1
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Wang D, Zhao Y. The Relationship between Adverse Family Experiences during Childhood and Self-rated Health Outcome in Adulthood. SOCIAL WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 37:342-355. [PMID: 34933661 DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2021.2013384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although there is increasing evidence of a link between adverse family experiences (AFEs) and long-term health outcomes, few studies have investigated the role of educational attainment in the relationship between AFEs and adult health. The data of this study comes from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Here, 15,359 samples were analyzed. Ordered logistic regression with interaction terms was used to explore the moderating effect of education on the relationship between AFEs in childhood and adult self-rated health. The self-rated health scores of people with childhood AFEs were significantly lower than of those without them, particularly in the categories of "parents divorced," "parent died," "physical abuse," "domestic conflict," "parental bias," "physical and emotional neglect," "parental physical illness," 'parental mental illness," "family economic hardship," "experience of starvation," "lived in an insecure neighborhood," and "lived in an unhygienic community." Increases in education level reduced the adverse effects of parental bias and neglect in childhood, but this did not eliminate the negative effect of community's environment on adult health. This study highlighted the role of the level of education in eliminating health disparities, which can reduce the adverse effects of AFEs on health in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yufeng Zhao
- Institute of Social Development, Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, Beijing, P. R. China
- School of Sociology, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
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2
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Traniello IM, Hamilton AR, Gernat T, Cash-Ahmed AC, Harwood GP, Ray AM, Glavin A, Torres J, Goldenfeld N, Robinson GE. Context-dependent influence of threat on honey bee social network dynamics and brain gene expression. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:jeb243738. [PMID: 35202460 PMCID: PMC9001921 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Adverse social experience affects social structure by modifying the behavior of individuals, but the relationship between an individual's behavioral state and its response to adversity is poorly understood. We leveraged naturally occurring division of labor in honey bees and studied the biological embedding of environmental threat using laboratory assays and automated behavioral tracking of whole colonies. Guard bees showed low intrinsic levels of sociability compared with foragers and nurse bees, but large increases in sociability following exposure to a threat. Threat experience also modified the expression of caregiving-related genes in a brain region called the mushroom bodies. These results demonstrate that the biological embedding of environmental experience depends on an individual's societal role and, in turn, affects its future sociability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M. Traniello
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Adam R. Hamilton
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Tim Gernat
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Swarm Intelligence and Complex Systems Group, Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Liepzig D-04109, Germany
| | - Amy C. Cash-Ahmed
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Gyan P. Harwood
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Allyson M. Ray
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Abigail Glavin
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jacob Torres
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Nigel Goldenfeld
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Gene E. Robinson
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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3
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Mathewson KJ, McGowan PO, de Vega WC, Morrison KM, Saigal S, Van Lieshout RJ, Schmidt LA. Cumulative risks predict epigenetic age in adult survivors of extremely low birth weight. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63 Suppl 1:e22222. [PMID: 34964497 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22222] [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: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Long-term sequelae of extremely low birth weight (ELBW; ≤1000 g) may contribute to accelerated biological aging. This hypothesis was examined by analyzing a range of risk factors with a molecular age marker in adults born at ELBW or normal birth weight (NBW; ≥2500 g). DNAm age-the weighted average of DNA methylation at 353 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites from across the genome-was derived from a sample of 45 ELBW (Mage = 32.35 years) and 47 NBW control (Mage = 32.44 years) adults, using the Illumina 850k BeadChip Array. At two assessments undertaken 9 years apart (at 23 and 32 years), cumulative risks were summed from six domains with potential to affect physiological and psychological health: resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, blood pressure, basal cortisol, grip strength, body mass index, and self-esteem. At age 32 years, cumulative risks were differentially associated with epigenetic age in ELBW survivors (interaction, p < 0.01). For each additional risk factor they possessed, ELBW survivors (B = 1.43) were biologically 2.16 years older than NBW adults (B = -0.73), by the fourth decade of life. Developmental change, epigenetic maintenance, and intervention targets are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Mathewson
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cell and Systems Biology, Psychology, and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wilfred C de Vega
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cell and Systems Biology, Psychology, and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Saroj Saigal
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan J Van Lieshout
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Louis A Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Mosse IB, Sedlyar NG, Babenko AS, Mosse KA, Shulinsky RS, Kilchevsky AV. Association between Methylation of Neuromediator Brain System Genes and Psychoemotional Human Characteristics. RUSS J GENET+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795421120115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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5
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Abdullah AYM, Law J, Butt ZA, Perlman CM. Understanding the Differential Impact of Vegetation Measures on Modeling the Association between Vegetation and Psychotic and Non-Psychotic Disorders in Toronto, Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4713. [PMID: 33925179 PMCID: PMC8124936 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Considerable debate exists on whether exposure to vegetation cover is associated with better mental health outcomes. Past studies could not accurately capture people's exposure to surrounding vegetation and heavily relied on non-spatial models, where the spatial autocorrelation and latent covariates could not be adjusted. Therefore, a suite of five different vegetation measures was used to separately analyze the association between vegetation cover and the number of psychotic and non-psychotic disorder cases in the neighborhoods of Toronto, Canada. Three satellite-based and two area-based vegetation measures were used to analyze these associations using Poisson lognormal models under a Bayesian framework. Healthy vegetation cover was found to be negatively associated with both psychotic and non-psychotic disorders. Results suggest that the satellite-based indices, which can measure both the density and health of vegetation cover and are also adjusted for urban and environmental perturbations, could be better alternatives to simple ratio- and area-based measures for understanding the effect of vegetation on mental health. A strong dominance of spatially structured latent covariates was found in the models, highlighting the importance of adopting a spatial approach. This study can provide critical guidelines for selecting appropriate vegetation measures and developing spatial models for future population-based epidemiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abu Yousuf Md Abdullah
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.L.); (Z.A.B.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Jane Law
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.L.); (Z.A.B.); (C.M.P.)
- School of Planning, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Zahid A. Butt
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.L.); (Z.A.B.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Christopher M. Perlman
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.L.); (Z.A.B.); (C.M.P.)
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6
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Matthews SG, McGowan PO. Developmental programming of the HPA axis and related behaviours: epigenetic mechanisms. J Endocrinol 2019; 242:T69-T79. [PMID: 30917340 DOI: 10.1530/joe-19-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
It has been approximately 30 years since the seminal discoveries of David Barker and his colleagues, and research is beginning to unravel the mechanisms that underlie developmental programming. The early environment of the embryo, foetus and newborn have been clearly linked to altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function and related behaviours through the juvenile period and into adulthood. A number of recent studies have shown that these effects can pass across multiple generations. The HPA axis is highly responsive to the environment, impacts both central and peripheral systems and is critical to health in a wide variety of contexts. Mechanistic studies in animals are linking early exposures to adversity with changes in gene regulatory mechanisms, including modifications of DNA methylation and altered levels of miRNA. Similar associations are emerging from recent human studies. These findings suggest that epigenetic mechanisms represent a fundamental link between adverse early environments and developmental programming of later disease. The underlying biological mechanisms that connect the perinatal environment with modified long-term health outcomes represent an intensive area of research. Indeed, opportunities for early interventions must identify the relevant environmental factors and their molecular targets. This new knowledge will likely assist in the identification of individuals who are at risk of developing poor outcomes and for whom early intervention is most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Matthews
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Chistiakov DA, Chekhonin VP. Early-life adversity-induced long-term epigenetic programming associated with early onset of chronic physical aggression: Studies in humans and animals. World J Biol Psychiatry 2019; 20:258-277. [PMID: 28441915 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2017.1322714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To examine whether chronic physical aggression (CPA) in adulthood can be epigenetically programmed early in life due to exposure to early-life adversity. Methods: Literature search of public databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus. Results: Children/adolescents susceptible for CPA and exposed to early-life abuse fail to efficiently cope with stress that in turn results in the development of CPA later in life. This phenomenon was observed in humans and animal models of aggression. The susceptibility to aggression is a complex trait that is regulated by the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Epigenetic mechanisms mediate this interaction. Subjects exposed to stress early in life exhibited long-term epigenetic programming that can influence their behaviour in adulthood. This programming affects expression of many genes not only in the brain but also in other systems such as neuroendocrine and immune. Conclusions: The propensity to adult CPA behaviour in subjects experienced to early-life adversity is mediated by epigenetic programming that involves long-term systemic epigenetic alterations in a whole genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitry A Chistiakov
- a Department of Fundamental and Applied Neurobiology , Serbsky Federal Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology , Moscow , Russia
| | - Vladimir P Chekhonin
- a Department of Fundamental and Applied Neurobiology , Serbsky Federal Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology , Moscow , Russia.,b Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology , Pirogov Russian State Medical University (RSMU) , Moscow , Russia
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8
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Abuaish S, Spinieli RL, McGowan PO. Perinatal high fat diet induces early activation of endocrine stress responsivity and anxiety-like behavior in neonates. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 98:11-21. [PMID: 30086533 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The maternal environment has a profound effect on the development of offspring, including responses to stress mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In rodents, perinatal high fat diet (HFD) has been shown to program the HPA axis in a manner that persists throughout adulthood, however the effects of perinatal HFD on stress-related behaviors and physiology in neonates are limited. The first two weeks of life in rodents are known as the stress hyporesponsive period, during which animals do not respond to stressors that are otherwise known to elicit behavioral and physiological responses in mature animals. As neonates emerge from the hyporesponsive period, the maturing neural systems mediating the HPA axis leads to the suppression of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and movement in the presence of threatening stimuli, such as male adult rat odor. In this study, we investigated the effects of perinatal HFD exposure, spanning the maternal pregestation, gestation and lactation period, on stress-related behaviors and physiology in neonatal rat offspring throughout the stress hyporesponsive period. During the stress hyporesponsive period, postnatal day (PND) 7, HFD pups had higher corticosterone levels in response to the presence of male odor, produced fewer USVs, and had an increase in basal corticotropin releasing hormone (Crh) transcript levels in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. As pup emerged from the stress hyporesponsive period, PND 13, HFD offspring exhibited higher adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in response to male odor, increased anxiety-like behaviors as shown by increased USVs and immobility, and lower glucocorticoid receptor (Nr3c1) transcript abundance in the ventral hippocampus. These results indicate an alteration in the typical physiological and behavioral responses to stress during the hyporesponsive period of the HPA axis as a function of perinatal HFD exposure, which involves changes in the regulation of key genes mediating the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameera Abuaish
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard L Spinieli
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada; Psychobiology Graduate Program, School of Philosophy, Science and Literature of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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9
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Jiménez JP, Botto A, Herrera L, Leighton C, Rossi JL, Quevedo Y, Silva JR, Martínez F, Assar R, Salazar LA, Ortiz M, Ríos U, Barros P, Jaramillo K, Luyten P. Psychotherapy and Genetic Neuroscience: An Emerging Dialog. Front Genet 2018; 9:257. [PMID: 30065751 PMCID: PMC6056612 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research in psychiatric genetics has led to a move away from simple diathesis-stress models to more complex models of psychopathology incorporating a focus on gene–environment interactions and epigenetics. Our increased understanding of the way biology encodes the impact of life events on organisms has also generated more sophisticated theoretical models concerning the molecular processes at the interface between “nature” and “nurture.” There is also increasing consensus that psychotherapy entails a specific type of learning in the context of an emotional relationship (i.e., the therapeutic relationship) that may also lead to epigenetic modifications across different therapeutic treatment modalities. This paper provides a systematic review of this emerging body of research. It is concluded that, although the evidence is still limited at this stage, extant research does indeed suggest that psychotherapy may be associated with epigenetic changes. Furthermore, it is argued that epigenetic studies may play a key role in the identification of biomarkers implicated in vulnerability for psychopathology, and thus may improve diagnosis and open up future research opportunities regarding the mechanism of action of psychotropic drugs as well as psychotherapy. We review evidence suggesting there may be important individual differences in susceptibility to environmental input, including psychotherapy. In addition, given that there is increasing evidence for the transgenerational transmission of epigenetic modifications in animals and humans exposed to trauma and adversity, epigenetic changes produced by psychotherapy may also potentially be passed on to the next generation, which opens up new perspective for prevention science. We conclude this paper stressing the limitations of current research and by proposing a set of recommendations for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Jiménez
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto Botto
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luisa Herrera
- Human Genetics Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Caroline Leighton
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José L Rossi
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yamil Quevedo
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime R Silva
- Center for Attachment and Emotional Regulation (CARE), Faculty of Psychology, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Martínez
- Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research, Anthropology Program, Institute of Sociology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Assar
- ICBM Human Genetics Program, Centre for Medical Informatics and Telemedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis A Salazar
- Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Manuel Ortiz
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Ulises Ríos
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Paulina Barros
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health - East, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karina Jaramillo
- Ph.D. Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patrick Luyten
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Effects of maternal obesity on Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17595. [PMID: 29242640 PMCID: PMC5730612 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18034-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated whether maternal metabolic environment affects mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord’s Wharton’s Jelly (WJ) on a molecular level, and potentially render them unsuitable for clinical use in multiple recipients. In this pilot study on umbilical cords post partum from healthy non-obese (BMI = 19–25; n = 7) and obese (BMI ≥ 30; n = 7) donors undergoing elective Cesarean section, we found that WJ MSC from obese donors showed slower population doubling and a stronger immunosuppressive activity. Genome-wide DNA methylation of triple positive (CD73+CD90+CD105+) WJ MSCs found 67 genes with at least one CpG site where the methylation difference was ≥0.2 in four or more obese donors. Only one gene, PNPLA7, demonstrated significant difference on methylome, transcriptome and protein level. Although the number of analysed donors is limited, our data suggest that the altered metabolic environment related to excessive body weight might bear consequences on the WJ MSCs.
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11
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de Vega WC, McGowan PO. The epigenetic landscape of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: deciphering complex phenotypes. Epigenomics 2017; 9:1337-1340. [DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred C de Vega
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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12
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de Vega WC, Herrera S, Vernon SD, McGowan PO. Epigenetic modifications and glucocorticoid sensitivity in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). BMC Med Genomics 2017; 10:11. [PMID: 28231836 PMCID: PMC5324230 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-017-0248-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating idiopathic disease characterized by unexplained fatigue that fails to resolve with sufficient rest. Diagnosis is based on a list of symptoms and exclusion of other fatigue-related health conditions. Despite a heterogeneous patient population, immune and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function differences, such as enhanced negative feedback to glucocorticoids, are recurring findings in ME/CFS studies. Epigenetic modifications, such as CpG methylation, are known to regulate long-term phenotypic differences and previous work by our group found DNA methylome differences in ME/CFS, however the relationship between DNA methylome modifications, clinical and functional characteristics associated with ME/CFS has not been examined. Methods We examined the DNA methylome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a larger cohort of female ME/CFS patients using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip Array. In parallel to the DNA methylome analysis, we investigated in vitro glucocorticoid sensitivity differences by stimulating PBMCs with phytohaemagglutinin and suppressed growth with dexamethasone. We explored DNA methylation differences using bisulfite pyrosequencing and statistical permutation. Linear regression was implemented to discover epigenomic regions associated with self-reported quality of life and network analysis of gene ontology terms to biologically contextualize results. Results We detected 12,608 differentially methylated sites between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls predominantly localized to cellular metabolism genes, some of which were also related to self-reported quality of life health scores. Among ME/CFS patients, glucocorticoid sensitivity was associated with differential methylation at 13 loci. Conclusions Our results indicate DNA methylation modifications in cellular metabolism in ME/CFS despite a heterogeneous patient population, implicating these processes in immune and HPA axis dysfunction in ME/CFS. Modifications to epigenetic loci associated with differences in glucocorticoid sensitivity may be important as biomarkers for future clinical testing. Overall, these findings align with recent ME/CFS work that point towards impairment in cellular energy production in this patient population. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12920-017-0248-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred C de Vega
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada.,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Santiago Herrera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada.,Present affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Suzanne D Vernon
- Solve ME/CFS Initiative, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Present affiliation: The Bateman Horne Center of Excellence, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada. .,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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13
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Janusek LW, Tell D, Gaylord-Harden N, Mathews HL. Relationship of childhood adversity and neighborhood violence to a proinflammatory phenotype in emerging adult African American men: An epigenetic link. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 60:126-135. [PMID: 27765646 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
African American men (AAM) who are exposed to trauma and adversity during their early life are at greater risk for poor health over their lifespan. Exposure to adversity during critical developmental windows may embed an epigenetic signature that alters expression of genes that regulate stress response systems, including those genes that regulate the inflammatory response to stress. Such an epigenetic signature may increase risk for diseases exacerbated by inflammation, and may contribute to health disparity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which exposure to early life adversity influences the psychological, cortisol, and proinflammatory response to acute stress (Trier Social Stress Test - TSST) in emerging adult AAM, ages 18-25years (N=34). Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the cortisol and IL-6 pattern of response to the TSST with respect to childhood adversity factors and DNA methylation of the IL-6 promoter. Findings revealed that in response to the TSST, greater levels of childhood trauma and indirect exposure to neighborhood violence were associated with a greater TSST-induced IL-6 response, and a blunted cortisol response. Reduced methylation of the IL6 promoter was related to increased exposure to childhood trauma and greater TSST-induced IL-6 levels. These results support the concept that exposure to childhood adversity amplifies the adult proinflammatory response to stress, which is related to epigenetic signature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Witek Janusek
- Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Department of Health Promotion, Loyola University Chicago, Health Science Division, 2160 South First Ave., Maywood, IL 60153, United States.
| | - Dina Tell
- Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Department of Health Promotion, Loyola University Chicago, Health Science Division, 2160 South First Ave., Maywood, IL 60153, United States
| | - Noni Gaylord-Harden
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, College of Arts and Sciences, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660, United States
| | - Herbert L Mathews
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Health Science Division, 2160 South First Ave., Maywood, IL 60153, United States
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14
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Nist MD. Biological embedding: evaluation and analysis of an emerging concept for nursing scholarship. J Adv Nurs 2016; 73:349-360. [PMID: 27682606 DOI: 10.1111/jan.13168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM The purpose of this paper was to report the analysis of the concept of biological embedding. BACKGROUND Research that incorporates a life course perspective is becoming increasingly prominent in the health sciences. Biological embedding is a central concept in life course theory and may be important for nursing theories to enhance our understanding of health states in individuals and populations. Before the concept of biological embedding can be used in nursing theory and research, an analysis of the concept is required to advance it towards full maturity. DESIGN Concept analysis. DATA SOURCES PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for publications using the term 'biological embedding' or 'biological programming' and published through 2015. METHODS An evaluation of the concept was first conducted to determine the concept's level of maturity and was followed by a concept comparison, using the methods for concept evaluation and comparison described by Morse. RESULTS A consistent definition of biological embedding - the process by which early life experience alters biological processes to affect adult health outcomes - was found throughout the literature. The concept has been used in several theories that describe the mechanisms through which biological embedding might occur and highlight its role in the development of health trajectories. Biological embedding is a partially mature concept, requiring concept comparison with an overlapping concept - biological programming - to more clearly establish the boundaries of biological embedding. CONCLUSIONS Biological embedding has significant potential for theory development and application in multiple academic disciplines, including nursing.
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Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that alterations of the stress response system may be a mechanism by which childhood maltreatment alters risk for psychopathology. FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) binds to the glucocorticoid receptor and alters its ability to respond to stress signaling. The aim of the present study was to examine methylation of the FKBP5 gene (FKBP5), and the role of an FKBP5 genetic variant, in relation to childhood maltreatment in a sample of impoverished preschool-aged children. One hundred seventy-four families participated in this study, including 69 with child welfare documentation of moderate to severe maltreatment in the past 6 months. The children, who ranged in age from 3 to 5 years, were racially and ethnically diverse. Structured record review and interviews in the home were used to assess a history of maltreatment, other traumas, and contextual life stressors; and a composite variable assessed the number exposures to these adversities. Methylation of two sites in intron 7 of FKBP5 was measured via sodium bisulfite pyrosequencing. Maltreated children had significantly lower levels of methylation at both CpG sites (p < .05). Lifetime contextual stress exposure showed a trend for lower levels of methylation at one of the sites, and a trend for an interaction with the FKBP5 polymorphism. A composite adversity variable was associated with lower levels of methylation at one of the sites as well (p < .05). FKBP5 alters glucocorticoid receptor responsiveness, and FKBP5 gene methylation may be a mechanism of the biobehavioral effects of adverse exposures in young children.
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16
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Sousa N. The dynamics of the stress neuromatrix. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:302-12. [PMID: 26754952 PMCID: PMC4759204 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Stressful stimuli in healthy subjects trigger activation of a consistent and reproducible set of brain regions; yet, the notion that there is a single and constant stress neuromatrix is not sustainable. Indeed, after chronic stress exposure there is activation of many brain regions outside that network. This suggests that there is a distinction between the acute and the chronic stress neuromatrix. Herein, a new working model is proposed to understand the shift between these networks. The understanding of the factors that modulate these networks and their interplay will allow for a more comprehensive and holistic perspective of how the brain shifts 'back and forth' from a healthy to a stressed pattern and, ultimately, how the latter can be a trigger for several neurological and psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal,ICVS/3B's–PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal,Clinical Academic Center–Braga, Braga, Portugal,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal. E-mail:
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17
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Provençal N, Booij L, Tremblay RE. The developmental origins of chronic physical aggression: biological pathways triggered by early life adversity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 218:123-33. [PMID: 25568459 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.111401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Longitudinal epidemiological studies with birth cohorts have shown that physical aggression in humans does not appear suddenly in adolescence as commonly thought. In fact, physically aggressive behaviour is observed as early as 12 months after birth, its frequency peaks around 2-4 years of age and decreases in frequency until early adulthood. However, a minority of children (3-7%) maintain a high frequency of physical aggression from childhood to adolescence and develop serious social adjustment problems during adulthood. Genetic factors and early social experiences, as well as their interaction, have been shown to play an important role in the development of chronic aggressive behaviour. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these associations are just beginning to be uncovered. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are responsive to adverse environments and could be involved in the development of chronic aggression. Using both gene candidate and genomic approaches, recent studies have identified epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation alterations in genes involved in the stress response and the serotonin and immune systems to be partly responsible for the long-lasting effects of early adversity. Further longitudinal studies with biological, environmental and behavioural assessments from birth onwards are needed to elucidate the sequence of events that leads to these long-lasting epigenetic marks associated with early adversity and aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Provençal
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Linda Booij
- Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Richard E Tremblay
- Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada Department of Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russian Federation
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18
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Boyce WT, Kobor MS. Development and the epigenome: the 'synapse' of gene-environment interplay. Dev Sci 2015; 18:1-23. [PMID: 25546559 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This paper argues that there is a revolution afoot in the developmental science of gene-environment interplay. We summarize, for an audience of developmental researchers and clinicians, how epigenetic processes - chromatin structural modifications that regulate gene expression without changing DNA sequences - may offer a strong, parsimonious account for the convergence of genetic and contextual variation in the genesis of adaptive and maladaptive development. Epigenetic processes may play a plausible explanatory role in understanding: divergent trajectories and sexual dimorphisms in brain development; statistical interactions between genes and environments; the biological embedding of early psychosocial adversities; the linkages of such adversities to disorders of mental health; the striking individual variation in the strength of those linkages; the molecular origins of critical and sensitive periods; and the transgenerational inheritance of risk and protection. Taken together, these arguments converge in a claim that epigenetic processes constitute a promising and illuminating point of connection - a 'synapse' - between genes and environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Thomas Boyce
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Canada
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19
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Epigenetic mechanisms of perinatal programming: translational approaches from rodent to human and back. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 10:363-80. [PMID: 25287549 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1372-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Perinatal life is a period of enhanced plasticity and susceptibility to environmental effects via the maternal environment or parental care. A variety of studies have indicated that epigenetic mechanisms, which can alter gene function without a change in gene sequence, play a role in setting developmental trajectories that impact health, including mental health. This chapter reviews examples of translational approaches to the study of biological embedding of mental health via differences in parental care.
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20
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Vaiserman AM. Epigenetic programming by early-life stress: Evidence from human populations. Dev Dyn 2014; 244:254-65. [PMID: 25298004 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A substantial body of experimental and epidemiological evidence has been accumulated suggesting that stressful events in early life including acute perinatal stress, maternal deprivation or separation, and variation in maternal care may lead to neuroendocrine perturbations thereby affecting reproductive performance, cognitive functions, and stress responses as well as the risk for infectious, cardio-metabolic and psychiatric diseases in later life. RESULTS Findings from recent studies based on both genome-wide and candidate gene approaches highlighted the importance of mechanisms that are involved in epigenetic regulation of gene expression, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, in the long-term effects of exposure to stress in early life. CONCLUSIONS This review is focused on the findings from human studies indicating the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the causal link between early-life stress and later-life health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Vaiserman
- D.F. Chebotarev State Institute of Gerontology NAMS of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
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21
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Provençal N, Binder EB. The effects of early life stress on the epigenome: From the womb to adulthood and even before. Exp Neurol 2014; 268:10-20. [PMID: 25218020 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early life stress (ELS), such as childhood abuse and neglect is a well established major risk factor for developing psychiatric and behavioral disorders later in life. Both prenatal and postnatal stressors have been shown to have a long-lasting impact on adult pathological states where the type and timing of the stressor are important factors to consider. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms play a major role in the biological embedding of ELS. A number of studies now indicate that the epigenome is responsive to external environmental exposures, including the social environment, both during intra-uterine development and after birth. In this review, we summarize the evidence of long-lasting effects of ELS on mental health and behavior and highlight common and distinct epigenetic effects of stress exposure at different stages during development. These stages include postnatal stress, prenatal stress, i.e. in utero and stress occurring pre-conception, i.e. effects of stress exposure transmitted to the next generation. We also delineate the evidence for the possible molecular mechanisms involved in epigenetic programming by ELS and how these maybe distinct, according to the timing of the stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Provençal
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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22
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Prenatal stress and inhibitory neuron systems: implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:641-51. [PMID: 24751963 PMCID: PMC4031286 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal stress is a risk factor for several psychiatric disorders in which inhibitory neuron pathology is implicated. A growing body of research demonstrates that inhibitory circuitry in the brain is directly and persistently affected by prenatal stress. This review synthesizes research that explores how this early developmental risk factor impacts inhibitory neurons and how these findings intersect with research on risk factors and inhibitory neuron pathophysiology in schizophrenia, anxiety, autism and Tourette syndrome. The specific impact of prenatal stress on inhibitory neurons, particularly developmental mechanisms, may elucidate further the pathophysiology of these disorders.
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23
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Lesseur C, Paquette AG, Marsit CJ. Epigenetic Regulation of Infant Neurobehavioral Outcomes. MEDICAL EPIGENETICS 2014; 2:71-79. [PMID: 25089125 PMCID: PMC4116357 DOI: 10.1159/000361026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
During fetal development and early-infancy, environmental signals can induce epigenetic changes that alter neurobehavioral development and later-life mental health. Several neurodevelopmental genetic diseases influence epigenetic regulatory genes and genomic imprinting. Recently, brain epigenetic marks have been involved in idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The placenta is an important regulator of the intrauterine environment that links maternal and fetal nervous systems. Placental epigenetic signatures have been associated with neurodevelopment of healthy newborns quantified through the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS). Associations have been observed for DNA methylation of genes involved in cortisol (NR3C1, HSD11B), serotonin (HTR2A), and metabolic (LEP) pathways. Dysregulation of imprinted genes and microRNAs has also been associated with neurobehavior assessed by NNNS. Further analysis is needed to characterize the mechanisms by which the epigenome influences neurodevelopment, and the connection between this dysregulation and mental health disorders. In the future, epigenetic marks could serve as functional biomarkers of mental health and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Lesseur
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Alison G. Paquette
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 7650 Remsen, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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24
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Rampp C, Binder EB, Provençal N. Epigenetics in posttraumatic stress disorder. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2014; 128:29-50. [PMID: 25410540 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800977-2.00002-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Reported exposure to traumatic event is relatively common within the general population (40-90%), but only a fraction of individuals will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Indeed, the lifetime prevalence of PTSD is estimated to range between 7% and 12%. The factors influencing risk or resilience to PTSD after exposure to traumatic events are likely both environmental, such as type, timing, and extent of trauma, and genetic. Recently, epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in mediating altered risk for PTSD as they can reflect both genetic and environmental influences. In this chapter, we describe the accumulating evidences for epigenetic factors in PTSD highlighting the importance of sensitive periods as well as methodological aspects such as tissue availabilities for such studies. We describe studies using a candidate gene approach focusing mainly on key players in the stress hormone regulation that show epigenetic alterations both in humans and in animal models for PTSD. We also summarize the results of epigenome-wide studies reporting associations with PTSD. For the above, we focus on one epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, as it is so far the best studied for this disorder. Finally, we describe how epigenetic mechanisms could be responsible for the long-lasting effects of gene-environment interactions observed in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Rampp
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nadine Provençal
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
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25
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McGowan PO. Epigenomic Mechanisms of Early Adversity and HPA Dysfunction: Considerations for PTSD Research. Front Psychiatry 2013; 4:110. [PMID: 24133457 PMCID: PMC3783846 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood adversity can have life-long consequences for the response to stressful events later in life. Abuse or severe neglect are well-known risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at least in part via changes in neural systems mediating the endocrine response to stress. Determining the biological signatures of risk for stress-related mental disorders such as PTSD is important for identifying homogenous subgroups and improving treatment options. This review will focus on epigenetic regulation in early life by adversity and parental care - prime mediators of offspring neurodevelopment - in order to address several questions: (1) what have studies of humans and analogous animal models taught us about molecular mechanisms underlying changes in stress-sensitive physiological systems in response to early life trauma? (2) What are the considerations for studies relating early adversity and PTSD risk, going forward? I will summarize studies in animals and humans that address the epigenetic response to early adversity in the brain and in peripheral tissues. In so doing, I will describe work on the glucocorticoid receptor and other well-characterized genes within the stress response pathway and then turn to genomic studies to illustrate the use of increasingly powerful high-throughput approaches to the study of epigenomic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O McGowan
- Centre for Environmental Epigenetics and Development , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto , Scarborough, ON , Canada ; Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada
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