Associations of FKBP5 polymorphisms and methylation and parenting style with depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents

Mediation and interaction of problematic internet use in the relationship between sexual minority status and depressive symptoms: Gender-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated that sexual minorities are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. However, few prior investigations have examined the potential mechanisms involved. This study aimed to employ the four-way decomposition approach that integrates the analysis of mediation and interaction to investigate the potential role of problematic internet use between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

The participants were recruited through a multi-stage, stratified cluster, and random sampling method in China. Students who identified as "gay or lesbian" and "bisexual" were defined as "sexual minorities". The Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate problematic internet use. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-20) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 59,859 adolescents were included in this study, with 30,180 (53.25 %) boys and 29,679 (46.75 %) girls. Of these, 7263 (12.13 %) were identified as sexual minorities. Gender differences were observed in the association between sexual orientation, problematic internet use, and depressive symptoms. The mediating effect of problematic internet use was 28.80 % for boys and 36.84 % for girls, respectively. The interaction effect between problematic internet use and sexual minority status on depressive symptoms was 21.19 % and 9.65 % for boys and girls, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

The current study was limited by the cross-sectional design.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that prevention and intervention programs aimed at improving mental health outcomes among sexual minority adolescents should prioritize considering the impact of problematic internet use and potential gender differences.

Role of FKBP5 and its genetic mutations in stress-induced psychiatric disorders: an opportunity for drug discovery

Stress-induced mental health disorders are affecting many people around the world. However, effective drug therapy for curing psychiatric diseases does not occur sufficiently. Many neurotransmitters, hormones, and mechanisms are essential in regulating the body's stress response. One of the most critical components of the stress response system is the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The FKBP prolyl isomerase 51 (FKBP51) protein is one of the main negative regulators of the HPA axis. FKBP51 negatively regulates the cortisol effects (the end product of the HPA axis) by inhibiting the interaction between glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and cortisol, causing reduced transcription of downstream cortisol molecules. By regulating cortisol effects, the FKBP51 protein can indirectly regulate the sensitivity of the HPA axis to stressors. Previous studies have indicated the influence of FKBP5 gene mutations and epigenetic changes in different psychiatric diseases and drug responses and recommended the FKBP51 protein as a drug target and a biomarker for psychological disorders. In this review, we attempted to discuss the effects of the FKBP5 gene, its mutations on different psychiatric diseases, and drugs affecting the FKBP5 gene.

Association between academic pressure, NR3C1 gene methylation, and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents: a nested case-control study

BACKGROUND

Academic pressure is a prevalent stressor among Chinese adolescents and is often linked to anxiety symptoms, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between NR3C1 gene methylation, academic pressure, and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

This nested-case control study included 150 adolescents (boys: 38.7%; baseline age: 12-17 years) from a school-based longitudinal study of Chinese adolescents. Cases (n = 50) were defined as those with anxiety symptoms at both baseline and follow-up, while controls (n = 100) were randomly selected from those without anxiety symptoms at both timepoints. The cases and controls were 1:2 matched by age. Academic pressure, anxiety symptoms, and potential covariates were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Peripheral whole blood samples were collected from each participant for the detection of cortisol level (i.e., morning serum cortisol level) and DNA methylation. The methylation analysis included a total of 27 CpG units at the NR3C1 promoter region.

RESULTS

The final adjusted models showed that students with heavy academic pressure at baseline were at a higher risk of anxiety symptoms at follow-up compared to those with mild academic pressure (β estimate: 6.24 [95% CI: 3.48 ~ 9.01]). After adjusting for covariates, the methylation level of one CpG unit (NR3C1-16 CpG10) in NR3C1 differed significantly between cases and controls (F = 6.188, P = 0.014), and the difference remained significant after correction for multiple testing (P < 0.025). The adjusted regression models showed that moderate (β estimate = 0.010 [95% CI: 0.000 ~ 0.020], P = 0.046) and heavy (β estimate = 0.011 [95% CI: 0.001 ~ 0.020], P = 0.030) academic pressure were significantly associated with the methylation level of NR3C1-16 CpG 10. Further mediation analysis demonstrated that the association of academic pressure and anxiety symptoms was significantly mediated by the methylation of NR3C1-16 CpG 10 (β estimate for indirect effect = 0.11 [95% CI: 0.005 ~ 0.32]; indirect/total effect = 8.3%).

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that NR3C1-16 CpG 10 DNA methylation might be a potential mechanism that partially explains the lasting effects of academic pressure on subsequent anxiety symptoms among adolescents. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to replicate this finding.

The role of DNA methylation in progression of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases as well as the prospect of using DNA methylation inhibitors as therapeutic agents for such disorders

Genome-wide studies related to neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases have pointed to the role of epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs. DNA methylation machinery controls the dynamic regulation of methylation patterns in discrete brain regions.

Objective

This review aims to describe the role of DNA methylation in inhibiting and progressing neurological and neurodegenerative disorders and therapeutic approaches.

Methods

A Systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted for all qualified studies from 2000 to 2022.

Results

For the current need of time, we have focused on the DNA methylation role in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and the expression of genes involved in neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's, Depression, and Rett Syndrome. Finally, it appears that the various epigenetic changes do not occur separately and that DNA methylation and histone modification changes occur side by side and affect each other. We focused on the role of modification of DNA methylation in several genes associated with depression (NR3C1, NR3C2, CRHR1, SLC6A4, BDNF, and FKBP5), Rett syndrome (MECP2), Alzheimer's, depression (APP, BACE1, BIN1 or ANK1) and Parkinson's disease (SNCA), as well as the co-occurring modifications to histones and expression of non-coding RNAs. Understanding these epigenetic changes and their interactions will lead to better treatment strategies.

Conclusion

This review captures the state of understanding of the epigenetics of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. With new epigenetic mechanisms and targets undoubtedly on the horizon, pharmacological modulation and regulation of epigenetic processes in the brain holds great promise for therapy.