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Buczkowska M, Iob E. Testing the causal relationship of fat and sugar intake with depression and cortisol: a Mendelian Randomisation study. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:368. [PMID: 39256365 PMCID: PMC11387734 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03089-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Unhealthy diets high in fat and sugar content may have an impact on psychological health and increase the risk of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and stress levels. On the other hand, MDD and stress might be related to food choices and intake. However, it is not clear whether diet, and specifically fat and sugar intake, is causally related to stress and MDD, and whether this relationship may be bi-directional. This study utilised Mendelian Randomisation (MR) to investigate the causal nature of the relationship of fat and sugar intake with MDD and cortisol (as a proxy of stress), and to shed light on the direction of this relationship. Summary-level data for all exposure and outcome variables were obtained from large-scale, non-overlapping GWASs in individuals of European ancestry. Bidirectional analyses were performed: one with macronutrients as exposures and one with MDD/cortisol as exposures. Random-effects inverse-variance weighted regression was used as the primary analytic method for genetic instruments with at least two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) available (and individual Wald ratio was used when only one SNP was available). Higher levels of genetically predicted relative sugar intake were causally associated with lower MDD risk, for both genome-wide significant p-value threshold of p < 1 × 10-8, (OR = 0.553, 95% CI: 0.395-0.775) and relaxed p-value threshold of p < 1 × 10-6 (OR = 0.786, 95% CI: 0.630-0.981). No reverse causality was detected in the opposite direction as MDD was not associated with sugar consumption. The associations observed for all the other pairs of variables were weak and imprecise. A number of limitations was present in the study, such as low-SNP based heritability for some exposures, inability to prove whether variants were correlated with unmeasured confounders and self-reporting of MDD data. Lifestyle and/or pharmacological interventions targeting sugar-related physiological mechanisms may help to reduce depressive symptoms. However, more research is necessary on short- and long-term effects of sugar on the risk of MDD. Additionally, future studies should investigate whether the amount and type of sugar consumed may underlie the impact of sugar on mood and stress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matylda Buczkowska
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Eleonora Iob
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Xu B, Forthman KL, Kuplicki R, Ahern J, Loughnan R, Naber F, Thompson WK, Nemeroff CB, Paulus MP, Fan CC. Genetic Correlates of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Insights from Polygenic Scores Across Cognitive, Temperamental, and Sleep Traits in the All of US cohort. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.03.24309914. [PMID: 39006419 PMCID: PMC11245070 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.03.24309914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a major challenge in mental health, affecting a significant number of patients and leading to considerable economic and social burdens. The etiological factors contributing to TRD are complex and not fully understood. Objective To investigate the genetic factors associated with TRD using polygenic scores (PGS) across various traits, and to explore their potential role in the etiology of TRD using large-scale genomic data from the All of Us Research Program (AoU). Methods Data from 292,663 participants in the AoU were analyzed using a case-cohort design. Treatment resistant depression (TRD), treatment responsive Major Depressive Disorder (trMDD), and all others who have no formal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (non-MDD) were identified through diagnostic codes and prescription patterns. Polygenic scores (PGS) for 61 unique traits from seven domains were used and logistic regressions were conducted to assess associations between PGS and TRD. Finally, Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the predictive value of PGS for progression rate from the diagnostic event of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) to TRD. Results In the discovery set (104128 non-MDD, 16640 trMDD, and 4177 TRD), 44 of 61 selected PGS were found to be significantly associated with MDD, regardless of treatment responsiveness. Eleven of them were found to have stronger associations with TRD than with trMDD, encompassing PGS from domains in education, cognition, personality, sleep, and temperament. Genetic predisposition for insomnia and specific neuroticism traits were associated with increased TRD risk (OR range from 1.05 to 1.15), while higher education and intelligence scores were protective (ORs 0.88 and 0.91, respectively). These associations are consistent across two other independent sets within AoU (n = 104,388 and 63,330). Among 28,964 individuals tracked over time, 3,854 developed TRD within an average of 944 days (95% CI: 883 ~ 992 days) after MDD diagnosis. All eleven previously identified and replicated PGS were found to be modulating the conversion rate from MDD to TRD. Thus, those having higher education PGS would experiencing slower conversion rates than those who have lower education PGS with hazard ratios in 0.79 (80th versus 20th percentile, 95% CI: 0.74 ~ 0.85). Those who had higher insomnia PGS experience faster conversion rates than those who had lower insomnia PGS, with hazard ratios in 1.21 (80th versus 20th percentile, 95% CI: 1.13 ~ 1.30). Conclusions Our results indicate that genetic predisposition related to neuroticism, cognitive function, and sleep patterns play a significant role in the development of TRD. These findings underscore the importance of considering genetic and psychosocial factors in managing and treating TRD. Future research should focus on integrating genetic data with clinical outcomes to enhance our understanding of pathways leading to treatment resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Xu
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Center, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | - Rayus Kuplicki
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jonathan Ahern
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Center, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert Loughnan
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Center, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Firas Naber
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Center, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Wesley K. Thompson
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Center, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Charles B. Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Martin P. Paulus
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Chun Chieh Fan
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Center, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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3
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Lee JH, Meyer EJ, Nenke MA, Lightman SL, Torpy DJ. Cortisol, Stress, and Disease-Bidirectional Associations; Role for Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024:dgae412. [PMID: 38941154 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Selye described stress as a unified neurohormonal mechanism maintaining homeostasis. Acute stress system activation is adaptive through neurocognitive, catecholaminergic, and immunomodulation mechanisms, followed by a reset via cortisol. Stress system components, the sympathoadrenomedullary system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and limbic structures are implicated in many chronic diseases by establishing an altered homeostatic state, allostasis. Consequent "primary stress system disorders" were popularly accepted, with phenotypes based on conditions such as Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma, and adrenal insufficiency. Cardiometabolic and major depressive disorders are candidates for hypercortisolemic etiology, contrasting the "hypocortisolemic symptom triad" of stress sensitivity, chronic fatigue, and pain. However, acceptance of chronic stress etiology requires cause-and-effect associations, and practical utility such as therapeutics altering stress system function. Inherent predispositions to stress system perturbations may be relevant. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) variants have been associated with metabolic/neuropsychological states. The SERPINA6 gene encoding corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), was the sole genetic factor in a single-nucleotide variation-genome-wide association study linkage study of morning plasma cortisol, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with alterations in tissue-specific GR-related gene expression. Studies showed genetically predicted high cortisol concentrations are associated with hypertension and anxiety, and low CBG concentrations/binding affinity, with the hypocortisolemic triad. Acquired CBG deficiency in septic shock results in 3-fold higher mortality when hydrocortisone administration produces equivocal results, consistent with CBG's role in spatiotemporal cortisol delivery. We propose some stress system disorders result from constitutional stress system variants rather than stressors themselves. Altered CBG:cortisol buffering may influence interstitial cortisol ultradian surges leading to pathological tissue effects, an example of stress system variants contributing to stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H Lee
- Department of Medicine, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Emily Jane Meyer
- Department of Medicine, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Endocrine and Diabetes Services, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, SA 5011, Australia
| | - Marni Anne Nenke
- Department of Medicine, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Endocrine and Diabetes Services, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, SA 5011, Australia
| | - Stafford L Lightman
- Systems Neuroendocrinology Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, UK
| | - David J Torpy
- Department of Medicine, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Chan II, Wu AM. Assessing the Role of Cortisol in Anxiety, Major Depression, and Neuroticism: A Mendelian Randomization Study Using SERPINA6/ SERPINA1 Variants. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100294. [PMID: 38525495 PMCID: PMC10959652 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Previous evidence informed by the toxic stress model suggests that higher cortisol causes anxiety and major depression, but clinical success is lacking. To clarify the role of cortisol, we used Mendelian randomization to estimate its associations with anxiety, major depression, and neuroticism, leveraging the largest available genome-wide association studies including from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, the UK Biobank, and FinnGen. Methods After meta-analyzing 2 genome-wide association studies on morning plasma cortisol (n = 32,981), we selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at p < 5 × 10-8 and r2 < 0.3 in the SERPINA6/SERPINA1 gene region encoding proteins that influence cortisol bioavailability. We applied these SNPs to summary genetic associations with the outcomes considered (n = 17,310-449,484), and systolic blood pressure as a positive outcome, using inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis accounting for correlation. Sensitivity analyses addressing SNP correlation and confounding by childhood maltreatment and follow-up analyses using only SNPs that colocalized with SERPINA6 expression were conducted. Results Cortisol was associated with anxiety (pooled odds ratio [OR] 1.16 per cortisol z score; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.31), but not major depression (pooled OR 1.02, 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.10) or neuroticism (β -0.025; 95% CI, -0.071 to 0.022). Sensitivity analyses yielded similar estimates. Cortisol was positively associated with systolic blood pressure, as expected. Using rs9989237 and rs2736898, selected using colocalization, cortisol was associated with anxiety in the UK Biobank (OR 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.74) but not with major depression in FinnGen (OR 1.14; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.37). Conclusions Cortisol was associated with anxiety and may be a potential target for prevention. Other targets may be more relevant to major depression and neuroticism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Io Ieong Chan
- Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Faculty of Health Science, University of Macau, Macao, China
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Anise M.S. Wu
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
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Lee WH, Larsson SC, Wood A, Di Angelantonio E, Butterworth AS, Burgess S, Allara E. Genetically predicted plasma cortisol and common chronic diseases: A Mendelian randomization study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2024; 100:238-244. [PMID: 37667866 PMCID: PMC7615603 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14966] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cushing's syndrome is characterized by hypercortisolaemia and is frequently accompanied by comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, depression and schizophrenia. It is unclear whether moderate but lifelong hypercortisolaemia is causally associated with these diseases in the general population. We aimed to address this research gap using a Mendelian randomization approach. METHODS We used three cortisol-associated genetic variants in the SERPINA6/SERPINA1 region as genetic instruments in a two-sample, inverse-variance-weighted Mendelian randomization analysis. We obtained summary-level statistics for cortisol and disease outcomes from publicly available genetic consortia, and meta-analysed them as appropriate. We conducted a multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis to assess potential mediating effects. RESULTS A 1 standard deviation higher genetically predicted plasma cortisol was associated with greater odds of hypertension (odds ratio: 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.18) as well as higher systolic blood pressure (mean difference [MD]: 0.03 SD change; 95% CI: 0.01-0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (MD: 0.03 SD change; 95% CI: 0.01-0.04). There was no evidence of association with type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and schizophrenia. The association with hypertension was attenuated upon adjustment for waist circumference, suggesting potential mediation through central obesity. CONCLUSION There is strong evidence for a causal association between plasma cortisol and greater risk for hypertension, potentially mediated by obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hsuan Lee
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Uni, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susanna C. Larsson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Angela Wood
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Uni, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Philip Dahdaleh National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Centre of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emanuele Di Angelantonio
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Uni, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Philip Dahdaleh National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Science Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Adam S. Butterworth
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Uni, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Philip Dahdaleh National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK Cambridge, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen Burgess
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Uni, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elias Allara
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Uni, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Philip Dahdaleh National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Ren Z, Long J, Deng W, Jing Y, Qiu J, Ren W, Liu D. Causal Relationship Between Sleep Traits and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Target Gland Axis Function: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Nat Sci Sleep 2024; 16:155-175. [PMID: 38379755 PMCID: PMC10878316 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s442231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In recent years, multiple observational studies have confirmed the association between sleep traits and various human physiopathological states. However, the causal relationship between sleep traits and hypothalamic-pituitary-target gland axis (HPTGA) function remains unknown. Methods We obtained summary statistics on sleep traits (insomnia, chronotype, and sleep duration (long and short)) from the UK Biobank database. Data related to the HPTGA functions were obtained from the publicly available database. Subsequently, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to investigate the causal relationship between different sleep traits and the HPTGA function. Reverse MR analysis was conducted to examine the direction of causality. Results The MR analysis results suggested that chronotype is associated with decreased levels of six hormones in HPTGA. Sleep duration was causally associated with decreased levels of free thyroxine and progesterone. Both long and short sleep durations are detrimental to the secretion of prolactin-releasing peptide, somatostatin, and plasma cortisol, while short sleep duration can promote progesterone secretion. After gender stratification, we found that female reproductive function is more susceptible to the influence of unfavorable sleep traits. Conclusion Our MR analysis indicated a significant causal association between chronotype and suppressed gonadal function in healthy adult humans, with no apparent gender-specific effect. Extreme sleep durations were also found to be detrimental to the maintenance of normal HPTGA secretion function. Compared to males, gonadal function in the female cohort is more susceptible to extreme sleep habits. Subsequent observational studies are urgently needed to confirm the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyu Ren
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiangchuan Long
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenzhen Deng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Jing
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingwen Qiu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Ren
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
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Christakoudi S, Asimakopoulos AG, Riboli E, Tsilidis KK. Links between the genetic determinants of morning plasma cortisol and body shape: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3230. [PMID: 38332183 PMCID: PMC10853188 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53727-4] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
High cortisol production in Cushing's syndrome leads to fat centralisation. The influence of modest cortisol variations on body shape, however, is less clear. We examined potentially causal associations between morning plasma cortisol and body shape and obesity with inverse-variance weighted random-effects models in a two-sample Mendelian randomisation analysis. We used publicly available summary statistics from the CORtisol NETwork (CORNET) consortium, UK Biobank, and the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) consortium. Only in women, morning plasma cortisol (proxied by ten genetic polymorphisms) was associated positively with waist size reflected in waist-to-hip index (WHI, 0.035 standard deviation (SD) units change per one SD cortisol increase; 95% confidence interval (0.002-0.067); p = 0.036) and "a body shape index" (ABSI; 0.039 (0.006-0.071); p = 0.021). There was no evidence for associations with hip index (HI) or body mass index (BMI). Among individual polymorphisms, rs7450600 stood out (chromosome 6; Long Intergenic Non-Protein-Coding RNA 473 gene, LINC00473). Morning plasma cortisol proxied by rs7450600 was associated positively with WHI and inversely with HI and BMI in women and men. Our findings support a causal association of higher morning plasma cortisol with larger waist size in women and highlight LINC00473 as a genetic link between morning plasma cortisol and body shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Christakoudi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
| | | | - Elio Riboli
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Konstantinos K Tsilidis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
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Thompson WD, Reynolds RM, Beaumont RN, Warrington NM, Tyrrell J, Wood AR, Evans DM, McDonald TJ, Hattersley AH, Freathy RM, Lawlor DA, Borges MC. Maternal plasma cortisol's effect on offspring birth weight: a Mendelian Randomisation study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:65. [PMID: 38225564 PMCID: PMC10789047 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06250-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational studies and randomized controlled trials have found evidence that higher maternal circulating cortisol levels in pregnancy are associated with lower offspring birth weight. However, it is possible that the observational associations are due to residual confounding. METHODS We performed two-sample Mendelian Randomisation (MR) using a single genetic variant (rs9989237) associated with morning plasma cortisol (GWAS; sample 1; N = 25,314). The association between this maternal genetic variant and offspring birth weight, adjusted for fetal genotype, was obtained from the published EGG Consortium and UK Biobank meta-analysis (GWAS; sample 2; N = up to 406,063) and a Wald ratio was used to estimate the causal effect. We also performed an alternative analysis using all GWAS reported cortisol variants that takes account of linkage disequilibrium. We also tested the genetic variant's effect on pregnancy cortisol and performed PheWas to search for potential pleiotropic effects. RESULTS The estimated effect of maternal circulating cortisol on birth weight was a 50 gram (95% CI, -109 to 10) lower birth weight per 1 SD higher log-transformed maternal circulating cortisol levels, using a single variant. The alternative analysis gave similar results (-33 grams (95% CI, -77 to 11)). The effect of the cortisol variant on pregnancy cortisol was 2-fold weaker than in the original GWAS, and evidence was found of pleiotropy. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide some evidence that higher maternal morning plasma cortisol causes lower birth weight. Identification of more independent genetic instruments for morning plasma cortisol are necessary to explore the potential bias identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- W D Thompson
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- Academic Rheumatology, Clinical Sciences Building, Nottingham City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, United Kingdom.
| | - R M Reynolds
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - R N Beaumont
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - N M Warrington
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - J Tyrrell
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - A R Wood
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - D M Evans
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - T J McDonald
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Academic Department of Blood Sciences, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - A H Hattersley
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - R M Freathy
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - D A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, UK
| | - M C Borges
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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9
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Filetti C, Kane-Grade F, Gunnar M. The Development of Stress Reactivity and Regulation in Children and Adolescents. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:395-419. [PMID: 37559538 PMCID: PMC10845082 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230808120504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Adversity experienced in early life can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. One pathway in which these effects occur is through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key physiological stress-mediating system. In this review, we discuss the theoretical perspectives that guide stress reactivity and regulation research, the anatomy and physiology of the axis, developmental changes in the axis and its regulation, brain systems regulating stress, the role of genetic and epigenetics variation in axis development, sensitive periods in stress system calibration, the social regulation of stress (i.e., social buffering), and emerging research areas in the study of stress physiology and development. Understanding the development of stress reactivity and regulation is crucial for uncovering how early adverse experiences influence mental and physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Filetti
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Finola Kane-Grade
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Megan Gunnar
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
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Yan P, Ke B, Fang X. Identification of molecular mediators of renal sarcopenia risk: a mendelian randomization analysis. J Nutr Health Aging 2024; 28:100019. [PMID: 38267164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2023.100019] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational studies have shown an association between reduced renal function and the risk of sarcopenia. However, the causal relationship and the underlying biological mechanisms remain uncertain. Using a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework, we investigated the causal role of 27 hypothetical risk mediators, including metabolites, hormones, inflammation, and stress traits, on the risk of sarcopenia. METHODS Instrumental variables (IVs) to proxy renal function were identified by selecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reliably associated with creatinine and cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in CKDGen summary data. IVs for putative risk traits and sarcopenia traits were constructed from relevant genome-wide association studies (GWAS). MR estimated effects were obtained using an inverse-variance weighted effects model, and various sensitivity analyses were performed. The mediating role of hypothetical risk factors in the relationship between GFR and sarcopenia was assessed through multivariate MR. RESULTS Genetically predicted reduced GFRcrea was associated with higher odds of appendicular lean mass (ALM) (odds ratio (OR): 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37 to 0.68) and grip strength (OR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.78). Likewise, GFRcys highlighted a causal relationship with ALM (OR: 0.52; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.65) and grip strength (OR: 0.66; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.74). Both estimated GFR (eGFR) were negatively associated with IGF-1, IL-16, 25(OH)D, triglycerides (range of effect size per standard deviation: -0.81 to -0.30), and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol (0.62, 0.31). There was a positive correlation between IGF-1, fasting insulin and ALM as well as grip strength (OR range: 1.04-1.67) and a negative correlation between serum CRP and ALM (OR: 0.95) as well as grip strength (OR: 0.98). Additionally, genetically predicted IL-1β (OR: 0.95) and total cholesterol (OR: 0.96) were negatively associated with ALM. We found evidence that IGF-1 mediates the relationship between eGFR and risk for muscle mass and strength. CONCLUSIONS This MR study provides insight into the potential causal mechanisms between renal function and the risk of sarcopenia and proposes IGF-1 as a potential target for the prevention of renal sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nangchang 330000, China
| | - Ben Ke
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nangchang 330000, China.
| | - Xiangdong Fang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nangchang 330000, China.
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11
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Hantsoo L, Jagodnik KM, Novick AM, Baweja R, di Scalea TL, Ozerdem A, McGlade EC, Simeonova DI, Dekel S, Kornfield SL, Nazareth M, Weiss SJ. The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depression across the female reproductive lifecycle: current knowledge and future directions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1295261. [PMID: 38149098 PMCID: PMC10750128 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this narrative review is to consolidate knowledge on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression pathophysiology at different reproductive stages across the female lifespan. Despite growing evidence about the impact of gonadal hormones on mood disorders, no previous review has examined the interaction between such hormonal changes and the HPA axis within the context of depressive disorders in women. We will focus on HPA axis function in depressive disorders at different reproductive stages including the menstrual cycle (e.g., premenstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD]), perinatally (e.g., postpartum depression), and in perimenopausal depression. Each of these reproductive stages is characterized by vast physiological changes and presents major neuroendocrine reorganization. The HPA axis is one of the main targets of such functional alterations, and with its key role in stress response, it is an etiological factor in vulnerable windows for depression across the female lifespan. We begin with an overview of the HPA axis and a brief summary of techniques for measuring HPA axis parameters. We then describe the hormonal milieu of each of these key reproductive stages, and integrate information about HPA axis function in depression across these reproductive stages, describing similarities and differences. The role of a history of stress and trauma exposure as a contributor to female depression in the context of HPA axis involvement across the reproductive stages is also presented. This review advances the pursuit of understanding common biological mechanisms across depressive disorders among women. Our overarching goal is to identify unmet needs in characterizing stress-related markers of depression in women in the context of hormonal changes across the lifespan, and to support future research in women's mental health as it pertains to pathophysiology, early diagnosis, and treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Hantsoo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Jagodnik
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrew M. Novick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Ritika Baweja
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State Health, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Health, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Teresa Lanza di Scalea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Aysegul Ozerdem
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Erin C. McGlade
- Department of Psychiatry, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake, UT, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Salt Lake, UT, United States
| | - Diana I. Simeonova
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Brain Health Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sharon Dekel
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sara L. Kornfield
- Center for Women’s Behavioral Wellness, Psychiatry Department, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michelle Nazareth
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sandra J. Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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12
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Li H, Zhang Z, Qiu Y, Weng H, Yuan S, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Xi L, Xu F, Ji X, Hao R, Yang P, Chen G, Zuo X, Zhai Z, Wang C. Proteome-wide mendelian randomization identifies causal plasma proteins in venous thromboembolism development. J Hum Genet 2023; 68:805-812. [PMID: 37537391 PMCID: PMC10678328 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-023-01186-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous risk loci for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but it is challenging to decipher the underlying mechanisms. We employed an integrative analytical pipeline to transform genetic associations to identify novel plasma proteins for VTE. Proteome-wide association studies (PWAS) were determined by functional summary-based imputation leveraging data from a genome-wide association analysis (14,429 VTE patients, 267,037 controls), blood proteomes (1348 cases), followed by Mendelian randomization, Bayesian colocalization, protein-protein interaction, and pathway enrichment analysis. Twenty genetically regulated circulating protein abundances (F2, F11, ABO, PLCG2, LRP4, PLEK, KLKB1, PROC, KNG1, THBS2, SERPINA1, RARRES2, CEL, GP6, SERPINE2, SERPINA10, OBP2B, EFEMP1, F5, and MSR1) were associated with VTE. Of these 13 proteins demonstrated Mendelian randomized correlations. Six proteins (F2, F11, PLEK, SERPINA1, RARRES2, and SERPINE2) had strong support in colocalization analysis. Utilizing multidimensional data, this study suggests PLEK, SERPINA1, and SERPINE2 as compelling proteins that may provide key hints for future research and possible diagnostic and therapeutic targets for VTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haobo Li
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhu Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuting Qiu
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyi Weng
- WeGene, Shenzhen, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yunxia Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Linfeng Xi
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Feiya Xu
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofan Ji
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Risheng Hao
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Peiran Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College; National Center for Respiratory Medicine; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Chen
- WeGene, Shenzhen, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xianbo Zuo
- Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenguo Zhai
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Chen Wang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
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13
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Toews JNC, Philippe TJ, Dordevic M, Hill LA, Hammond GL, Viau V. Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin (SERPINA6) Consolidates Sexual Dimorphism of Adult Rat Liver. Endocrinology 2023; 165:bqad179. [PMID: 38015819 PMCID: PMC10699879 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad179] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Produced by the liver, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) regulates the plasma distribution and actions of glucocorticoids. A sex difference in pituitary growth hormone secretion patterns established during puberty in rats results in increased hepatic CBG production and 2-fold higher plasma corticosterone levels in females. Glucocorticoids control hepatic development and metabolic activities, and we have therefore examined how disrupting the SerpinA6 gene encoding CBG influences plasma corticosterone dynamics, as well as liver gene expression in male and female rats before and after puberty. Comparisons of corticosterone plasma clearance and hepatic uptake in adult rats, with or without CBG, indicated that CBG limits corticosterone clearance by reducing its hepatic uptake. Hepatic transcriptomic profiling revealed minor sex differences (207 differentially expressed genes) and minimal effect of CBG deficiency in 30-day-old rats before puberty. While liver transcriptomes in 60-day-old males lacking CBG remained essentially unchanged, 2710 genes were differentially expressed in wild-type female vs male livers at this age. Importantly, ∼10% of these genes lost their sexually dimorphic expression in adult females lacking CBG, including those related to cholesterol biosynthesis, inflammation, and lipid and amino acid catabolism. Another 203 genes were altered by the loss of CBG specifically in adult females, including those related to xenobiotic metabolism, circadian rhythm, and gluconeogenesis. Our findings reveal that CBG consolidates the sexual dimorphism of the rat liver initiated by sex differences in growth hormone secretion patterns and provide insight into how CBG deficiencies are linked to glucocorticoid-dependent diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia N C Toews
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Tristan J Philippe
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Matthew Dordevic
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lesley A Hill
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Geoffrey L Hammond
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Victor Viau
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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14
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Monari S, Guillot de Suduiraut I, Grosse J, Zanoletti O, Walker SE, Mesquita M, Wood TC, Cash D, Astori S, Sandi C. Blunted Glucocorticoid Responsiveness to Stress Causes Behavioral and Biological Alterations That Lead to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Vulnerability. Biol Psychiatry 2023:S0006-3223(23)01590-1. [PMID: 37743003 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding why only a subset of trauma-exposed individuals develop posttraumatic stress disorder is critical for advancing clinical strategies. A few behavioral (deficits in fear extinction) and biological (blunted glucocorticoid levels, small hippocampal size, and rapid-eye-movement sleep [REMS] disturbances) traits have been identified as potential vulnerability factors. However, whether and to what extent these traits are interrelated and whether one of them could causally engender the others are not known. METHODS In a genetically selected rat model of reduced corticosterone responsiveness to stress, we explored posttraumatic stress disorder-related biobehavioral traits using ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging, cued fear conditioning, and polysomnographic recordings combined with in vivo photometric measurements. RESULTS We showed that genetic selection for blunted glucocorticoid responsiveness led to a correlated multitrait response, including impaired fear extinction (observed in males but not in females), small hippocampal volume, and REMS disturbances, supporting their interrelatedness. Fear extinction deficits and concomitant disruptions in REMS could be normalized through postextinction corticosterone administration, causally implicating glucocorticoid deficiency in two core posttraumatic stress disorder-related risk factors and manifestations. Furthermore, reduced REMS was accompanied by higher norepinephrine levels in the hippocampal dentate gyrus that were also reversed by postextinction corticosterone treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate a predominant role for glucocorticoid deficiency over the contribution of reduced hippocampal volume in engendering both REMS alterations and associated deficits in fear extinction consolidation, and they causally implicate blunted glucocorticoids in sustaining neurophysiological disturbances that lead to fear extinction deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Monari
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jocelyn Grosse
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Zanoletti
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sophie E Walker
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michel Mesquita
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tobias C Wood
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Diana Cash
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Astori
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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15
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Bankier S, Wang L, Crawford A, Morgan RA, Ruusalepp A, Andrew R, Björkegren JLM, Walker BR, Michoel T. Plasma cortisol-linked gene networks in hepatic and adipose tissues implicate corticosteroid-binding globulin in modulating tissue glucocorticoid action and cardiovascular risk. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1186252. [PMID: 37745713 PMCID: PMC10513085 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1186252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association meta-analysis (GWAMA) by the Cortisol Network (CORNET) consortium identified genetic variants spanning the SERPINA6/SERPINA1 locus on chromosome 14 associated with morning plasma cortisol, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and SERPINA6 mRNA expression encoding corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) in the liver. These and other findings indicate that higher plasma cortisol levels are causally associated with CVD; however, the mechanisms by which variations in CBG lead to CVD are undetermined. Using genomic and transcriptomic data from The Stockholm Tartu Atherosclerosis Reverse Networks Engineering Task (STARNET) study, we identified plasma cortisol-linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are trans-associated with genes from seven different vascular and metabolic tissues, finding the highest representation of trans-genes in the liver, subcutaneous fat, and visceral abdominal fat, [false discovery rate (FDR) = 15%]. We identified a subset of cortisol-associated trans-genes that are putatively regulated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the primary transcription factor activated by cortisol. Using causal inference, we identified GR-regulated trans-genes that are responsible for the regulation of tissue-specific gene networks. Cis-expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTLs) were used as genetic instruments for identification of pairwise causal relationships from which gene networks could be reconstructed. Gene networks were identified in the liver, subcutaneous fat, and visceral abdominal fat, including a high confidence gene network specific to subcutaneous adipose (FDR = 10%) under the regulation of the interferon regulatory transcription factor, IRF2. These data identify a plausible pathway through which variation in the liver CBG production perturbs cortisol-regulated gene networks in peripheral tissues and thereby promote CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Bankier
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lingfei Wang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Crawford
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth A. Morgan
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- SRUC, The Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Arno Ruusalepp
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tartu University, Tartu, Estonia
- Clinical Gene Networks AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ruth Andrew
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Johan L. M. Björkegren
- Clinical Gene Networks AB, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brian R. Walker
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Michoel
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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16
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Ciochetti NP, Lugli-Moraes B, da Silva BS, Rovaris DL. Genome-wide association studies: utility and limitations for research in physiology. J Physiol 2023; 601:2771-2799. [PMID: 37208942 PMCID: PMC10527550 DOI: 10.1113/jp284241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiological systems are subject to interindividual variation encoded by genetics. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) operate by surveying thousands of genetic variants from a substantial number of individuals and assessing their association to a trait of interest, be it a physiological variable, a molecular phenotype (e.g. gene expression), or even a disease or condition. Through a myriad of methods, GWAS downstream analyses then explore the functional consequences of each variant and attempt to ascertain a causal relationship to the phenotype of interest, as well as to delve into its links to other traits. This type of investigation allows mechanistic insights into physiological functions, pathological disturbances and shared biological processes between traits (i.e. pleiotropy). An exciting example is the discovery of a new thyroid hormone transporter (SLC17A4) and hormone metabolising enzyme (AADAT) from a GWAS on free thyroxine levels. Therefore, GWAS have substantially contributed with insights into physiology and have been shown to be useful in unveiling the genetic control underlying complex traits and pathological conditions; they will continue to do so with global collaborations and advances in genotyping technology. Finally, the increasing number of trans-ancestry GWAS and initiatives to include ancestry diversity in genomics will boost the power for discoveries, making them also applicable to non-European populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Pereira Ciochetti
- Laboratory of Physiological Genomics of Mental Health (PhysioGen Lab), Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Lugli-Moraes
- Laboratory of Physiological Genomics of Mental Health (PhysioGen Lab), Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Santos da Silva
- Laboratory of Physiological Genomics of Mental Health (PhysioGen Lab), Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Developmental Psychiatry, Center of Experimental Research, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Diego Luiz Rovaris
- Laboratory of Physiological Genomics of Mental Health (PhysioGen Lab), Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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17
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Jue H, Fang-fang L, Dan-fei C, Nuo C, Chun-lu Y, Ke-pin Y, Jian C, Xiao-bo X. A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study about the role of morning plasma cortisol in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1148759. [PMID: 37389173 PMCID: PMC10303788 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1148759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Context Cortisol, a hormone regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The nature of the relationship between cortisol and ADHD, and whether it is causal or explained by reverse causality, remains a matter of debate. Objective This study aims to evaluate the bidirectional causal relationship between morning plasma cortisol levels and ADHD. Methods This study used a bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design to analyze the association between morning plasma cortisol levels and ADHD using genetic information from the authoritative Psychiatric Genomics Collaboration (PGC) database (n = 55,347) and the ADHD Working Group of the CORtisol NETwork (CORNET) Consortium (n = 12,597). MR analyses were employed: inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression, and weighted medians. OR values and 95% CI were used to evaluate whether there was a causal association between morning plasma cortisol levels on ADHD and ADHD on morning plasma cortisol levels. The Egger-intercept method was employed to test for level pleiotropy. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the "leave-one-out" method, MR pleiotropy residual sum, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO). Results Findings from bidirectional MR demonstrated that lower morning plasma cortisol levels were associated with ADHD (ADHD-cortisol OR = 0.857; 95% CI, 0.755-0.974; P = 0.018), suggesting there is a reverse causal relationship between cortisol and ADHD. However, morning plasma cortisol levels were not found to have a causal effect on the risk of ADHD (OR = 1.006; 95% CI, 0.909-1.113; P = 0.907), despite the lack of genetic evidence. The MR-Egger method revealed intercepts close to zero, indicating that the selected instrumental variables had no horizontal multiplicity. The "leave-one-out" sensitivity analysis revealed stable results, with no instrumental variables significantly affecting the results. Heterogeneity tests were insignificant, and MR-PRESSO did not detect any significant outliers. The selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) F were all >10, indicating no weak instrumental variables. Thus, the overall MR analysis results were reliable. Conclusion The study findings suggest a reverse causal relationship between morning plasma cortisol levels and ADHD, with low cortisol levels associated with ADHD. No genetic evidence was found to support a causal relationship between morning plasma cortisol levels and the risk of ADHD. These results suggest that ADHD may lead to a significant reduction in morning plasma cortisol secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Jue
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Fang-fang
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Dan-fei
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Nuo
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ye Chun-lu
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Ke-pin
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Jian
- First Clinical School, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Xiao-bo
- Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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18
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Wu D, Guo M, Robinson CV. Connecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms, glycosylation status, and interactions of plasma serine protease inhibitors. Chem 2023; 9:665-681. [PMID: 38455847 PMCID: PMC10914678 DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the combined impacts of genetic variances and post-translational modifications requires new approaches. Here, we delineate proteoforms of plasma serine protease inhibitors and relate specific proteoforms to their interactions in complexes through the use of native mass spectrometry (MS). First, we dissect the proteoform repertoire of an acute-phase plasma protein, serine protease inhibitor A1 (SERPINA1), resolving four SERPINA1 variants (M1V, M1A, M2, and M3) with common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Investigating the glycosylation status of these variants and their ability to form complexes with a serine protease, elastase, we find that fucosylation stabilizes the interaction of the SERPINA1 M1V variant through its core fucosylation on Asn271. In contrast, antennary fucosylation on Asn271 destabilizes SERPINA1-elastase interactions. We unveil the same opposing effects of core and antennary fucosylation on SERPINA3 interactions with chymotrypsin. Together, our native MS results highlight the modulating effects of fucosylation with different linkages on glycoprotein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Manman Guo
- Botnar Research Centre, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit Oxford, Nuffield Department of Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Carol V. Robinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
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19
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Lee JH, Meyer EJ, Nenke MA, Falhammar H, Torpy DJ. Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG): spatiotemporal distribution of cortisol in sepsis. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:181-190. [PMID: 36681594 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a 50-60 kDa circulating glycoprotein with high affinity for cortisol. CBG is adapted for sepsis; its cortisol binding is reduced reversibly by pyrexia and acidaemia, and reduced irreversibly by neutrophil elastase (NE) cleavage, converting high cortisol-binding affinity CBG to a low affinity form. These characteristics allow for the targeted delivery of immunomodulatory cortisol to tissues at the time and body site where cortisol is required in sepsis and septic shock. In addition, high titer inflammatory cytokines in sepsis suppress CBG hepatic synthesis, increasing the serum free cortisol fraction. Recent clinical studies have highlighted the importance of CBG in septic shock, with CBG deficiency independently associated with mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Emily J Meyer
- Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Department of Endocrine and Diabetes, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia
| | - Marne A Nenke
- Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Department of Endocrine and Diabetes, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia
| | - Henrik Falhammar
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - David J Torpy
- Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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20
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Acute Stress Regulates Sex-Related Molecular Responses in the Human Jejunal Mucosa: Implications for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030423. [PMID: 36766765 PMCID: PMC9913488 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030423] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder linked to intestinal barrier dysfunction and life stress. We have previously reported that female sex per se determines an increased susceptibility to intestinal barrier dysfunction after cold pain stress (CPS). We aimed to identify sex-related molecular differences in response to CPS in healthy subjects to understand the origin of sex bias predominance in IBS. In 13 healthy males and 21 females, two consecutive jejunal biopsies were obtained using Watson's capsule, at baseline, and ninety minutes after CPS. Total mucosal RNA and protein were isolated from jejunal biopsies. Expression of genes related to epithelial barrier (CLDN1, CLDN2, OCLN, ZO-1, and ZO-3), mast cell (MC) activation (TPSAB1, SERPINA1), and the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) were analyzed using RT-qPCR. NR3C1, ZO-1 and OCLN protein expression were evaluated through immunohistochemistry and western blot, and mucosal inflammation through MC, lymphocyte, and eosinophil numbering. Autonomic, hormonal, and psychological responses to CPS were monitored. We found an increase in jejunal MCs, a reduced CLDN1 and OCLN expression, and an increased CLDN2 and SERPINA1 expression 90 min after CPS. We also found a significant decrease in ZO-1, OCLN, and NR3C1 gene expression, and a decrease in OCLN protein expression only in females, when compared to males. CPS induced a significant increase in blood pressure, plasma cortisol and ACTH, and subjective stress perception in all participants. Specific and independent sex-related molecular responses in epithelial barrier regulation are unraveled by acute stress in the jejunum of healthy subjects and may partially explain female predominance in IBS.
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21
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Baumeister SE, Reckelkamm SL, Grabe HJ, Nauck M, Klinger-König J, Völzke H, Kocher T, Friedrich N, Holtfreter B. Cortisol and periodontitis: Prospective observational and Mendelian randomization studies. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1100985. [PMID: 37008927 PMCID: PMC10050732 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1100985] [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: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cortisol has obesogenic, hyperglycemic and immunomodulating effects. Preclinical and observational research suggested that it is associated with periodontitis but the evidence for potential causality in humans is sparse. We triangulated results from prospective observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to further explore this. METHODS Using pooled data from 3,388 participants of two population cohort studies embedded in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) project, we associated serum cortisol levels with periodontal outcomes measured after a median follow-up time of 6.9 years, adjusting for confounding and selection bias using propensity score weighting and multiple imputation. We further examined the effect of genetically proxied plasma morning cortisol levels on periodontitis using two-sample MR of 17,353 cases and 28,210 controls. RESULTS In SHIP, we found that cortisol levels were positively associated with follow-up levels of mean clinical attachment level (CAL), deep interdental CAL and bleeding on probing but were unrelated to mean probing pocket depth and deep periodontal pockets. In MR analysis, cortisol was not associated with periodontitis. CONCLUSION The observational study revealed a prospective association of spot cortisol with makers of periodontitis. Contrary to observational studies, genetically instrumented, long-term cortisol was unrelated to periodontitis. Our results find no univocal evidence that cortisol plays a role in periodontitis pathology, casting doubt on cortisol-related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian-Edgar Baumeister
- Institute of Health Services Research in Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- *Correspondence: Sebastian-Edgar Baumeister,
| | - Stefan Lars Reckelkamm
- Institute of Health Services Research in Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hans-Jörgen Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Nauck
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, University Medicine, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johanna Klinger-König
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Völzke
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, University Medicine, Greifswald, Germany
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas Kocher
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology, Endodontology, and Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nele Friedrich
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, University Medicine, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Birte Holtfreter
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology, Endodontology, and Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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22
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Li H, Chen K, Yang L, Wang Q, Zhang J, He J. The role of plasma cortisol in dementia, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis: A Mendelian randomization study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1107780. [PMID: 37008911 PMCID: PMC10050717 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1107780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many clinical studies have shown a correlation between plasma cortisol and neurological disorders. This study explored the causal relationship between plasma cortisol and dementia, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis based on Mendelian randomization (MR) method. METHODS Data were taken from the summary statistics of a genome-wide association study, FinnGen consortium and United Kingdom Biobank. Dementia, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis were used as outcomes, and genetic variants associated with plasma cortisol were used as instrumental variables. The main analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighted method, and the results were assessed according to the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity tests, pleiotropy tests, and leave-one-out method were conducted to evaluate the stability and accuracy of the results. RESULTS In two-sample MR analysis, the inverse variance weighted method showed that plasma cortisol was associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 0.99 (0.98-1.00), P = 0.025], vascular dementia (VaD) [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.02 (1.00-4.05), P = 0.049)], Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 0.24 (0.07-0.82), P = 0.023] and epilepsy [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.00 (1.03-3.91), P = 0.042]. There were no statistically significant associations between plasma cortisol and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that plasma cortisol increase the incidence rates of epilepsy and VaD and decrease the incidence rates of AD and PDD. Monitoring plasma cortisol concentrations in clinical practice can help prevent diseases, such as AD, PDD, VaD and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqi Li
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Kaili Chen
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Le Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Jilin Province People’s Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Qiaoli Wang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jinting He
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Jinting He,
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23
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Dorin RI, Urban FK, Perogamvros I, Qualls CR. Four-Compartment Diffusion Model of Cortisol Disposition: Comparison With 3 Alternative Models in Current Clinical Use. J Endocr Soc 2022; 7:bvac173. [PMID: 36628386 PMCID: PMC9815201 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvac173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Context Estimated rates of cortisol elimination and appearance vary according to the model used to obtain them. Generalizability of current models of cortisol disposition in healthy humans is limited. Objective Development and validation of a realistic, mechanistic model of cortisol disposition that accounts for the major factors influencing plasma cortisol concentrations in vivo (Model 4), and comparison to previously described models of cortisol disposition in current clinical use (Models 1-3). Methods The 4 models were independently applied to cortisol concentration data obtained for the hydrocortisone bolus experiment (20 mg) in 2 clinical groups: healthy volunteers (HVs, n = 6) and corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG)-deficient (n = 2). Model 4 used Fick's first law of diffusion to model free cortisol flux between vascular and extravascular compartments. Pharmacokinetic parameter solutions for Models 1-4 were optimized by numerical methods, and model-specific parameter solutions were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance. Models and respective parameter solutions were compared by mathematical and simulation analyses, and an assessment tool was used to compare performance characteristics of the four models evaluated herein. Results Cortisol half-lives differed significantly between models (all P < .001) with significant model-group interaction (P = .02). In comparative analysis, Model 4 solutions yielded significantly reduced free cortisol half-life, improved fit to experimental data (both P < .01), and superior model performance. Conclusion The proposed 4-compartment diffusion model (Model 4) is consistent with relevant experimental observations and met the greatest number of empiric validation criteria. Cortisol half-life solutions obtained using Model 4 were generalizable between HV and CBG-deficient groups and bolus and continuous modes of hydrocortisone infusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard I Dorin
- Department of Medicine, New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare
System, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA
- Department of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University
of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
87131, USA
| | - Frank K Urban
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International
University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Ilias Perogamvros
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, School of Medical
Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13
9PL, UK
| | - Clifford R Qualls
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
- Department of Research, New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare
System, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA
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Toews JNC, Philippe TJ, Hill LA, Dordevic M, Miguelez-Crespo A, Homer NZM, Nixon M, Hammond GL, Viau V. Corticosteroid-binding Globulin (SERPINA6) Establishes Postpubertal Sex Differences in Rat Adrenal Development. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6702154. [PMID: 36112420 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Encoded by SerpinA6, plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) transports glucocorticoids and regulates their access to cells. We determined how CBG influences plasma corticosterone and adrenal development in rats during the pubertal to adult transition using CRISPR/cas9 to disrupt SerpinA6 gene expression. In the absence of CBG, total plasma corticosterone levels were ∼80% lower in adult rats of both sexes, with a greater absolute reduction in females than in males. Notably, free corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone were comparable between all groups. Between 30 and 90 days of age, wild-type female rats showed increases in adrenal weight and the size of the corticosterone-producing region, the zona fasciculata (zf), in tandem with increases in plasma CBG and corticosterone concentrations, whereas no such changes were observed in males. This sex difference was lost in rats without CBG, such that adrenal growth and zf expansion were similar between sexes. The sex-specific effects of CBG on adrenal morphology were accompanied by remarkable changes in gene expression: ∼40% of the adrenal transcriptome was altered in females lacking CBG, whereas almost no effect was seen in males. Over half of the adrenal genes that normally exhibit sexually dimorphic expression after puberty were similarly expressed in males and females without CBG, including those responsible for cholesterol biosynthesis and mobilization, steroidogenesis, and growth. Rat adrenal SerpinA6 transcript levels were very low or undetectable. Thus, sex differences in adrenal growth, morphology and gene expression profiles that emerge during puberty in rats are dependent on concomitant increases in plasma CBG produced by the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia N C Toews
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Tristan J Philippe
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lesley A Hill
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Matthew Dordevic
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Allende Miguelez-Crespo
- British Heart Foundation/University Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Natalie Z M Homer
- British Heart Foundation/University Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark Nixon
- British Heart Foundation/University Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Geoffrey L Hammond
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Victor Viau
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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25
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Allara E, Lee WH, Burgess S, Larsson SC. Genetically predicted cortisol levels and risk of venous thromboembolism. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272807. [PMID: 35984822 PMCID: PMC9390895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In observational studies, venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been associated with Cushing's syndrome and with persistent mental stress, two conditions associated with higher cortisol levels. However, it remains unknown whether high cortisol levels within the usual range are causally associated with VTE risk. We aimed to assess the association between plasma cortisol levels and VTE risk using Mendelian randomization. METHODS Three genetic variants in the SERPINA1/SERPINA6 locus (rs12589136, rs11621961 and rs2749527) were used to proxy plasma cortisol. The associations of the cortisol-associated genetic variants with VTE were acquired from the INVENT (28 907 cases and 157 243 non-cases) and FinnGen (6913 cases and 169 986 non-cases) consortia. Corresponding data for VTE subtypes were available from the FinnGen consortium and UK Biobank. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses (inverse-variance weighted method) were performed. RESULTS Genetic predisposition to higher plasma cortisol levels was associated with a reduced risk of VTE (odds ratio [OR] per one standard deviation increment 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-0.87, p<0.001). The association was stronger for deep vein thrombosis (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.88, p = 0.003) than for pulmonary embolism which did not achieve statistical significance (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.09, p = 0.184). Adjusting for genetically predicted systolic blood pressure inverted the direction of the point estimate for VTE, although the resulting CI was wide (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.70-1.61, p = 0.780). CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that genetically predicted plasma cortisol levels in the high end of the normal range are associated with a decreased risk of VTE and that this association may be mediated by blood pressure. This study has implications for the planning of observational studies of cortisol and VTE, suggesting that blood pressure traits should be measured and accounted for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Allara
- BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wei-Hsuan Lee
- BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Burgess
- BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Susanna C. Larsson
- Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Borresen SW, Klose M, Glintborg D, Watt T, Andersen MS, Feldt-Rasmussen U. Approach to the Patient With Glucocorticoid-induced Adrenal Insufficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:2065-2076. [PMID: 35302603 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is caused by exogenous glucocorticoid suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is the most prevalent form of adrenal insufficiency. The condition is important to diagnose given the risk of life-threatening adrenal crisis and impact on patients' quality of life. The diagnosis is made with a stimulation test such as the ACTH test. Until now, testing for glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency has often been based on clinical suspicion rather than routinely but accumulating evidence indicates that a significant number of cases will remain unrecognized. During ongoing oral glucocorticoid treatment or initially after withdrawal, ~50% of patients have adrenal insufficiency, but, outside clinical studies, ≤ 1% of patients have adrenal testing recorded. More than 70% of cases are identified during acute hospital admission, where the diagnosis can easily be missed because symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are nonspecific and overlap those of the underlying and intercurrent conditions. Treatment of severe glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency should follow the principles for treatment of central adrenal insufficiency. The clinical implications and thus indication to treat mild-moderate adrenal deficiency after glucocorticoid withdrawal has not been established. Also, the indication of adding stress dosages of glucocorticoid during ongoing glucocorticoid treatment remains unclear. In patients with established glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency, high rates of poor confidence in self-management and delayed glucocorticoid administration in the acute setting with an imminent adrenal crisis call for improved awareness and education of clinicians and patients. This article reviews different facets of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and discusses approaches to the condition in common clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Willemoes Borresen
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marianne Klose
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dorte Glintborg
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Torquil Watt
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marianne Skovsager Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tiensuu H, Haapalainen AM, Tissarinen P, Pasanen A, Määttä TA, Huusko JM, Ohlmeier S, Bergmann U, Ojaniemi M, Muglia LJ, Hallman M, Rämet M. Human placental proteomics and exon variant studies link AAT/SERPINA1 with spontaneous preterm birth. BMC Med 2022; 20:141. [PMID: 35477570 PMCID: PMC9047282 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth is defined as live birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, and it is a major problem worldwide. The molecular mechanisms that lead to onset of spontaneous preterm birth are incompletely understood. Prediction and evaluation of the risk of preterm birth is challenging as there is a lack of accurate biomarkers. In this study, our aim was to identify placental proteins that associate with spontaneous preterm birth. METHODS We analyzed the proteomes from placentas to identify proteins that associate with both gestational age and spontaneous labor. Next, rare and potentially damaging gene variants of the identified protein candidates were sought for from our whole exome sequencing data. Further experiments we performed on placental samples and placenta-associated cells to explore the location and function of the spontaneous preterm labor-associated proteins in placentas. RESULTS Exome sequencing data revealed rare damaging variants in SERPINA1 in families with recurrent spontaneous preterm deliveries. Protein and mRNA levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin/SERPINA1 from the maternal side of the placenta were downregulated in spontaneous preterm births. Alpha-1 antitrypsin was expressed by villous trophoblasts in the placenta, and immunoelectron microscopy showed localization in decidual fibrinoid deposits in association with specific extracellular proteins. siRNA knockdown in trophoblast-derived HTR8/SVneo cells revealed that SERPINA1 had a marked effect on regulation of the actin cytoskeleton pathway, Slit-Robo signaling, and extracellular matrix organization. CONCLUSIONS Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protease inhibitor. We propose that loss of the protease inhibition effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin renders structures critical to maintaining pregnancy susceptible to proteases and inflammatory activation. This may lead to spontaneous premature birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Tiensuu
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti M Haapalainen
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pinja Tissarinen
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anu Pasanen
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tomi A Määttä
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Johanna M Huusko
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Steffen Ohlmeier
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facilities, Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ulrich Bergmann
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facilities, Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marja Ojaniemi
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.,Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Mikko Hallman
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland. .,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Mika Rämet
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland. .,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland. .,Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33014, Tampere, Finland.
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Defining the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the relationship between fetal growth and adult cardiometabolic outcomes. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2022; 13:683-694. [PMID: 35445653 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174422000186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Animal and human data demonstrate independent relationships between fetal growth, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function (HPA-A) and adult cardiometabolic outcomes. While the association between fetal growth and adult cardiometabolic outcomes is well-established, the role of the HPA-A in these relationships is unclear. This study aims to determine whether HPA-A function mediates or moderates this relationship. Approximately 2900 pregnant women were recruited between 1989-1991 in the Raine Study. Detailed anthropometric data was collected at birth (per cent optimal birthweight [POBW]). The Trier Social Stress Test was administered to the offspring (Generation 2; Gen2) at 18 years; HPA-A responses were determined (reactive responders [RR], anticipatory responders [AR] and non-responders [NR]). Cardiometabolic parameters (BMI, systolic BP [sBP] and LDL cholesterol) were measured at 20 years. Regression modelling demonstrated linear associations between POBW and BMI and sBP; quadratic associations were observed for LDL cholesterol. For every 10% increase in POBW, there was a 0.54 unit increase in BMI (standard error [SE] 0.15) and a 0.65 unit decrease in sBP (SE 0.34). The interaction between participant's fetal growth and HPA-A phenotype was strongest for sBP in young adulthood. Interactions for BMI and LDL-C were non-significant. Decomposition of the total effect revealed no causal evidence of mediation or moderation.
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29
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Qi X, Cui B, Cao M. The Role of Morning Plasma Cortisol in Obesity: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e1954-e1960. [PMID: 35018462 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Cortisol, an important hormone regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, is associated with obesity. However, it is unclear whether the relationship between cortisol and obesity is causal or could be explained by reverse causality. OBJECTIVE This work aims to assess the role of morning plasma cortisol in clinical classes of obesity. METHODS In this bidirectional, 2-sample mendelian randomization (MR) study, cortisol-associated genetic variants were obtained from the CORtisol NETwork consortium (n = 12 597). The primary outcomes were obesity class I (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30), class II (BMI ≥ 35), and class III (BMI ≥ 40). The inverse variance weighting method was used as the main analysis, with weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) as sensitivity analyses. Conversely, genetic variants predicting clinical classes of obesity were applied to the cortisol genome-wide association study. RESULTS Genetically predicted cortisol was associated with reduced risk of obesity class I (OR = 0.905; 95% CI, 0.865-0.946; P < .001). Evidence from bidirectional MR showed that obesity class II and class III were associated with lower cortisol levels ([class II-cortisol OR = 0.953; 95% CI, 0.923-0.983; P = .002]; [class III-cortisol OR = 0.955; 95% CI, 0.942-0.967; P < .001]), indicating reverse causality between cortisol and obesity. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that cortisol is negatively associated with obesity and vice versa. Together, these findings suggest that blunted morning plasma cortisol secretion may be responsible for severe obesity. Regulating morning plasma cortisol secretion might be a prevention measure for obese people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Qi
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Endocrine Tumor, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Cui
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Endocrine Tumor, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Endocrine Tumor, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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30
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Katsuhara S, Yokomoto-Umakoshi M, Umakoshi H, Matsuda Y, Iwahashi N, Kaneko H, Ogata M, Fukumoto T, Terada E, Sakamoto R, Ogawa Y. Impact of Cortisol on Reduction in Muscle Strength and Mass: A Mendelian Randomization Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e1477-e1487. [PMID: 34850018 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Prolonged exposure to pathological cortisol, as in Cushing's syndrome causes various age-related disorders, including sarcopenia. However, it is unclear whether mild cortisol excess, for example, accelerates sarcopenia due to aging or chronic stress. OBJECTIVE We used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess whether cortisol was causally associated with muscle strength and mass. METHODS Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with plasma cortisol concentrations in the CORtisol NETwork consortium (n = 12 597) were used as instrumental variables. Summary statistics with traits of interest were obtained from relevant genome-wide association studies. For the primary analysis, we used the fixed-effects inverse-variance weighted analysis accounting for genetic correlations between variants. RESULTS One SD increase in cortisol was associated with SD reduction in grip strength (estimate, -0.032; 95% CI -0.044 to -0.020; P = 3e-04), whole-body lean mass (estimate, -0.032; 95% CI, -0.046 to -0.017; P = 0.004), and appendicular lean mass (estimate, -0.031; 95% CI, -0.049 to -0.012; P = 0.001). The results were supported by the weighted-median analysis, with no evidence of pleiotropy in the MR-Egger analysis. The association of cortisol with grip strength and lean mass was observed in women but not in men. The association was attenuated after adjusting for fasting glucose in the multivariable MR analysis, which was the top mediator for the association in the MR Bayesian model averaging analysis. CONCLUSION This MR study provides evidence for the association of cortisol with reduced muscle strength and mass, suggesting the impact of cortisol on the development of sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Katsuhara
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Maki Yokomoto-Umakoshi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hironobu Umakoshi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yayoi Matsuda
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Norifusa Iwahashi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kaneko
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Ogata
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tazuru Fukumoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Eriko Terada
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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31
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Jiang Z, Elsarrag SZ, Duan Q, LaGory EL, Wang Z, Alexanian M, McMahon S, Rulifson IC, Winchester S, Wang Y, Vaisse C, Brown JD, Quattrocelli M, Lin CY, Haldar SM. KLF15 cistromes reveal a hepatocyte pathway governing plasma corticosteroid transport and systemic inflammation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj2917. [PMID: 35263131 PMCID: PMC8906731 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj2917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Circulating corticosteroids orchestrate stress adaptation, including inhibition of inflammation. While pathways governing corticosteroid biosynthesis and intracellular signaling are well understood, less is known about mechanisms controlling plasma corticosteroid transport. Here, we show that hepatocyte KLF15 (Kruppel-like factor 15) controls plasma corticosteroid transport and inflammatory responses through direct transcriptional activation of Serpina6, which encodes corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). Klf15-deficient mice have profoundly low CBG, reduced plasma corticosteroid binding capacity, and heightened mortality during inflammatory stress. These defects are completely rescued by reconstituting CBG, supporting that KLF15 works primarily through CBG to control plasma corticosterone homeostasis. To understand transcriptional mechanisms, we generated the first KLF15 cistromes using newly engineered Klf153xFLAG mice. Unexpectedly, liver KLF15 is predominantly promoter enriched, including Serpina6, where it binds a palindromic GC-rich motif, opens chromatin, and transactivates genes with minimal associated direct gene repression. Overall, we provide critical mechanistic insight into KLF15 function and identify a hepatocyte-intrinsic transcriptional module that potently regulates systemic corticosteroid transport and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Jiang
- Amgen Research, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Selma Z. Elsarrag
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program and Quantitative and Computational Biosciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Qiming Duan
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | - Zhe Wang
- Amgen Research, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Sarah McMahon
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | | | - Yi Wang
- UCSF Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Christian Vaisse
- UCSF Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Brown
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mattia Quattrocelli
- Molecular Cardiovascular Biology Division, Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Charles Y. Lin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Kronos Bio Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Saptarsi M. Haldar
- Amgen Research, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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32
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Kwok MK, Kawachi I, Rehkopf D, Ni MY, Leung GM, Schooling CM. Relative Deprivation, Income Inequality, and Cardiovascular Health: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Studies in Hong Kong Chinese. Front Public Health 2022; 9:726617. [PMID: 35127607 PMCID: PMC8814320 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.726617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The associations between absolute vs. relative income at the household or neighborhood level and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk remain understudied in the Chinese context. Further, it is unclear whether stress biomarkers, such as cortisol, are on the pathway from income to CVD risk. We examined the associations of absolute and relative income with CVD risk observationally, as well as the mediating role of cortisol, and validated the role of cortisol using Mendelian Randomization (MR) in Hong Kong Chinese. Within Hong Kong's FAMILY Cohort, associations of absolute and relative income at both the individual and neighborhood levels with CVD risk [body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, self-reported CVD and self-reported diabetes] were examined using multilevel logistic or linear models (n = 17,607), the mediating role of cortisol using the mediation analysis (n = 1,562), and associations of genetically predicted cortisol with CVD risk using the multiplicative generalized method of moments (MGMMs) or two-stage least squares regression (n = 1,562). In our cross-sectional observational analysis, relative household income deprivation (per 1 SD, equivalent to USD 128 difference in Yitzhaki index) was associated with higher systolic blood pressure (0.47 mmHg, 95% CI 0.30–0.64), but lower BMI (−0.07 kg/m2, 95% CI −0.11 to −0.04), independent of absolute income. Neighborhood income inequality was generally unrelated to CVD and its risk factors, nor was absolute income at the household or neighborhood level. Cortisol did not clearly mediate the association of relative household income deprivation with systolic blood pressure. Using MR, cortisol was unrelated to CVD risk. Based on our findings, relative household income deprivation was not consistently associated with cardiovascular health in Hong Kong Chinese, nor were neighborhood income inequality and absolute income, highlighting the context-specific ways in which relative and absolute income are linked to CVD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Ki Kwok
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Rehkopf
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Michael Y. Ni
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Gabriel M. Leung
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - C. Mary Schooling
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: C. Mary Schooling
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33
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Morning Cortisol and Circulating Inflammatory Cytokine Levels: A Mendelian Randomisation Study. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13010116. [PMID: 35052454 PMCID: PMC8774857 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortisol exerts a broad anti-inflammatory effect on the immune system. Inflammatory cytokines contribute to the molecular signalling pathways implicated in various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. However, the mechanisms by which cortisol modulates such signalling pathways remain uncertain. Leveraging summary-level data from the CORtisol NETwork (CORNET, n = 25,314) and FINRISK (n = 8293) genome-wide association studies, we used two-sample Mendelian randomisation to investigate the causal effect of genetically proxied morning cortisol levels on 42 circulating cytokines. We found that increased genetically proxied morning cortisol levels were associated with reduced levels of IL-8 and increased levels of MIF. These results provide mechanistic insight into the immunomodulatory effects of endogenous cortisol and the therapeutic effects of exogenous corticosteroids. Clinically, our findings underline the therapeutic importance of steroids in inflammatory conditions where IL-8 and MIF play a central pathophysiological role in the onset and progression of disease.
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34
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Genetic Variation and Mendelian Randomization Approaches. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1390:327-342. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11836-4_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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35
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Murani E, Trakooljul N, Hadlich F, Ponsuksili S, Wimmers K. Brain Transcriptome Responses to Dexamethasone Depending on Dose and Sex Reveal Factors Contributing to Sex-Specific Vulnerability to Stress-Induced Disorders. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 112:235-251. [PMID: 33853082 PMCID: PMC8985051 DOI: 10.1159/000516500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR) signaling in the hypothalamus (Hyp) and in the superordinate limbic structures, such as the hippocampus (Hip), conveys feedback regulation of the neuroendocrine stress response and acts upon other neurobiological functions that ultimately influence mental health. These responses are strongly influenced by sex, but the molecular causes are still largely unexplored. METHODS To investigate GR targets and their GC sensitivity in the Hyp and Hip, we treated juvenile male and female piglets with 10 (D10) or 60 (D60) µg/kg dexamethasone (DEX), a selective GR agonist, and analyzed transcriptome responses compared to a saline control group using RNA sequencing. RESULTS Both doses influenced similar biological functions, including cellular response to lipid and immune cell-related functions, but the transcriptional response to D10 was considerably weaker, particularly in the Hip. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis revealed a network of genes coordinately regulated by DEX in both structures, among which the alpha-arrestin ARRDC2 takes a central position. Distinct functional groups of genes were differentially regulated by DEX between sexes depending on the dose; at D10, these included particularly mitochondrial genes, whereas at D60 interferon signaling and lipid homeostasis genes were enriched. The general and sex-specific transcriptional responses to DEX highlight microglia as the prominent target. Several key marker genes of disease-associated microglia were regulated by DEX depending on sex, such as TREM2 and LPL. CONCLUSION The discovered expression signatures suggest that DEX induced a dysfunctional state of microglia in males, while in females microglia were primed, which could entail predisposition for different mental disorders.
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36
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Meyer EJ, Spangenberg L, Ramírez MJ, De Sousa SMC, Raggio V, Torpy DJ. CBG Montevideo: A Clinically Novel SERPINA6 Mutation Leading to Haploinsufficiency of Corticosteroid-binding Globulin. J Endocr Soc 2021; 5:bvab115. [PMID: 34308089 PMCID: PMC8294686 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvab115] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is the main transport protein for cortisol, binding up to 90% in a 1:1 ratio. CBG provides transport of cortisol within the circulation and targeted cortisol tissue delivery. Here, we describe the clinically novel “CBG Montevideo” a SERPINA6 pathogenic variant that results in a 50% reduction in plasma CBG levels. This was associated with low serum total cortisol and clinical features of hypoglycemia, exercise intolerance, chronic fatigue, and hypotension in the proband, a 7-year-old boy, and his affected mother. Previous reports of 9 human CBG genetic variants affecting either CBG concentrations or reduced CBG-cortisol binding properties have outlined symptoms consistent with attenuated features of hypocortisolism, fatigue, and hypotension. Here, however, the presence of hypoglycemia, despite normal circulating free cortisol, suggests a specific role for CBG in effecting glucocorticoid function, perhaps involving cortisol-mediated hepatic glucose homeostasis and cortisol-brain communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Jane Meyer
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.,Endocrine and Diabetes Services, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA 5011, Australia.,Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Lucía Spangenberg
- Bioinformatics Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, 11400, Uruguay.,Department of Informatics and Computer Science, Universidad Católica del Uruguay, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay
| | - Maria José Ramírez
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Hospital Británico, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay.,Paediatric Endocrinology, Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay
| | - Sunita Maria Christina De Sousa
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.,Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.,South Australian Adult Genetics Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Victor Raggio
- Genetics Department, Facultad de Medicina, UDELAR, Montevideo, 11800, Uruguay
| | - David James Torpy
- Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.,Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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37
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Dlamini SN, Choudhury A, Ramsay M, Micklesfield LK, Norris SA, Crowther NJ, Crawford AA, Walker BR, Lombard Z, Goedecke JH. Associations Between CYP17A1 and SERPINA6/A1 Polymorphisms, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Black South Africans. Front Genet 2021; 12:687335. [PMID: 34484290 PMCID: PMC8414563 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.687335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Research in European and Asian populations has reported associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP17A1 and SERPINA6/A1 and circulating glucocorticoid concentrations, and some key cardiometabolic risk factors. This study aimed to investigate these associations in black South African adults, who are disproportionally affected by the metabolic syndrome and its related cardiometabolic risk factors. The dataset included black South African adults (n = 4,431; 56.7% women) from the AWI-Gen study, genotyped on the H3A genotyping array and imputed using the African reference panel at the Sanger imputation service. From the imputed data, 31 CYP17A1 SNPs and 550 SERPINA6/A1 SNPs were extracted. The metabolic syndrome and its components were defined using the 2009 harmonized guidelines. Serum glucocorticoid concentrations were measured in a subset of 304 men and 573 women, using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Genetic associations were detected using PLINK. Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple testing. A SNP at SERPINA6/A1, rs17090691 (effect allele G), was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure (BP) in all adults combined (p = 9.47 × 10-6). Sex-stratified analyses demonstrated an association between rs1051052 (effect allele G), another SERPINA6/A1 SNP, and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations in women (p = 1.23 × 10-5). No association was observed between these variants and glucocorticoids or between any of the CYP17A1 SNPs and metabolic outcomes after adjusting for multiple testing. Furthermore, there were no associations between any of the SNPs tested and the metabolic syndrome. This study reports novel genetic associations between two SNPs at SERPINA6/A1 and key cardiometabolic risk factors in black South Africans. Future replication and functional studies in larger populations are required to confirm the role of the identified SNPs in the metabolic syndrome and assess if these associations are mediated by circulating glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siphiwe N. Dlamini
- South African Medical Research Council/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ananyo Choudhury
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Michèle Ramsay
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lisa K. Micklesfield
- South African Medical Research Council/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Shane A. Norris
- South African Medical Research Council/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nigel J. Crowther
- Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Andrew A. Crawford
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Brian R. Walker
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Zané Lombard
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Julia H. Goedecke
- South African Medical Research Council/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
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Uemoto Y, Ichinoseki K, Matsumoto T, Oka N, Takamori H, Kadowaki H, Kojima-Shibata C, Suzuki E, Okamura T, Aso H, Kitazawa H, Satoh M, Uenishi H, Suzuki K. Genome-wide association studies for production, respiratory disease, and immune-related traits in Landrace pigs. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15823. [PMID: 34349215 PMCID: PMC8338966 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95339-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) related to a chronic respiratory disease such as Mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine (MPS) and immune-related traits is important for the genetic improvement of disease resistance in pigs. The objective of this study was to detect a novel QTL for a total of 22 production, respiratory disease, and immune-related traits in Landrace pigs. A total of 874 Landrace purebred pigs, which were selected based on MPS resistance, were genotyped using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip. We performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based and haplotype-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to detect a novel QTL and to evaluate the possibility of a pleiotropic QTL for these traits. SNP-based GWAS detected a total of six significant regions in backfat thickness, ratio of granular leucocytes to lymphatic cells, plasma concentration of cortisol at different ages, and complement alternative pathway activity in serum. The significant region detected by haplotype-based GWAS was overlapped across the region detected by SNP-based GWAS. Most of these detected QTL regions were novel regions with some candidate genes located in them. With regard to a pleiotropic QTL among traits, only three of these detected QTL regions overlapped among traits, and many detected regions independently affected the traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinobu Uemoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan.
| | - Kasumi Ichinoseki
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
| | - Toshimi Matsumoto
- Animal Bioregulation Unit, Division of Animal Sciences, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Nozomi Oka
- Miyagi Prefecture Animal Industry Experiment Station, Osaki, Miyagi, 989-6445, Japan
| | - Hironori Takamori
- Miyagi Prefecture Animal Industry Experiment Station, Osaki, Miyagi, 989-6445, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kadowaki
- Miyagi Prefecture Animal Industry Experiment Station, Osaki, Miyagi, 989-6445, Japan
| | | | - Eisaku Suzuki
- Miyagi Prefecture Animal Industry Experiment Station, Osaki, Miyagi, 989-6445, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Okamura
- Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0901, Japan
| | - Hisashi Aso
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
| | - Haruki Kitazawa
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
| | - Masahiro Satoh
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
| | - Hirohide Uenishi
- Animal Bioregulation Unit, Division of Animal Sciences, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Keiichi Suzuki
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
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Assessing the role of cortisol in cancer: a wide-ranged Mendelian randomisation study. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:1025-1029. [PMID: 34316022 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01505-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cortisol's immunosuppressive, obesogenic, and hyperglycaemic effects suggest that it may play a role in cancer development. However, whether cortisol increases cancer risk is not known. We investigated the potential causal association between plasma cortisol and risk of overall and common site-specific cancers using Mendelian randomisation. METHODS Three genetic variants associated with morning plasma cortisol levels at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10-8) in the Cortisol Network consortium were used as genetic instruments. Summary-level genome-wide association study data for the cancer outcomes were obtained from large-scale cancer consortia, the UK Biobank, and the FinnGen consortium. Two-sample Mendelian randomisation analyses were performed using the fixed-effects inverse-variance weighted method. Estimates across data sources were combined using meta-analysis. RESULTS A standard deviation increase in genetically predicted plasma cortisol was associated with increased risk of endometrial cancer (odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.99; P = 0.005). There was no significant association between genetically predicted plasma cortisol and risk of other common site-specific cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal, lung, or malignant skin cancer, or overall cancer. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that elevated plasma cortisol levels may increase the risk of endometrial cancer but not other cancers. The mechanism by which this occurs remains to be investigated.
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Glucocorticoids: Fuelling the Fire of Atherosclerosis or Therapeutic Extinguishers? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147622. [PMID: 34299240 PMCID: PMC8303333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones with key roles in the regulation of many physiological systems including energy homeostasis and immunity. However, chronic glucocorticoid excess, highlighted in Cushing's syndrome, is established as being associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of CVD, leading to complications including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure. While the associations between glucocorticoid excess and increased prevalence of these complications are well established, the mechanisms underlying the role of glucocorticoids in development of atheroma are unclear. This review aims to better understand the importance of glucocorticoids in atherosclerosis and to dissect their cell-specific effects on key processes (e.g., contractility, remodelling and lesion development). Clinical and pre-clinical studies have shown both athero-protective and pro-atherogenic responses to glucocorticoids, effects dependent upon their multifactorial actions. Evidence indicates regulation of glucocorticoid bioavailability at the vasculature is complex, with local delivery, pre-receptor metabolism, and receptor expression contributing to responses linked to vascular remodelling and inflammation. Further investigations are required to clarify the mechanisms through which endogenous, local glucocorticoid action and systemic glucocorticoid treatment promote/inhibit atherosclerosis. This will provide greater insights into the potential benefit of glucocorticoid targeted approaches in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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Schultebraucks K, Choi KW, Galatzer-Levy IR, Bonanno GA. Discriminating Heterogeneous Trajectories of Resilience and Depression After Major Life Stressors Using Polygenic Scores. JAMA Psychiatry 2021; 78:744-752. [PMID: 33787853 PMCID: PMC8014197 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Major life stressors, such as loss and trauma, increase the risk of depression. It is known that individuals show heterogeneous trajectories of depressive symptoms following major life stressors, including chronic depression, recovery, and resilience. Although common genetic variation has been associated with depression risk, genomic factors that could help discriminate trajectories of risk vs resilience following adversity have not been identified. OBJECTIVE To assess the discriminatory accuracy of a deep neural net combining joint information from 21 psychiatric and health-related multiple polygenic scores (PGSs) for discriminating resilience vs other longitudinal symptom trajectories with use of longitudinal, genetically informed data on adults exposed to major life stressors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Health and Retirement Study is a longitudinal panel cohort study in US citizens older than 50 years, with data being collected once every 2 years between 1992 and 2010. A total of 2071 participants who were of European ancestry with available depressive symptom trajectory information after experiencing an index depressogenic major life stressor were included. Latent growth mixture modeling identified heterogeneous trajectories of depressive symptoms before and after major life stressors, including stable low symptoms (ie, resilience), as well as improving, emergent, and preexisting/chronic symptom patterns. Twenty-one PGSs were examined as factors distinctively associated with these heterogeneous trajectories. Local interpretable model-agnostic explanations were applied to examine PGSs associated with each trajectory. Data were analyzed using the DNN model from June to July 2020. EXPOSURES Development of depression and resilience were examined in older adults after a major life stressor, such as bereavement, divorce, and job loss, or major health events, such as myocardial infarction and cancer. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Discriminatory accuracy of a deep neural net model trained for the multinomial classification of 4 distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale) based on 21 PGSs using supervised machine learning. RESULTS Of the 2071 participants, 1329 were women (64.2%); mean (SD) age was 55.96 (8.52) years. Of these, 1638 (79.1%) were classified as resilient, 160 (7.75) in recovery (improving), 159 (7.7%) with emerging depression, and 114 (5.5%) with preexisting/chronic depression symptoms. Deep neural nets distinguished these 4 trajectories with high discriminatory accuracy (multiclass micro-average area under the curve, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.87-0.89; multiclass macro-average area under the curve, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.85-0.87). Discriminatory accuracy was highest for preexisting/chronic depression (AUC 0.93), followed by emerging depression (AUC 0.88), recovery (AUC 0.87), resilience (AUC 0.75). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The results of the longitudinal cohort study suggest that multivariate PGS profiles provide information to accurately distinguish between heterogeneous stress-related risk and resilience phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schultebraucks
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York ,Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York,Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Karmel W. Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
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Larsson SC, Lee WH, Burgess S, Allara E. Plasma Cortisol and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: A Mendelian Randomization Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e2521-e2526. [PMID: 33822969 PMCID: PMC8208666 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiac arrhythmias, and related risk factors are common in patients with Cushing's syndrome, or clinical chronic hypercortisolism. While hypercortisolism may be associated with AF, this association has not yet been ascertained causally. OBJECTIVE To determine whether plasma cortisol is causally associated with AF using a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design. METHODS Three genetic variants in the SERPINA1/SERPINA6 locus and functionally associated with plasma cortisol were identified in the CORtisol NETwork consortium (12 597 participants). Summary-level genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for the associations between the cortisol-associated variants and AF were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis of 6 studies (60 620 AF cases and 970 216 noncases) and the FinnGen consortium (17 325 AF cases and 97 214 noncases). The fixed-effects inverse-variance weighted approach accounting for genetic correlations between variants was used for analysis. Multivariable MR analyses were conducted to assess potential mediating effects of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and waist circumference (WC). Summary-level GWAS data for SBP and WC were obtained respectively from the International Consortium of Blood Pressure (757 601 participants) and the Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits consortium (232 101 participants). RESULTS One standard deviation increase in genetically predicted plasma cortisol was associated with greater risk of AF (odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% CI 1.06-1.35). The association attenuated when adjusting for genetically predicted SBP and WC (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.72-1.38). CONCLUSION Evidence derived from the MR study suggests a positive association between plasma cortisol and risk of AF, likely mediated through SBP and WC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna C Larsson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence: Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Wei-Hsuan Lee
- BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen Burgess
- BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elias Allara
- BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Crawford AA, Bankier S, Altmaier E, Barnes CLK, Clark DW, Ermel R, Friedrich N, van der Harst P, Joshi PK, Karhunen V, Lahti J, Mahajan A, Mangino M, Nethander M, Neumann A, Pietzner M, Sukhavasi K, Wang CA, Bakker SJL, Bjorkegren JLM, Campbell H, Eriksson J, Gieger C, Hayward C, Jarvelin MR, McLachlan S, Morris AP, Ohlsson C, Pennell CE, Price J, Rudan I, Ruusalepp A, Spector T, Tiemeier H, Völzke H, Wilson JF, Michoel T, Timpson NJ, Smith GD, Walker BR. Variation in the SERPINA6/SERPINA1 locus alters morning plasma cortisol, hepatic corticosteroid binding globulin expression, gene expression in peripheral tissues, and risk of cardiovascular disease. J Hum Genet 2021; 66:625-636. [PMID: 33469137 PMCID: PMC8144017 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-020-00895-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The stress hormone cortisol modulates fuel metabolism, cardiovascular homoeostasis, mood, inflammation and cognition. The CORtisol NETwork (CORNET) consortium previously identified a single locus associated with morning plasma cortisol. Identifying additional genetic variants that explain more of the variance in cortisol could provide new insights into cortisol biology and provide statistical power to test the causative role of cortisol in common diseases. The CORNET consortium extended its genome-wide association meta-analysis for morning plasma cortisol from 12,597 to 25,314 subjects and from ~2.2 M to ~7 M SNPs, in 17 population-based cohorts of European ancestries. We confirmed the genetic association with SERPINA6/SERPINA1. This locus contains genes encoding corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) and α1-antitrypsin. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses undertaken in the STARNET cohort of 600 individuals showed that specific genetic variants within the SERPINA6/SERPINA1 locus influence expression of SERPINA6 rather than SERPINA1 in the liver. Moreover, trans-eQTL analysis demonstrated effects on adipose tissue gene expression, suggesting that variations in CBG levels have an effect on delivery of cortisol to peripheral tissues. Two-sample Mendelian randomisation analyses provided evidence that each genetically-determined standard deviation (SD) increase in morning plasma cortisol was associated with increased odds of chronic ischaemic heart disease (0.32, 95% CI 0.06-0.59) and myocardial infarction (0.21, 95% CI 0.00-0.43) in UK Biobank and similarly in CARDIoGRAMplusC4D. These findings reveal a causative pathway for CBG in determining cortisol action in peripheral tissues and thereby contributing to the aetiology of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Crawford
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sean Bankier
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Elisabeth Altmaier
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Catriona L K Barnes
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
| | - David W Clark
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
| | - Raili Ermel
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nele Friedrich
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Disease (DZHK e.V.), partner site Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Pim van der Harst
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, PO box 30.001, 9700 RB, The Netherlands
| | - Peter K Joshi
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
| | - Ville Karhunen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Medical Research Council-Public Health England Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jari Lahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Turku Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Anubha Mahajan
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Massimo Mangino
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maria Nethander
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alexander Neumann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maik Pietzner
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Disease (DZHK e.V.), partner site Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Carol A Wang
- School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Stephan J L Bakker
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johan L M Bjorkegren
- Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Clinical Gene Networks AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Harry Campbell
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
| | - Johan Eriksson
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Helsinki, Singapore
| | - Christian Gieger
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Caroline Hayward
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, Scotland
| | - Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Medical Research Council-Public Health England Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Unit of Primary Health Care and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Stela McLachlan
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
| | - Andrew P Morris
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Claes Ohlsson
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Drug Treatment, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Craig E Pennell
- School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Jackie Price
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
| | - Igor Rudan
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Arno Ruusalepp
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
- Clinical Gene Networks AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tim Spector
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioural Science, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 48, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - James F Wilson
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, Scotland
| | - Tom Michoel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Nicolas J Timpson
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - George Davey Smith
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Brian R Walker
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Genetic and environmental influences on cortisol reactivity to a psychosocial stressor in adolescents and young adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 127:105195. [PMID: 33714784 PMCID: PMC8186845 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Individuals vary in their response to psychological and physiological stressors, and this reactivity can be captured using measures of cortisol. Previous research suggests cortisol reactivity is under some degree of genetic control; however, the measures used have varied widely. This study (N = 524) examined potential differences in heritability across varying cortisol metrics of stress reactivity following the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and whether these measures are genetically or environmentally interrelated. Participants included twins aged 15-20 years (56% female). Cortisol reactivity to the TSST was assessed via serial salivary cortisol samples collected pre- and post-TSST. Modest to moderate heritability estimates (12% [95CI: 1-36%] - 45% [95CI: 16-69%]) were observed across measures purported to capture stress reactivity (peak, area under the curve [AUC], baseline-to-peak change). Findings also demonstrate both shared and unique genetic and environmental influences between baseline cortisol and cortisol reactivity. Minimal to no additional genetic innovations above and beyond the contributions of peak cortisol were found for other measures of cortisol reactivity such as AUC. This study is one of the largest twin-based samples to examine the heritability of cortisol reactivity, and results suggest that simpler measures of cortisol reactivity demonstrate higher heritability compared to more complex measurements.
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Lovato CM, Thévenot T, Borot S, Di Martino V, Qualls CR, Urban FK, Dorin RI. Decreased maximal cortisol secretion rate in patients with cirrhosis: Relation to disease severity. JHEP Rep 2021; 3:100277. [PMID: 34027338 PMCID: PMC8121968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Hepatic enzymes play a major role in the metabolic elimination of cortisol, and reduced rates of cortisol clearance have been consistently observed in patients with chronic liver disease. It is less clear whether there are concomitant abnormalities of adrenocortical function in patients with cirrhosis. In the present study, we sought to assess adrenocortical function in patients with cirrhosis using measures of free cortisol appearance and elimination rates that are independent of serum concentrations of cortisol binding proteins. Methods Post hoc analysis used computer-assisted numerical and modelling methods with serial total and free cortisol concentration data to obtain rates of free cortisol appearance and elimination. Rate parameters were obtained in 114 patients with chronic liver disease, including Child-Pugh (CP) ≤8 (n = 53) and CP >8 (n = 61). Results Maximal cortisol secretion rate (CSRmax) was significantly decreased (p = 0.01) in patients with cirrhosis with CP >8 (0.28 nM/s; 95% CI 0.24–0.34) compared with those with CP ≤8 (0.39 nM/s; 95% CI 0.33–0.46), and CSRmax was negatively correlated with CP score (r = −0.19, p = 0.01). Free cortisol elimination rate was significantly (p = 0.04) decreased in the CP >8 group (0.16 ± 0.20 min−1) compared with that in the CP ≤8 group (0.21 ± 0.21 min−1), and free cortisol elimination rates were negatively correlated with CP score (r = −0.23, p = 0.01). A significant correlation between CSRmax and free cortisol elimination rate (r = 0.88, p <0.001) was observed. Conclusions CSRmax and free cortisol elimination rates were significantly reduced according to severity of cirrhosis. In contrast to stimulated total cortisol concentrations, CSRmax estimates were independent of cortisol-binding protein concentrations. Results provide additional evidence of subnormal adrenocortical function in patients with cirrhosis. Lay summary We applied numerical analytic methods to characterise adrenocortical function in patients with varying stages of chronic liver disease. We found that patients with more severe cirrhosis have decreased rate of free cortisol elimination and decreased maximal cortisol secretion rate, which is a measure of adrenocortical function. In contrast to conventional measures of adrenocortical function, those obtained using numerical methods were not affected by variation in corticosteroid binding globulin and albumin concentrations. We conclude that patients with cirrhosis demonstrate measurable abnormalities of adrenocortical function, evidence of which supports aspects of the hepatoadrenal syndrome hypothesis. Free cortisol appearance and elimination rates were obtained by computer-assisted numerical analysis. Maximal cortisol secretion rates, a measure of adrenocortical function, were inversely related to severity of cirrhosis. Variation in concentrations of cortisol binding proteins bias measures of adrenocortical function that rely on total cortisol. Chronically reduced rate of free cortisol elimination in patients with cirrhosis may contribute to the pathophysiology of subnormal adrenocortical function. Evidence of subnormal adrenocortical function supports the hepatoadrenal syndrome hypothesis.
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Key Words
- ACLF, acute-on-chronic liver failure
- ACTH, adrenocorticotrophin
- AI, adrenal insufficiency
- Adrenal insufficiency
- CBG, corticosteroid-binding globulin
- CIRCI, critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency
- CP, Child-Pugh
- CPR, cortisol production rate
- CRP, C-reactive protein
- CRT, corticosteroid replacement therapy
- CSR, cortisol secretion rate
- CSRbase, basal CSR (before ACTH stimulation)
- CSRmax, maximal CSR
- Computer-assisted numerical analysis
- HPA, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal
- HSD, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
- Hydrocortisone
- INR, international normalised ratio
- Liver disease
- MCR, metabolic clearance rate
- MELD, model for end-stage liver disease
- Metabolic clearance rate
- PAI, primary adrenal insufficiency
- RAI, relative adrenal insufficiency
- RCT, randomised clinical trial
- SAI, secondary adrenal insufficiency
- SCOTCH, Supplemental Corticosteroids in Cirrhotic Hypotensive Patients With Suspicion of Sepsis
- STB, standardised beta
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Lovato
- Department of Internal Medicine/Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Thierry Thévenot
- Service d'Hépatologie et de Soins Intensifs Digestifs, Hôpital Universitaire Jean Minjoz, Besançon, France
| | - Sophie Borot
- Service d'Endocrinologie-Métabolisme et Diabétologie-Nutrition, Hôpital Jean Minjoz, Besançon, France
| | - Vincent Di Martino
- Service d'Hépatologie et de Soins Intensifs Digestifs, Hôpital Universitaire Jean Minjoz, Besançon, France
| | - Clifford R Qualls
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Frank K Urban
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Richard I Dorin
- Department of Internal Medicine/Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Vehmeijer FOL, Santos S, Gaillard R, de Rijke YB, Voortman T, van den Akker ELT, Felix JF, van Rossum EFC, Jaddoe VWV. Associations of Hair Cortisol Concentrations with General and Organ Fat Measures in Childhood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e551-e561. [PMID: 33119748 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Stress may lead to an adverse body fat distribution from childhood onwards. OBJECTIVE To examine the associations of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) at 6 years with general and organ fat measures, risk of overweight, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at 10 years and to assess whether these were independent of adiposity measures at 6 years. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS HCCs were measured in hair of 6-year-old children (n = 2042) participating in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body mass index (BMI), fat mass index measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, and visceral fat index, pericardial fat index, liver fat fraction measured by magnetic resonance imaging and risk of overweight and NAFLD were obtained at 10 years. RESULTS The associations of higher HCC at 6 years, with higher BMI, fat mass index, and increased risk of overweight at age 10 years are explained by the relationships observed at 6 years. HCCs at 6 years were associated with a higher liver fat fraction (difference 0.11 liver fat fraction standard deviation score; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03, 0.18) and a higher risk of NAFLD at 10 years (odds ratio 1.95; 95% CI 1.06, 3.56), independent of fat mass index at 6 years. HCCs were not associated with pericardial or visceral fat indices. CONCLUSIONS Higher HCCs at 6 years were associated with higher BMI, fat mass index, liver fat fraction, and higher risks of overweight and NAFLD at 10 years. Only the associations for liver fat fraction and NAFLD were independent of fat mass index at 6 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florianne O L Vehmeijer
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susana Santos
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Romy Gaillard
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolanda B de Rijke
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Trudy Voortman
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erica L T van den Akker
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth F C van Rossum
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Kwok MK, Kawachi I, Rehkopf D, Schooling CM. The role of cortisol in ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease risk factors: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study. BMC Med 2020; 18:363. [PMID: 33243239 PMCID: PMC7694946 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01831-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cortisol, a steroid hormone frequently used as a biomarker of stress, is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To clarify whether cortisol causes these outcomes, we assessed the role of cortisol in ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic stroke, T2DM, and CVD risk factors using a bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. METHODS Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly (P < 5 × 10-6) and independently (r2 < 0.001) predicting cortisol were obtained from the CORtisol NETwork (CORNET) consortium (n = 12,597) and two metabolomics genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (n = 7824 and n = 2049). They were applied to GWAS of the primary outcomes (IHD, ischemic stroke and T2DM) and secondary outcomes (adiposity, glycemic traits, blood pressure and lipids) to obtain estimates using inverse variance weighting, with weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO as sensitivity analyses. Conversely, SNPs predicting IHD, ischemic stroke, and T2DM were applied to the cortisol GWAS. RESULTS Genetically predicted cortisol (based on 6 SNPs from CORNET; F-statistic = 28.3) was not associated with IHD (odds ratio (OR) 0.98 per 1 unit increase in log-transformed cortisol, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-1.03), ischemic stroke (0.99, 95% CI 0.91-1.08), T2DM (1.00, 95% CI 0.96-1.04), or CVD risk factors. Genetically predicted IHD, ischemic stroke, and T2DM were not associated with cortisol. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to observational studies, genetically predicted cortisol was unrelated to IHD, ischemic stroke, T2DM, or CVD risk factors, or vice versa. Our MR results find no evidence that cortisol plays a role in cardiovascular risk, casting doubts on the cortisol-related pathway, although replication is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Ki Kwok
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 1/F, Patrick Manson Building (North Wing), 7 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Rehkopf
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Catherine Mary Schooling
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 1/F, Patrick Manson Building (North Wing), 7 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, USA.
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Breuner CW, Beyl HE, Malisch JL. Corticosteroid-binding globulins: Lessons from biomedical research. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 514:110857. [PMID: 32437784 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) circulate in the plasma bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). Plasma CBG may limit access of glucocorticoids to tissues (acting as a sponge: the free hormone hypothesis), or may solely serve as a transport molecule, releasing GCs to tissues as the plasma moves through capillaries (the total hormone hypothesis). Both biomedical (focused on human health) and comparative (focused on ecological and evolutionary relevance) studies have worked to incorporate CBG in glucocorticoid physiology, and to understand whether free or total hormone is the biologically active plasma fraction. The biomedical field, however, has been well ahead of the comparative physiologists, and have produced results that can inform comparative research when considering the import of total vs. free plasma hormone. In fact, biomedical studies have made impressive strides regarding the function of CBG in tissues as well as plasma; we, however, focus solely on the plasma functions in this review as this is the primary area of disagreement amongst comparative physiologists. Here we present 5 sets of biomedical studies across genomics, pharmacology, cell culture, whole animal research, and human medicine that strongly support a role for CBG limiting hormone access to tissue. We also discuss three areas of concern across comparative researchers. In contrast to former publications, we are not suggesting that all comparative studies in glucocorticoid physiology must measure CBG, or that only free corticosterone levels are valid. However, we propose that comparative physiologists be aware of biomedical results as they investigate glucocorticoids and interpret how total hormone may or may not impact behavior and physiology of free-living vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Creagh W Breuner
- Organismal Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, The University of Montana. 32 Campus Drive, HS 104, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA; The Wildlife Biology Program, The University of Montana. 32 Campus Drive, HS 104, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA.
| | - Hannah E Beyl
- The Wildlife Biology Program, The University of Montana. 32 Campus Drive, HS 104, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Jessica L Malisch
- Department of Biology, Schaeffer Hall 236, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MD, 20686, USA
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Not All Progestins are Created Equally: Considering Unique Progestins Individually in Psychobehavioral Research. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Sandini C, Chambaz M, Schneider M, Armando M, Zöller D, Schaer M, Sandi C, Van De Ville D, Eliez S. Pituitary dysmaturation affects psychopathology and neurodevelopment in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 113:104540. [PMID: 31958652 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS) confers strongly increased genetic risk for multiple psychiatric disorders. Similarly to the general population, rates of psychiatric comorbidity suggest that common disease mechanisms are shared across dimensions of psychopathology. Such pleiotropic disease mechanisms remain however currently unknown. We hypothesized that pituitary dysmaturation, indicative of HPA-axis dysregulation, could correlate to reduced tolerance to daily life stressors and reflect pleiotropic risk factor for psychopathology. Moreover HPA-axis dysregulation could affect atypical cortical and hippocampal development previously described in 22q11DS. METHODS Pituitary volume, hippocampal volume and cortical thickness measures were obtained from T1-weighted MRI images in a large longitudinal cohort of youth with 22q11DS (115 subjects, 260 scans, age-range = 5.4-31.6) and healthy controls (151 subjects, 280 scans, age-range = 5.1-32.3). We explored effects of pituitary dysmaturation on tolerance to stress, psychopathology and neurodevelopment employing mixed-models linear regression. Associations of pituitary and cortical development were correlated with the expression pattern of glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 obtained from the Allen-Human-Brain-Atlas. RESULTS We observed aberrant pituitary developmental trajectories in 22q11DS, with volumetric reductions emerging by young-adulthood (P = 0.0006). Longitudinal pituitary decline was associated with to reduced tolerance to stress (P = 0.04), higher overall psychopathology (P = 0.0003) and increased risk of psychiatric comorbidity (P = 0.02). Moreover, pituitary decline correlated with blunted growth of the right hippocampus (P = 0.03) and to increased cortical thinning of mostly temporal and orbitofrontal regions mediated by NR3C1 gene expression. CONCLUSION Atypical pituitary development could reflect progressive extinction of HPAA due to chronic hyper-activation, in agreement with existing biochemical evidence in 22q11DS. HPAA dysregulation could represent and endophenotype that confers pleiotropic vulnerability to psychopathology and atypical neurodevelopment in 22q11DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Sandini
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Maëlle Chambaz
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marco Armando
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Zöller
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie Schaer
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dimitri Van De Ville
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
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