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Orton SM, Millis K, Choate P. Epigenetics of Trauma Transmission and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: What Does the Evidence Support? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6706. [PMID: 37681846 PMCID: PMC10487479 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) results from teratogenic impacts of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can both cause neurodevelopmental impairment, and it has been proposed that FASD can amplify effects of trauma. Certain PAE and trauma effects are mediated via epigenetic mechanisms. The objective of this review is to present the current evidence for epigenetics in trauma transmission as it relates to FASD, to help bridge a potential knowledge gap for social workers and related health professionals. We include a primer on epigenetic mechanisms and inheritance, followed by a summary of the current biomedical evidence supporting intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic transmission of trauma, its relevance to FASD, the intersection with social transmission, and finally the application to social work. We propose potential models of transmission, considering where social and epigenetic pathways may intersect and/or compound across generations. Overall, we aim to provide a better understanding of epigenetic-trauma transmission for its application to health professions, in particular which beliefs are (and are not) evidence-based. We discuss the lack of research and challenges of studying epigenetic transmission in humans and identify the need for public health interventions and best practices that are based on the current evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Orton
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, Canada;
| | - Kimberly Millis
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, Canada;
| | - Peter Choate
- Faculty of Health, Community & Education, Department of Child Studies and Social Work, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, Canada;
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Arzua T, Jiang C, Yan Y, Bai X. The importance of non-coding RNAs in environmental stress-related developmental brain disorders: A systematic review of evidence associated with exposure to alcohol, anesthetic drugs, nicotine, and viral infections. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 128:633-647. [PMID: 34186153 PMCID: PMC8357057 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Brain development is a dynamic and lengthy process that includes cell proliferation, migration, neurogenesis, gliogenesis, synaptogenesis, and pruning. Disruption of any of these developmental events can result in long-term outcomes ranging from brain structural changes, to cognitive and behavioral abnormality, with the mechanisms largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as pivotal molecules that participate in normal brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders. NcRNAs such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are transcribed from the genome but not translated into proteins. Many ncRNAs have been implicated as tuners of cell fate. In this review, we started with an introduction of the current knowledge of lncRNAs and miRNAs, and their potential roles in brain development in health and disorders. We then reviewed and discussed the evidence of ncRNA involvement in abnormal brain development resulted from alcohol, anesthetic drugs, nicotine, and viral infections. The complex connections among these ncRNAs were also discussed, along with potential overlapping ncRNA mechanisms, possible pharmacological targets for therapeutic/neuroprotective interventions, and potential biomarkers for brain developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Arzua
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA; Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Congshan Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Yasheng Yan
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Xiaowen Bai
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA; Center of Systems Molecular Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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Liang X, Justice AC, So-Armah K, Krystal JH, Sinha R, Xu K. DNA methylation signature on phosphatidylethanol, not on self-reported alcohol consumption, predicts hazardous alcohol consumption in two distinct populations. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2238-2253. [PMID: 32034291 PMCID: PMC8440221 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The process of diagnosing hazardous alcohol drinking (HAD) is based on self-reported data and is thereby vulnerable to bias. There has been an interest in developing epigenetic biomarkers for HAD that might complement clinical assessment. Because alcohol consumption has been previously linked to DNA methylation (DNAm), we aimed to select DNAm signatures in blood to predict HAD from two demographically and clinically distinct populations (Ntotal = 1,549). We first separately conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) for phosphatidylethanol (PEth), an objective measure of alcohol consumption, and for self-reported alcohol consumption in Cohort 1. We identified 83 PEth-associated CpGs, including 23 CpGs previously associated with alcohol consumption or alcohol use disorder. In contrast, no CpG reached epigenome-wide significance on self-reported alcohol consumption. Using a machine learning approach, two CpG subsets from EWAS on PEth and on self-reported alcohol consumption from Cohort 1 were separately tested for the prediction of HAD in Cohort 2. We found that a subset of 143 CpGs selected from the EWAS on PEth showed an excellent prediction of HAD with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 89.4% in training set and 73.9% in validation set of Cohort 2. However, CpGs preselected from the EWAS on self-reported alcohol consumption showed a poor prediction of HAD with AUC 75.2% in training set and 57.6% in validation set. Our results demonstrate that an objective measure for alcohol consumption is a more informative phenotype than self-reported data for revealing epigenetic mechanisms. The PEth-associated DNAm signature in blood could serve as a robust biomarker for alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amy C Justice
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kaku So-Armah
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rajita Sinha
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Stress Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.
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McQuire C, Daniel R, Hurt L, Kemp A, Paranjothy S. The causal web of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a review and causal diagram. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 29:575-594. [PMID: 30648224 PMCID: PMC7250957 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-018-1264-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a leading cause of developmental disability. Prenatal alcohol use is the sole necessary cause of FASD, but it is not always sufficient. Multiple factors influence a child's susceptibility to FASD following prenatal alcohol exposure. Much of the FASD risk factor literature has been limited to discussions of association, rather than causation. While knowledge of predictor variables is important for identifying who is most at risk of FASD and for targeting interventions, causal knowledge is important for identifying effective mechanisms for prevention and intervention programmes. We conducted a systematic search and narrative synthesis of the evidence and used this to create a causal diagram (directed acyclic graph; DAG) to describe the causal pathways to FASD. Our results show that the aetiology of FASD is multifaceted and complex. FASD risk is determined by a range of lifestyle, sociodemographic, maternal, social, gestational, and genetic factors. The causal diagram that we present in this review provides a comprehensive summary of causal risk factors for FASD and can be used as a tool to inform data collection and statistical modelling strategies to minimise bias in future studies of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl McQuire
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
| | - R. Daniel
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, 3rd Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS UK
| | - L. Hurt
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, 3rd Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS UK
| | - A. Kemp
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, 3rd Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS UK
| | - S. Paranjothy
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, 3rd Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS UK
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Doehner W, Praße L, Wolpers J, Brückner MK, Ueberham U, Arendt T. Transgenerational transmission of an anticholinergic endophenotype with memory dysfunction. Neurobiol Aging 2016; 51:19-30. [PMID: 28033505 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Impaired cholinergic neurotransmission associated with cognitive dysfunction occurs in various mental disorders of different etiologies including Alzheimer's disease and postalcoholic dementia and others. To address the question whether there exists a common endophenotype with a defined genetic and/or epigenetic signature causing mental dysfunction in these disorders, we investigated 2 generations of offspring born to alcohol-treated mothers. Here, we show that memory impairment and reduced synthesis of acetylcholine occurs in both F1 (exposed to ethanol in utero) and F2 generation (never been exposed to ethanol). Effects in the F2 generation are most likely consequences of transgenerationally transmitted epigenetic modifications in stem cells induced by alcohol. This clearly documents the role of ancestral history of drug abuse on the brain development of subsequent generations. The results further suggest an epigenetic trait for an anticholinergic endophenotype associated with cognitive dysfunction which might be relevant to our understanding of mental impairment in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Doehner
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lieselotte Praße
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - James Wolpers
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martina K Brückner
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Ueberham
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Arendt
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Knight AK, Smith AK. Epigenetic Biomarkers of Preterm Birth and Its Risk Factors. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:E15. [PMID: 27089367 PMCID: PMC4846845 DOI: 10.3390/genes7040015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A biomarker is a biological measure predictive of a normal or pathogenic process or response. Biomarkers are often useful for making clinical decisions and determining treatment course. One area where such biomarkers would be particularly useful is in identifying women at risk for preterm delivery and related pregnancy complications. Neonates born preterm have significant morbidity and mortality, both in the perinatal period and throughout the life course, and identifying women at risk of delivering preterm may allow for targeted interventions to prevent or delay preterm birth (PTB). In addition to identifying those at increased risk for preterm birth, biomarkers may be able to distinguish neonates at particular risk for future complications due to modifiable environmental factors, such as maternal smoking or alcohol use during pregnancy. Currently, there are no such biomarkers available, though candidate gene and epigenome-wide association studies have identified DNA methylation differences associated with PTB, its risk factors and its long-term outcomes. Further biomarker development is crucial to reducing the health burden associated with adverse intrauterine conditions and preterm birth, and the results of recent DNA methylation studies may advance that goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Knight
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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