identified epigenetic changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS In this study, we performed an EWAS of PTSD in a cohort of Veterans (n = 378 lifetime PTSD cases and 135 controls) from the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) cohort assessed using the Illumina EPIC Methylation BeadChip which assesses DNAm at more than 850,000 sites throughout the genome. Our model included covariates for ancestry, cell heterogeneity, sex, age, and a smoking score based on DNAm at 39 smoking-associated CpGs. We also examined in EPIC-based DNAm data generated from pre-frontal cortex (PFC) tissue from the National PTSD Brain Bank (n = 72). RESULTS The analysis of blood samples yielded one genome-wide significant association with PTSD at cg19534438 in the gene G0S2 (p = 1.19 × 10-7, padj = 0.048). This association was replicated in an independent PGC-PTSD-EWAS consortium meta-analysis of military cohorts (p = 0.0024). We also observed association with the smoking-related locus cg05575921 in AHRR despite inclusion of a methylation-based smoking score covariate (p = 9.16 × 10-6), which replicates a previously observed PGC-PTSD-EWAS association (Smith et al. 2019), and yields evidence consistent with a smoking-independent effect. The top 100 EWAS loci were then examined in the PFC data. One of the blood-based PTSD loci, cg04130728 in CHST11, which was in the top 10 loci in blood, but which was not genome-wide significant, was significantly associated with PTSD in brain tissue (in blood p = 1.19 × 10-5, padj = 0.60, in brain, p = 0.00032 with the same direction of effect). Gene set enrichment analysis of the top 500 EWAS loci yielded several significant overlapping GO terms involved in pathogen response, including "Response to lipopolysaccharide" (p = 6.97 × 10-6, padj = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS The cross replication observed in independent cohorts is evidence that DNA methylation in peripheral tissue can yield consistent and replicable PTSD associations, and our results also suggest that that some PTSD associations observed in peripheral tissue may mirror associations in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W. Logue
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222,Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Mark W. Miller
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Erika J. Wolf
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Bertrand Russ Huber
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Filomene G. Morrison
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Zhenwei Zhou
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Yuanchao Zheng
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alicia K. Smith
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Nikolaos P. Daskalakis
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.240206.20000 0000 8795 072XMcLean Hospital, Belmont, MA USA ,Cohen Veterans Bioscience, Cambridge, MA USA ,grid.59734.3c0000 0001 0670 2351Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Andrew Ratanatharathorn
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Monica Uddin
- grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285XGenomics Program, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL USA ,grid.170693.a0000 0001 2353 285X,Global Health and Infectious Disease Research Program, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL USA
| | - Caroline M. Nievergelt
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Allison E. Ashley-Koch
- grid.189509.c0000000100241216Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Dewleen G. Baker
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Jean C. Beckham
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC USA ,grid.410332.70000 0004 0419 9846Research, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC USA ,grid.281208.10000 0004 0419 3073Genetics Research Laboratory, VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC USA
| | - Melanie E. Garrett
- grid.189509.c0000000100241216Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Marco P. Boks
- grid.7692.a0000000090126352Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands
| | - Elbert Geuze
- grid.7692.a0000000090126352Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands ,Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Netherlands Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands
| | - Gerald A. Grant
- grid.240952.80000000087342732Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Michael A. Hauser
- grid.189509.c0000000100241216Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Ronald C. Kessler
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Nathan A. Kimbrel
- grid.410332.70000 0004 0419 9846Research, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC USA ,grid.281208.10000 0004 0419 3073Genetics Research Laboratory, VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC USA ,grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Adam X. Maihofer
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Christine E. Marx
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Critical Care Medicine, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA ,grid.189509.c0000000100241216Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Xue-Jun Qin
- grid.189509.c0000000100241216Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Victoria B. Risbrough
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Bart P. F. Rutten
- grid.412966.e0000 0004 0480 1382School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum, Maastricht, Limburg Netherlands
| | - Murray B. Stein
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Million Veteran Program, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Robert J. Ursano
- grid.265436.00000 0001 0421 5525Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Eric Vermetten
- Arq, Psychotrauma Reseach Expert Group, Diemen, NH Netherlands ,grid.10419.3d0000000089452978Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, ZH Netherlands ,Netherlands Defense Department, Research Center, Utrecht, UT Netherlands ,grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Christiaan H. Vinkers
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc), Amsterdam, Holland Netherlands ,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc), Amsterdam, Holland Netherlands
| | - Erin B. Ware
- grid.214458.e0000000086837370Institute for Social Research, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Michigan, MI USA
| | - Annjanette Stone
- grid.413916.80000 0004 0419 1545Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory, Research Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Steven A. Schichman
- grid.413916.80000 0004 0419 1545Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory, Research Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Regina E. McGlinchey
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992Geriatric Research Educational and Clinical Center and Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, VA Boston Health Care System, Boston, MA USA
| | - William P. Milberg
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992Geriatric Research Educational and Clinical Center and Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, VA Boston Health Care System, Boston, MA USA
| | - Jasmeet P. Hayes
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Psychology and Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Mieke Verfaellie
- grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
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24
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Comes AL, Czamara D, Adorjan K, Anderson-Schmidt H, Andlauer TFM, Budde M, Gade K, Hake M, Kalman JL, Papiol S, Reich-Erkelenz D, Klöhn-Saghatolislam F, Schaupp SK, Schulte EC, Senner F, Juckel G, Schmauß M, Zimmermann J, Reimer J, Reininghaus E, Anghelescu IG, Konrad C, Thiel A, Figge C, von Hagen M, Koller M, Dietrich DE, Stierl S, Scherk H, Witt SH, Sivalingam S, Degenhardt F, Forstner AJ, Rietschel M, Nöthen MM, Wiltfang J, Falkai P, Schulze TG, Heilbronner U. The role of environmental stress and DNA methylation in the longitudinal course of bipolar disorder. Int J Bipolar Disord 2020; 8:9. [PMID: 32048126 PMCID: PMC7013010 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-019-0176-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stressful life events influence the course of affective disorders, however, the mechanisms by which they bring about phenotypic change are not entirely known. METHODS We explored the role of DNA methylation in response to recent stressful life events in a cohort of bipolar patients from the longitudinal PsyCourse study (n = 96). Peripheral blood DNA methylomes were profiled at two time points for over 850,000 methylation sites. The association between impact ratings of stressful life events and DNA methylation was assessed, first by interrogating methylation sites in the vicinity of candidate genes previously implicated in the stress response and, second, by conducting an exploratory epigenome-wide association analysis. Third, the association between epigenetic aging and change in stress and symptom measures over time was investigated. RESULTS Investigation of methylation signatures over time revealed just over half of the CpG sites tested had an absolute difference in methylation of at least 1% over a 1-year period. Although not a single CpG site withstood correction for multiple testing, methylation at one site (cg15212455) was suggestively associated with stressful life events (p < 1.0 × 10-5). Epigenetic aging over a 1-year period was not associated with changes in stress or symptom measures. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate epigenome-wide methylation across time in bipolar patients and in relation to recent, non-traumatic stressful life events. Limited and inconclusive evidence warrants future longitudinal investigations in larger samples of well-characterized bipolar patients to give a complete picture regarding the role of DNA methylation in the course of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Comes
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany. .,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), 80804, Munich, Germany.
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Heike Anderson-Schmidt
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Till F M Andlauer
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Budde
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Gade
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maria Hake
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Janos L Kalman
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), 80804, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergi Papiol
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniela Reich-Erkelenz
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Farah Klöhn-Saghatolislam
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabrina K Schaupp
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Eva C Schulte
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Fanny Senner
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Juckel
- Department of Psychiatry, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| | - Max Schmauß
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, University of Augsburg, 86156, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Zimmermann
- Psychiatrieverbund Oldenburger Land gGmbH, Karl-Jaspers-Klinik, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
| | - Jens Reimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Reininghaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Research Unit for Bipolar Affective Disorder, Medical University of Graz, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Carsten Konrad
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Agaplesion Diakonieklinikum, 27356, Rotenburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Thiel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Agaplesion Diakonieklinikum, 27356, Rotenburg, Germany
| | - Christian Figge
- Karl-Jaspers Clinic, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, 26160, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Martin von Hagen
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Center Werra-Meißner, 37269, Eschwege, Germany
| | - Manfred Koller
- Asklepios Specialized Hospital, 37081, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Detlef E Dietrich
- AMEOS Clinical Center Hildesheim, 31135, Hildesheim, Germany.,Center für Systems Neuroscience (ZSN) Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Medical School of Hannover, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Harald Scherk
- AMEOS Clinical Center Osnabrück, 49088, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sugirthan Sivalingam
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Degenhardt
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas J Forstner
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Center for Human Genetics, University of Marburg, 35033, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas G Schulze
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Urs Heilbronner
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
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25
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Howie H, Rijal CM, Ressler KJ. A review of epigenetic contributions
to post-traumatic stress disorder
. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 21:417-428. [PMID: 31949409 PMCID: PMC6952751 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2019.21.4/kressler] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a syndrome which serves as a classic example of psychiatric disorders that result from the intersection of nature and nurture, or gene and environment. By definition, PTSD requires the experience of a traumatic exposure, and yet data suggest that the risk for PTSD in the aftermath of trauma also has a heritable (genetic) component. Thus, PTSD appears to require both a biological (genetic) predisposition that differentially alters how the individual responds to or recovers from trauma exposure. Epigenetics is defined as the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself, and more recently it has come to refer to direct alteration of DNA regulation, but without altering the primary sequence of DNA, or the genetic code. With regards to PTSD, epigenetics provides one way for environmental exposure to be "written" upon the genome, as a direct result of gene and environment (trauma) interactions. This review provides an overview of the main currently understood types of epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, histone regulation of chromatin, and noncoding RNA regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, we examine recent literature related to how these methods of epigenetic regulation may be involved in differential risk and resilience for PTSD in the aftermath of trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Howie
- Aartners Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts, US; McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, US
| | - Chuda M Rijal
- Partners Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts, US; McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, US
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Partners Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts, US; McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, US; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, US
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Beydoun MA, Hossain S, Chitrala KN, Tajuddin SM, Beydoun HA, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. Association between epigenetic age acceleration and depressive symptoms in a prospective cohort study of urban-dwelling adults. J Affect Disord 2019; 257:64-73. [PMID: 31299406 PMCID: PMC6757325 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study tests associations of DNA methylation-based (DNAm) measures of epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) with cross-sectional and longitudinal depressive symptoms in an urban sample of middle-aged adults. METHODS White and African-American adult participants in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study for whom DNA samples were analyzed (baseline age: 30-65 years) we included. We estimated three DNAm based EAA measures: (1) universal epigenetic age acceleration (AgeAccel); (2) intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA); and (3) extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (EEAA). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale total and sub-domain scores at baseline (2004-2009) and follow-up visits (2009-2013). Linear mixed-effects regression models were conducted, adjusting potentially confounding covariates, selection bias and multiple testing (N = 329 participants, ∼52% men, k = 1.9 observations/participant, mean follow-up time∼4.7 years). RESULTS None of the epigenetic age acceleration measures were associated with total depressive symptom scores at baseline or over time. IEAA - a measure of cellular epigenetic age acceleration irrespective of white blood cell composition - was cross-sectionally associated with decrement in "positive affect" in the total population (γ011± SE = -0.090 ± 0.030, P = 0.003, Cohen's D: -0.16) and among Whites (γ011 ± SE = -0.135 ± 0.048, P = 0.005, Cohen's D: -0.23), after correction for multiple testing. Baseline "positive affect" was similarly associated with AgeAccel. LIMITATIONS Limitations included small sample size, weak-moderate effects and measurement error. CONCLUSIONS IEAA and AgeAccel, two measures of EAA using Horvath algorithm, were linked to a reduced "positive affect", overall and among Whites. Future studies are needed to replicate our findings and test bi-directional relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- May A Beydoun
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Sharmin Hossain
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kumaraswamy Naidu Chitrala
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Salman M Tajuddin
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hind A Beydoun
- Department of Research Programs, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA, United States
| | - Michele K Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alan B Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Brown KM, Hui Q, Huang Y, Taylor JY, Prescott L, de Mendoza VB, Crusto C, Sun YV. Association Between Stress and Coping with DNA Methylation of Blood Pressure-Related Genes Among African American Women. CHRONIC STRESS 2019; 3. [PMID: 32395678 PMCID: PMC7213592 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019879088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Exposure to psychosocial stress and employment of high effort coping
strategies have been identified as risk factors that may partially explain
the high prevalence of hypertension among African Americans. One biological
mechanism through which stress and coping may affect risk of hypertension is
via epigenetic modifications (e.g., DNA methylation) in blood
pressure-related genes; however, this area remains understudied in African
Americans. Methods We used data from the ongoing Intergenerational Blood Pressure Study, a
longitudinal study designed to investigate factors that contribute to
hypertension risk in African American women (n = 120) and their young
children, to investigate the association between stress overload,
problem-solving coping, avoidance coping, and social support coping with DNA
methylation in 25 candidate genes related to blood pressure. Multivariable
linear regression and multilevel modeling were used to conduct methylation
site-level and gene-level analyses, respectively. Results In site-level analyses, stress overload, problem-solving coping, social
support coping, and avoidance coping were associated with 47, 63, 66, and 61
sites, respectively, at p < 0.05. However, no associations were
statistically significant after multiple testing correction. There were also
no significant associations in gene-level analyses. Conclusions As human social epigenomics is an emerging, evolving area of research, there
is much to be learned from studies with statistically significant findings
as well as studies with null findings. Factors such as characteristics of
the social stressor, source of DNA, and synchronization of exposure and
outcome are likely important considerations as we move the field
forward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qin Hui
- Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
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Mehta D, Pelzer ES, Bruenig D, Lawford B, McLeay S, Morris CP, Gibson JN, Young RM, Voisey J, Harvey W, Romaniuk M, Crawford D, Colquhoun D, Young RM, Dwyer M, Gibson J, O'Sullivan R, Cooksley G, Strakosch C, Thomson R, Voisey J, Lawford B. DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 116:42-50. [PMID: 31195163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study we investigated genome-wide sperm DNA methylation patterns in trauma-exposed Vietnam veterans. At the genome-wide level, we identified 3 CpG sites associated with PTSD in sperm including two intergenic and one CpG within the CCDC88C gene. Of those associated with PTSD in sperm at a nominal level, 1868 CpGs were also associated with PTSD in peripheral blood (5.6% overlap) including the RORA, CRHR1 and DOCK2 genes that have been previously implicated in PTSD. A total of 10 CpG sites were significantly associated with a reported history of a diagnosed mental health condition in children and reached genome-wide significance. CpGs associated with a history of a reported mental health condition in children were also enriched (90% of tested genes) for genes previously reported to be resistant to demethylation, making them strong candidates for transgenerational inheritance. In conclusion, our findings identify a unique sperm-specific DNA methylation pattern that is associated with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Mehta
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
| | - Elise S Pelzer
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Bruce Lawford
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Sarah McLeay
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Charles P Morris
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - John N Gibson
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Ross McD Young
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Joanne Voisey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
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Raber J, Arzy S, Bertolus JB, Depue B, Haas HE, Hofmann SG, Kangas M, Kensinger E, Lowry CA, Marusak HA, Minnier J, Mouly AM, Mühlberger A, Norrholm SD, Peltonen K, Pinna G, Rabinak C, Shiban Y, Soreq H, van der Kooij MA, Lowe L, Weingast LT, Yamashita P, Boutros SW. Current understanding of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models and the value of a linguistic approach for analyzing fear learning and memory in humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:136-177. [PMID: 30970272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an emotion that serves as a driving factor in how organisms move through the world. In this review, we discuss the current understandings of the subjective experience of fear and the related biological processes involved in fear learning and memory. We first provide an overview of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models, encompassing the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms, the influence of genetic and environmental factors, and how fear learning paradigms have contributed to treatments for fear-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Current treatments as well as novel strategies, such as targeting the perisynaptic environment and use of virtual reality, are addressed. We review research on the subjective experience of fear and the role of autobiographical memory in fear-related disorders. We also discuss the gaps in our understanding of fear learning and memory, and the degree of consensus in the field. Lastly, the development of linguistic tools for assessments and treatment of fear learning and memory disorders is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Departments of Neurology and Radiation Medicine, and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Shahar Arzy
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | - Brendan Depue
- Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Haley E Haas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Kangas
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Minnier
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Mouly
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS-UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Seth Davin Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kirsi Peltonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christine Rabinak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Youssef Shiban
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hermona Soreq
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science and The Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Michael A van der Kooij
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitatsmedizin der Johannes Guttenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Leah T Weingast
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paula Yamashita
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sydney Weber Boutros
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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30
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Morrison FG, Miller MW, Logue MW, Assef M, Wolf EJ. DNA methylation correlates of PTSD: Recent findings and technical challenges. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 90:223-234. [PMID: 30503303 PMCID: PMC6314898 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that epigenetic factors play a critical role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by mediating the impact of environmental exposures to trauma on the regulation of gene expression. DNA methylation is one epigenetic process that has been highly studied in PTSD. This review will begin by providing an overview of DNA methylation (DNAm) methods, and will then highlight two major biological systems that have been identified in the epigenetic regulation in PTSD: (a) the immune system and (b) the stress response system. In addition to candidate gene approaches, we will review novel strategies to study epigenome-wide PTSD-related effects, including epigenome-wide algorithms that distill information from many loci into a single summary score (e.g., measures of "epigenetic age" which have been associated with PTSD). This review will also cover recent epigenome wide association studies (EWAS) of PTSD, and biological pathway models used to identify gene sets enriched in PTSD. Finally, we address technical and methodological advances and challenges to the field, and highlight exciting directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomene G Morrison
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA; Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, USA
| | - Michele Assef
- Boston University, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, USA
| | - Erika J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA
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31
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Voisey J, Lawford B, Bruenig D, Harvey W, Morris CP, Young RM, Mehta D. Differential BDNF methylation in combat exposed veterans and the association with exercise. Gene 2019; 698:107-112. [PMID: 30831210 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is associated with increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and plays a role in neuroplasticity, cognition and memory. BDNF has strong potential as a therapeutic target as studies have shown that antidepressants, electroconvulsive treatment and exercise modulate BDNF expression and methylation. In this study we examined the role of BDNF methylation and expression in PTSD and the implications of exercise in mediating these effects. BDNF DNA methylation and gene expression analysis was performed in a sample of 96 male Vietnam veterans. Cases were combat-exposed veterans with current PTSD (n = 48) and controls were combat exposed veterans with no past or current PTSD diagnosis (n = 48). No association between BDNF mRNA and PTSD was identified. PTSD was associated with decreased methylation at three BDNF CpG sites (cg01546433 P = 0.004835; cg24650785 P = 0.000259 and cg002298481 P = 0.000672). Differential BDNF methylation was associated with exercise, with active exercise associated with lower methylation levels at three CpG sites (cg04481212 P = 0.005; cg01546433 P = 0.025 and cg00298481 P = 0.035). Given that exercise mediates BDNF action on cognitive plasticity, exercise may be a non-invasive, drug free option in the treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Voisey
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
| | - Bruce Lawford
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Psychological and Counselling, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street Greenslopes, Queensland 4120, Australia
| | - Wendy Harvey
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street Greenslopes, Queensland 4120, Australia
| | - Charles P Morris
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Ross McD Young
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Psychological and Counselling, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Divya Mehta
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Psychological and Counselling, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
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32
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Blacker CJ, Frye MA, Morava E, Kozicz T, Veldic M. A Review of Epigenetics of PTSD in Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10020140. [PMID: 30781888 PMCID: PMC6410143 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an acquired psychiatric disorder with functionally impairing physiological and psychological symptoms following a traumatic exposure. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors act together to determine both an individual's susceptibility to PTSD and its clinical phenotype. In this literature review, we briefly review the candidate genes that have been implicated in the development and severity of the PTSD phenotype. We discuss the importance of the epigenetic regulation of these candidate genes. We review the general epigenetic mechanisms that are currently understood, with examples of each in the PTSD phenotype. Our focus then turns to studies that have examined PTSD in the context of comorbid psychiatric disorders or associated social and behavioral stressors. We examine the epigenetic variation in cases or models of PTSD with comorbid depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders. We reviewed the literature that has explored epigenetic regulation in PTSD in adverse childhood experiences and suicide phenotypes. Finally, we review some of the information available from studies of the transgenerational transmission of epigenetic variation in maternal cases of PTSD. We discuss areas pertinent for future study to further elucidate the complex interactions between epigenetic modifications and this complex psychiatric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren J Blacker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Mark A Frye
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Eva Morava
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
- Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Tamas Kozicz
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
- Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Marin Veldic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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Sheerin CM, Vladimirov V, Williamson V, Bountress K, K Danielson C, Ruggiero K, Amstadter AB. A preliminary investigation of rare variants associated with genetic risk for PTSD in a natural disaster-exposed adolescent sample. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2019; 10:1688935. [PMID: 31839899 PMCID: PMC6896412 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2019.1688935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Numerous studies have demonstrated genetic variation associated with the development of PTSD, primarily in adults. However, the contribution of low frequency and rare genetic variants to PTSD is unknown to date. Moreover, there is limited work on genetic risk for PTSD in child and adolescent populations. Objective: This preliminary study aimed to identify the low frequency and rare genetic variation that contributes to PTSD using an exome array. Method: This post-disaster, adolescent sample (n = 707, 51% females, M age = 14.54) was assessed for PTSD diagnosis and symptom count following tornado exposure. Results: Gene-based models, covarying for ancestry principal components, age, sex, tornado severity, and previous trauma identified variants in four genes associated with diagnosis and 276 genes associated with symptom count (at p adj < .001). Functional class analyses suggested an association with variants in the nonsense class (nonsynonymous variant that results in truncation of, and usually non-functional, protein) with both outcomes. An exploratory gene network pathway analysis showed a great number of significant genes involved in brain and immune function, illustrating the usefulness of downstream examination of gene-based findings that may point to relevant biological processes. Conclusions: While further investigation in larger samples is warranted, findings align with extant PTSD literature that has identified variants associated with biological conditions such as immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Sheerin
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Vladimir Vladimirov
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Vernell Williamson
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Kaitlin Bountress
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Carla K Danielson
- Departments of Nursing and Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Kenneth Ruggiero
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Ananda B Amstadter
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Transcriptome analysis reveals novel genes and immune networks dysregulated in veterans with PTSD. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 74:133-142. [PMID: 30189241 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that emerges following trauma exposure and involves long-lasting psychological suffering and health-issues. Uncovering critical genes and molecular networks is essential to understanding the biology of the disorder. We performed a genome-wide scan to identify transcriptome signatures of PTSD. METHODS Genome-wide peripheral blood transcriptomic data from 380 service personnel were investigated. This included a discovery sample of 96 Australian Vietnam War veterans and two independent pre and post-deployment replication samples of U.S. Marines (N = 188 and N = 96). RESULTS A total of 60 transcripts were differentially expressed between veterans with and without PTSD, surviving Bonferroni multiple testing correction. Genes within the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Jak-STAT signaling and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways were enriched. For 49% of the genes, gene expression changes were also accompanied by DNA methylation changes. Using replication data from two U.S. Marine cohorts, we observed that of the differentially expressed genes, 71% genes also showed significant gene expression changes between pre and post-deployment. Weighted gene co-expression networks revealed two modules of genes associated with PTSD. The first module (67 genes, p-value = 6e-4) was enriched for genes within the 11p13 locus including BDNF. The second module (266 genes, p-value = 0.01) was enriched for genes in 17q11 including SLC6A4, STAT5A and STAT5B. CONCLUSIONS We identified novel transcriptomic loci and biological pathways for PTSD in service personnel. Network analysis revealed enrichment of loci harboring key candidate genes in PTSD. These findings highlight the role of transcriptional biomarkers in the molecular etiology of PTSD.
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Kim GS, Smith AK, Nievergelt CM, Uddin M. Neuroepigenetics of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 158:227-253. [PMID: 30072055 PMCID: PMC6474244 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
While diagnosis of PTSD is based on behavioral symptom clusters that are most directly associated with brain function, epigenetic studies of PTSD in humans to date have been limited to peripheral tissues. Animal models of PTSD have been key for understanding the epigenetic alterations in the brain most directly relevant to endophenotypes of PTSD, in particular those pertaining to fear memory and stress response. This chapter provides an overview of neuroepigenetic studies based on animal models of PTSD, with an emphasis on the effect of stress on fear memory. Where relevant, we also describe human-based studies with relevance to neuroepigenetic insights gleaned from animal work and suggest promising directions for future studies of PTSD neuroepigenetics in living humans that combine peripheral epigenetic measures with measures of central nervous system activity, structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace S Kim
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Medical Scholars Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Caroline M Nievergelt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Monica Uddin
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States.
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Nievergelt CM, Ashley-Koch AE, Dalvie S, Hauser MA, Morey RA, Smith AK, Uddin M. Genomic Approaches to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Psychiatric Genomic Consortium Initiative. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:831-839. [PMID: 29555185 PMCID: PMC5915904 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after exposure to a traumatic event is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder. Heritability estimates from twin studies as well as from recent molecular data (single nucleotide polymorphism-based heritability) indicate moderate to high heritability, yet robust genetic variants for PTSD have not yet been identified and the genetic architecture of this polygenic disorder remains largely unknown. To date, fewer than 10 large-scale genome-wide association studies of PTSD have been published, with findings that highlight the unique challenges for PTSD genomics, including a complex diagnostic entity with contingency of PTSD diagnosis on trauma exposure and the large genetic diversity of the study populations. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD group has brought together more than 200 scientists with the goal to increase sample size for genome-wide association studies and other genomic analyses to sufficient numbers where robust discoveries of molecular signatures can be achieved. The sample currently includes more than 32,000 PTSD cases and 100,000 trauma-exposed control subjects, and collection is ongoing. The first results found a significant shared genetic risk of PTSD with other psychiatric disorders and sex-biased heritability estimates with higher heritability in female individuals compared with male individuals. This review describes the scope and current focus of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD group and its expansion from the initial genome-wide association study group to nine working groups, including epigenetics, gene expression, imaging, and integrative systems biology. We further briefly outline recent findings and future directions of "omics"-based studies of PTSD, with the ultimate goal of elucidating the molecular architecture of this complex disorder to improve prevention and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Nievergelt
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Family Medicine and Public Health,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health
| | | | - Shareefa Dalvie
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 7925
| | - Michael A. Hauser
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Rajendra A. Morey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham NC 27710, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705
| | - Alicia K. Smith
- Emory University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics,Emory University, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
| | - Monica Uddin
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology,University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Psychology
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Following a life-threatening traumatic exposure, about 10% of those exposed are at considerable risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe and disabling syndrome characterized by uncontrollable intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, and hyperarousal in addition to impaired cognition and negative emotion symptoms. This review will explore recent genetic and epigenetic approaches to PTSD that explain some of the differential risk following trauma exposure. RECENT FINDINGS A substantial portion of the variance explaining differential risk responses to trauma exposure may be explained by differential inherited and acquired genetic and epigenetic risk. This biological risk is complemented by alterations in the functional regulation of genes via environmentally induced epigenetic changes, including prior childhood and adult trauma exposure. This review will cover recent findings from large-scale genome-wide association studies as well as newer epigenome-wide studies. We will also discuss future "phenome-wide" studies utilizing electronic medical records as well as targeted genetic studies focusing on mechanistic ways in which specific genetic or epigenetic alterations regulate the biological risk for PTSD.
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Abstract
Purpose of Review Traumatic stress has profound impacts on many domains of life, yet the mechanisms that confer risk for or resilience to the development of traumatic stress-related psychopathologies are still very much under investigation. The current review highlights recent developments in the field of traumatic stress epigenetics in humans. Recent Findings Recent results reveal traumatic stress-related epigenetic dysregulation in neural, endocrine, and immune system genes and associated networks. Emerging work combining imaging with epigenetic measures holds promise for addressing the correspondence between peripheral and central effects of traumatic stress. A growing literature is also documenting the transgenerational effects of prenatal stress exposures in humans. Summary Moving forward, increasing focus on epigenetic marks of traumatic stress in CNS tissue will create a clearer picture of the relevance of peripheral measures; PTSD brain banks will help in this regard. Similarly, leveraging multigenerational birth cohort data will do much to clarify the extent of transgenerational epigenetic effects of traumatic stress. Greater efforts should be made towards developing prospective studies with longitudinal design.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Pfeiffer
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Leon Mutesa
- Center for Human Genetics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Monica Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, IL, USA.,Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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Mehta D, Bruenig D, Lawford B, Harvey W, Carrillo-Roa T, Morris CP, Jovanovic T, Young RM, Binder EB, Voisey J. Accelerated DNA methylation aging and increased resilience in veterans: The biological cost for soldiering on. Neurobiol Stress 2018; 8:112-119. [PMID: 29888306 PMCID: PMC5991315 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Accelerated epigenetic aging, the difference between the DNA methylation-predicted age (DNAm age) and the chronological age, is associated with a myriad of diseases. This study investigates the relationship between epigenetic aging and risk and protective factors of PTSD. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed in 211 individuals including combat-exposed Australian veterans (discovery cohort, n = 96 males) and trauma-exposed civilian males from the Grady Trauma Project (replication cohort, n = 115 males). Primary measures included the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). DNAm age prediction was performed using the validated epigenetic clock calculator. Veterans with PTSD had increased PTSD symptom severity (P-value = 3.75 × 10-34) and lower CD-RISC scores (P-value = 7.5 × 10-8) than veterans without PTSD. DNAm age was significantly correlated with the chronological age (P-value = 3.3 × 10-6), but DNAm age acceleration was not different between the PTSD and non-PTSD groups (P-value = 0.24). Evaluating potential protective factors, we found that DNAm age acceleration was significantly associated with CD-RISC resilience scores in veterans with PTSD, these results remained significant after multiple testing correction (P-value = 0.023; r = 0.32). This finding was also replicated in an independent trauma-exposed civilian cohort (P-value = 0.02; r = 0.23). Post-hoc factor analyses revealed that this association was likely driven by "self-efficacy" items within the CD-RISC (P-value = 0.015; r = 0.35). These results suggest that among individuals already suffering from PTSD, some aspects of increased resilience might come at a biological cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Mehta
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Bruce Lawford
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Wendy Harvey
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Tania Carrillo-Roa
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
| | - Charles P. Morris
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ross McD. Young
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, 80804, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Joanne Voisey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
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