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Lochner C, Naudé PJ, Stein DJ. Use of Post-mortem Brain Tissue in Investigations of Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:963-975. [PMID: 37644747 PMCID: PMC10845092 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230829145425] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-mortem examination of the brain is a key strategy to increase our understanding of the neurobiology of mental disorders. While extensive post-mortem research has been undertaken on some mental disorders, others appear to have been relatively neglected. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review of post-mortem research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to provide an overview of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods primary research studies on OCD. Search platforms included NCBI Pubmed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. RESULTS A total of 52 publications were found, and after the removal of works not meeting the inclusion criteria, six (6) peer-reviewed publications remained. These post-mortem studies have provided data on DNA methylation, cellular and molecular alterations, and gene expression profiling in brain areas associated with OCD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Included studies highlight the potential value of post-mortem brains from well-characterized individuals with OCD and suggest the need for additional work in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lochner
- SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Petrus J.W. Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J. Stein
- SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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2
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Verscheure E, Stierum R, Schlünssen V, Lund Würtz AM, Vanneste D, Kogevinas M, Harding BN, Broberg K, Zienolddiny-Narui S, Erdem JS, Das MK, Makris KC, Konstantinou C, Andrianou X, Dekkers S, Morris L, Pronk A, Godderis L, Ghosh M. Characterization of the internal working-life exposome using minimally and non-invasive sampling methods - a narrative review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117001. [PMID: 37683788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117001] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
During recent years, we are moving away from the 'one exposure, one disease'-approach in occupational settings and towards a more comprehensive approach, taking into account the totality of exposures during a life course by using an exposome approach. Taking an exposome approach however is accompanied by many challenges, one of which, for example, relates to the collection of biological samples. Methods used for sample collection in occupational exposome studies should ideally be minimally invasive, while at the same time sensitive, and enable meaningful repeated sampling in a large population and over a longer time period. This might be hampered in specific situations e.g., people working in remote areas, during pandemics or with flexible work hours. In these situations, using self-sampling techniques might offer a solution. Therefore, our aim was to identify existing self-sampling techniques and to evaluate the applicability of these techniques in an occupational exposome context by conducting a literature review. We here present an overview of current self-sampling methodologies used to characterize the internal exposome. In addition, the use of different biological matrices was evaluated and subdivided based on their level of invasiveness and applicability in an occupational exposome context. In conclusion, this review and the overview of self-sampling techniques presented herein can serve as a guide in the design of future (occupational) exposome studies while circumventing sample collection challenges associated with exposome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Verscheure
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rob Stierum
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Lund Würtz
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Dorian Vanneste
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara N Harding
- Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Mrinal K Das
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Konstantinos C Makris
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Corina Konstantinou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Xanthi Andrianou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Susan Dekkers
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lode Godderis
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Idewe, External Service for Prevention and Protection at work, Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Manosij Ghosh
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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3
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Bendriss G, MacDonald R, McVeigh C. Microbial Reprogramming in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: A Review of Gut-Brain Communication and Emerging Evidence. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11978. [PMID: 37569349 PMCID: PMC10419219 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbial composition, has been associated with various health conditions, including mental health disorders, autism, and inflammatory diseases. While the exact mechanisms underlying OCD remain unclear, this review presents a growing body of evidence suggesting a potential link between dysbiosis and the multifaceted etiology of OCD, interacting with genetic, neurobiological, immunological, and environmental factors. This review highlights the emerging evidence implicating the gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of OCD and its potential as a target for novel therapeutic approaches. We propose a model that positions dysbiosis as the central unifying element in the neurochemical, immunological, genetic, and environmental factors leading to OCD. The potential and challenges of microbial reprogramming strategies, such as probiotics and fecal transplants in OCD therapeutics, are discussed. This review raises awareness of the importance of adopting a holistic approach that considers the interplay between the gut and the brain to develop interventions that account for the multifaceted nature of OCD and contribute to the advancement of more personalized approaches.
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Mataix-Cols D, Fernández de la Cruz L, De Schipper E, Kuja-Halkola R, Bulik CM, Crowley JJ, Neufeld J, Rück C, Tammimies K, Lichtenstein P, Bölte S, Beucke JC. In search of environmental risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder: study protocol for the OCDTWIN project. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:442. [PMID: 37328750 PMCID: PMC10273515 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04897-4] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remain unknown. Gene-searching efforts are well underway, but the identification of environmental risk factors is at least as important and should be a priority because some of them may be amenable to prevention or early intervention strategies. Genetically informative studies, particularly those employing the discordant monozygotic (MZ) twin design, are ideally suited to study environmental risk factors. This protocol paper describes the study rationale, aims, and methods of OCDTWIN, an open cohort of MZ twin pairs who are discordant for the diagnosis of OCD. METHODS OCDTWIN has two broad aims. In Aim 1, we are recruiting MZ twin pairs from across Sweden, conducting thorough clinical assessments, and building a biobank of biological specimens, including blood, saliva, urine, stool, hair, nails, and multimodal brain imaging. A wealth of early life exposures (e.g., perinatal variables, health-related information, psychosocial stressors) are available through linkage with the nationwide registers and the Swedish Twin Registry. Blood spots stored in the Swedish phenylketonuria (PKU) biobank will be available to extract DNA, proteins, and metabolites, providing an invaluable source of biomaterial taken at birth. In Aim 2, we will perform within-pair comparisons of discordant MZ twins, which will allow us to isolate unique environmental risk factors that are in the causal pathway to OCD, while strictly controlling for genetic and early shared environmental influences. To date (May 2023), 43 pairs of twins (21 discordant for OCD) have been recruited. DISCUSSION OCDTWIN hopes to generate unique insights into environmental risk factors that are in the causal pathway to OCD, some of which have the potential of being actionable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mataix-Cols
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Lorena Fernández de la Cruz
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elles De Schipper
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ralf Kuja-Halkola
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cynthia M Bulik
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - James J Crowley
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Janina Neufeld
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christian Rück
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristiina Tammimies
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Solna, Sweden
| | - Paul Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Bölte
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Curtin Autism Research Group, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jan C Beucke
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Systems Medicine, Faculty of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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5
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Mataix-Cols D, de la Cruz LF, de Schipper E, Kuja-Halkola R, Bulik CM, Crowley JJ, Neufeld J, Rück C, Tammimies K, Lichtenstein P, Bölte S, Beucke JC. In search of environmental risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Study protocol for the OCDTWIN project. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2897566. [PMID: 37215041 PMCID: PMC10197758 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2897566/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Background The causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remain unknown. Gene-searching efforts are well underway, but the identification of environmental risk factors is at least as important and should be a priority because some of them may be amenable to prevention or early intervention strategies. Genetically informative studies, particularly those employing the discordant monozygotic (MZ) twin design, are ideally suited to study environmental risk factors. This protocol paper describes the study rationale, aims, and methods of OCDTWIN, an open cohort of MZ twin pairs who are discordant for the diagnosis of OCD. Methods OCDTWIN has two broad aims. In Aim 1, we are recruiting MZ twin pairs from across Sweden, conducting thorough clinical assessments, and building a biobank of biological specimens, including blood, saliva, urine, stool, hair, nails, and multimodal brain imaging. A wealth of early life exposures (e.g., perinatal variables, health-related information, psychosocial stressors) are available through linkage with the nationwide registers and the Swedish Twin Registry. Blood spots stored in the Swedish phenylketonuria (PKU) biobank will be available to extract DNA, proteins, and metabolites, providing an invaluable source of biomaterial taken at birth. In Aim 2, we will perform within-pair comparisons of discordant MZ twins, which will allow us to isolate unique environmental risk factors that are in the causal pathway to OCD, while strictly controlling for genetic and early shared environmental influences. To date (May 2023), 43 pairs of twins (21 discordant for OCD) have been recruited. Discussion OCDTWIN hopes to generate unique insights into environmental risk factors that are in the causal pathway to OCD, some of which have the potential of being actionable targets.
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6
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Buhck M, Achenbach J, Wiese B, Tran AT, Stuhrmann M, Jaeger B, Bernateck M, Schneider N, Karst M. The interplay of chronic stress and genetic traits discriminates between patients suffering from multisomatoform disorder with pain as the leading symptom and matched controls. J Affect Disord 2022; 308:466-472. [PMID: 35460735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Somatoform disorders and functional somatic syndromes (FSS) with symptoms that are not sufficiently explained by physical or technical examination are among the most challenging underlying causes. Many different somatoform disorders and FSS have overlapping symptoms, often with pain as the most prevalent one, leading to a high burden of disease. The concept of multisomatoform disorder (MSD) has been developed to acknowledge that fact. We analyzed a group of 151 patients and 149 matched controls to identify interactions of genetic and environmental factors with a possible influence on the development of MSD. DESIGN In a retrospective case-control study, we performed a statistical analysis on 151 patients and 149 matched controls using logistic regression and a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. RESULTS The logistic regression analysis of genes and environmental factors demonstrated significant differences in the results of the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS) questionnaire, the single nucleotide polymorphism rs1800955 of the dopamine receptor D4 and the single nucleotide polymorphism rs4818 of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase between patients with MSD and healthy controls. The resulting decision tree of the CART analysis determined that the TICS questionnaire was able to differentiate patients and controls most accurately, followed by certain genotypes of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A and a single nucleotide polymorphism of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase. CONCLUSIONS The results of the statistical analysis identified a gene-environmental interaction possibly leading to MSD. The resulting identifiers could be used as a reference to inform diagnostic algorithms to easier identify patients suffering from MSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Buhck
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Auf der Bult Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - J Achenbach
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Pain Medicine, Nordstadt Krankenhaus Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
| | - B Wiese
- Institute for General Practice and Palliative Care, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - A T Tran
- Department of Neurology und Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - M Stuhrmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - B Jaeger
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - M Bernateck
- Center for Pain Medicine Hannover, 30159 Hannover, Germany
| | - N Schneider
- Institute for General Practice and Palliative Care, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - M Karst
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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7
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Schiele MA, Lipovsek J, Schlosser P, Soutschek M, Schratt G, Zaudig M, Berberich G, Köttgen A, Domschke K. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:221. [PMID: 35650177 PMCID: PMC9160220 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01996-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In adult patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), altered DNA methylation has been discerned in several candidate genes, while DNA methylation on an epigenome-wide level has been investigated in only one Chinese study so far. Here, an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) was performed in a sample of 76 OCD patients of European ancestry (37 women, age ± SD: 33.51 ± 10.92 years) and 76 sex- and age-matched healthy controls for the first time using the Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip. After quality control, nine epigenome-wide significant quantitative trait methylation sites (QTMs) and 21 suggestive hits were discerned in the final sample of 68 patients and 68 controls. The top hit (cg24159721) and four other significant QTMs (cg11894324, cg01070250, cg11330075, cg15174812) map to the region of the microRNA 12136 gene (MIR12136). Two additional significant CpG sites (cg05740793, cg20450977) are located in the flanking region of the MT-RNR2 (humanin) like 8 gene (MT-RNRL8), while two further QTMs (cg16267121, cg15890734) map to the regions of the MT-RNR2 (humanin) like 3 (MT-RNRL3) and MT-RNR2 (humanin) like 2 (MT-RNRL2) genes. Provided replication of the present findings in larger samples, the identified QTMs might provide more biological insight into the pathogenesis of OCD and thereby could in the future serve as peripheral epigenetic markers of OCD risk with the potential to inform targeted preventive and therapeutic efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A. Schiele
- grid.5963.9Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jan Lipovsek
- grid.5963.9Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany ,grid.7708.80000 0000 9428 7911Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 49, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pascal Schlosser
- grid.7708.80000 0000 9428 7911Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 49, 79106 Freiburg, Germany ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Michael Soutschek
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780ETH Zurich–D-HEST, Institute for Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience, Building Y17 L48, Winterthurerstraße 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Schratt
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780ETH Zurich–D-HEST, Institute for Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience, Building Y17 L48, Winterthurerstraße 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Zaudig
- Psychosomatic Hospital Windach, Schützenstraße 100, 86949 Windach, Germany
| | - Götz Berberich
- Psychosomatic Hospital Windach, Schützenstraße 100, 86949 Windach, Germany
| | - Anna Köttgen
- grid.7708.80000 0000 9428 7911Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 49, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany. .,Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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D'Addario C, Pucci M, Bellia F, Girella A, Sabatucci A, Fanti F, Vismara M, Benatti B, Ferrara L, Fasciana F, Celebre L, Viganò C, Elli L, Sergi M, Maccarrone M, Buzzelli V, Trezza V, Dell'Osso B. Regulation of oxytocin receptor gene expression in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a possible role for the microbiota-host epigenetic axis. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:47. [PMID: 35361281 PMCID: PMC8973787 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01264-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and severe clinical condition. Robust evidence suggests a gene-environment interplay in its etiopathogenesis, yet the underlying molecular clues remain only partially understood. In order to further deepen our understanding of OCD, it is essential to ascertain how genes interact with environmental risk factors, a cross-talk that is thought to be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. The human microbiota may be a key player, because bacterial metabolites can act as epigenetic modulators. We analyzed, in the blood and saliva of OCD subjects and healthy controls, the transcriptional regulation of the oxytocin receptor gene and, in saliva, also the different levels of major phyla. We also investigated the same molecular mechanisms in specific brain regions of socially isolated rats showing stereotyped behaviors reminiscent of OCD as well as short chain fatty acid levels in the feces of rats. RESULTS Higher levels of oxytocin receptor gene DNA methylation, inversely correlated with gene expression, were observed in the blood as well as saliva of OCD subjects when compared to controls. Moreover, Actinobacteria also resulted higher in OCD and directly correlated with oxytocin receptor gene epigenetic alterations. The same pattern of changes was present in the prefrontal cortex of socially-isolated rats, where also altered levels of fecal butyrate were observed at the beginning of the isolation procedure. CONCLUSIONS This is the first demonstration of an interplay between microbiota modulation and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in OCD, opening new avenues for the understanding of disease trajectories and for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy. .,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini, 1, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
| | | | - Fabio Bellia
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | | | - Federico Fanti
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Matteo Vismara
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Benatti
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Ferrara
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Fasciana
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Celebre
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina Viganò
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Elli
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Manuel Sergi
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milano, Milano, Italy. .,Department of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", Psychiatry Unit 2, ASST Sacco-Fatebenefratelli, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy.
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9
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Zamanian-Azodi M, Rezaei-Tavirani M, Rezaei Tavirani M. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Interactome Profile Analysis: A Perspective From Molecular Mechanism. Basic Clin Neurosci 2021; 12:187-198. [PMID: 34925715 PMCID: PMC8672674 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.12.2.941.7] [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: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the complex neuropsychiatric conditions. This disorder disables individuals in many different aspects of their personal and social life. Interactome analysis may provide a better understanding of this disorder’s molecular origin and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: In this study, the OCD-associated genes were extracted from the literature. The criterion for gene selection was to choose genes with at least one significant report. Furthermore, by applying Cytoscape and its plugins, protein-protein interaction network, and gene ontology of the 31 candidate genes related to OCD from genetic association studies is examined. The cross-validation method was used for network centrality assessment. Results: A scale-free network, including 1940 nodes and 3269 edges for 31 genes, was constructed. According to the network centrality evaluation, ESR1, TNFα, DRD2, DRD4, HTR1B, HTR2A, and CDH2 showed the highest values and can be considered hub-bottlenecks elements. It is also confirmed by the number of 123 cross-validation tests that the frequency of these essential genes remains unaltered against the initial seed genes’ changes with the accuracy of 0.962. Besides, enrichment analysis identified four highlighted biological processes related to the 31 candidate genes. The top biological processes are determined as dopamine transport, learning, memory, and monoamine transport. Conclusion: Among 31 initial genes, 7 were introduced as crucial elements for onset and development in OCD and can be suggested for further investigations. Furthermore, the complex molecular origin of OCD requires high-throughput screening for diagnosis and treatment goals. The findings are a possible valuable source to establish molecular-based diagnostic tools for OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Zamanian-Azodi
- Proteomics Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Rezaei-Tavirani
- Proteomics Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Rezaei Tavirani
- Proteomics Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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10
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de Oliveira KC, Camilo C, Gastaldi VD, Sant'Anna Feltrin A, Lisboa BCG, de Jesus Rodrigues de Paula V, Moretto AC, Lafer B, Hoexter MQ, Miguel EC, Maschietto M, Brentani H. Brain areas involved with obsessive-compulsive disorder present different DNA methylation modulation. BMC Genom Data 2021; 22:45. [PMID: 34717534 PMCID: PMC8557022 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions, that presents the involvement of the cortico-striatal areas. The contribution of environmental risk factors to OCD development suggests that epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to its pathophysiology. DNA methylation changes and gene expression were evaluated in post-mortem brain tissues of the cortical (anterior cingulate gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex) and ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and putamen) areas from eight OCD patients and eight matched controls. Results There were no differentially methylated CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) sites (DMSs) in any brain area, nevertheless gene modules generated from CpG sites and protein-protein-interaction (PPI) showed enriched gene modules for all brain areas between OCD cases and controls. All brain areas but nucleus accumbens presented a predominantly hypomethylation pattern for the differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Although there were common transcriptional factors that targeted these DMRs, their targeted differentially expressed genes were different among all brain areas. The protein-protein interaction network based on methylation and gene expression data reported that all brain areas were enriched for G-protein signaling pathway, immune response, apoptosis and synapse biological processes but each brain area also presented enrichment of specific signaling pathways. Finally, OCD patients and controls did not present significant DNA methylation age differences. Conclusions DNA methylation changes in brain areas involved with OCD, especially those involved with genes related to synaptic plasticity and the immune system could mediate the action of genetic and environmental factors associated with OCD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-021-00993-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia Cristina de Oliveira
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Center of Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Camilo
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.
| | - Vinícius Daguano Gastaldi
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Arthur Sant'Anna Feltrin
- Center of Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Bianca Cristina Garcia Lisboa
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Vanessa de Jesus Rodrigues de Paula
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | | | - Beny Lafer
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Queiroz Hoexter
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica (LIM23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Euripedes Constantino Miguel
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica (LIM23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helena Brentani
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica (LIM23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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11
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Schiele MA, Thiel C, Kollert L, Fürst L, Putschin L, Kehle R, Hauke W, Mahr M, Reinhold E, Gottschalk MG, Heinrichs M, Zaudig M, Berberich G, Domschke K. Oxytocin Receptor Gene DNA Methylation: A Biomarker of Treatment Response in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2021; 90:57-63. [PMID: 32920561 DOI: 10.1159/000509910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with high chronicity and treatment resistance, indicating the need for early therapy response markers enabling fast and personalized treatment adaptations. Although epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have previously been linked to OCD pathogenesis, epigenetic markers as predictors of treatment success have not yet been investigated in OCD. OBJECTIVE For the first time, this therapyepigenetic study aimed to investigate the role of OXTR methylation as a treatment response marker in OCD. METHODS In total, 113 inpatients with OCD (57 females) were compared to 113 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients were investigated over a 10-week course of standardized, OCD-specific cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. Clinical response was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) at baseline, before in vivo exposure, and after therapy. OXTR exon III methylation was analyzed via direct sequencing of sodium bisulfite-treated DNA extracted from blood cells. RESULTS Relative OXTR hypermethylation was observed in OCD patients compared to healthy controls. In OCD, higher baseline OXTR methylation was found to predict impaired treatment response at both categorical (responders vs. nonresponders) and dimensional (relative Y-BOCS reduction) levels, whereas lower baseline methylation was related to treatment response and greater symptom improvements. Analysis of Y-BOCS subdimensions revealed that the association between OXTR hypermethylation with impaired treatment response applied especially to symptoms related to obsessions, but not compulsions. CONCLUSIONS OXTR hypermethylation may constitute a predictive marker of impaired treatment response in OCD and thus carries great potential for future personalized treatment efforts in OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Thiel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Leonie Kollert
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lena Fürst
- Psychosomatic Hospital Windach, Windach, Germany
| | | | | | - Walter Hauke
- Psychosomatic Hospital Windach, Windach, Germany
| | - Marina Mahr
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Elena Reinhold
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael G Gottschalk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus Heinrichs
- Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, .,Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany,
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12
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Dondu A, Caliskan M, Orenay-Boyacioglu S. Link between obsessive-compulsive disorder and polymorphisms in HDAC genes. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2021; 44:156-163. [PMID: 34730715 PMCID: PMC9041966 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Recently, epigenetic mechanisms related to histone modifications including histone deacetylation (HDAC) have been emphasized in psychiatric diseases. Few studies have investigated the relationship of HDAC gene variations to psychiatric diseases, but these gene variations have never been studied in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present case-control study aimed to compare symptomatology with HDAC gene variations in patients with OCD. Methods: Illumina next-generation sequencing of six HDAC genes (HDAC2,3,4,9,10,11) was performed on DNA samples isolated from 200 Turkish subjects recruited from routine clinical practice. Twenty-seven single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in six HDAC genes were scanned with the LightSNiP method. Results: New variants, all previously unreported in the literature, were identified in the HDAC4, HDAC10, and HDAC11 genes. When control and OCD patient groups were compared, a statistically significant difference was found in HDAC2 rs13212283, HDAC4 rs1063639, and HDAC10 rs1555048 in terms of genotype distribution (p < 0.05). In addition, in the OCD group, a statistically significant relationship was found between some obsessions/compulsions and HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC4 polymorphisms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study shows that the HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC4, and HDAC10 genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Dondu
- Department of Psychiatry, Aydın Goverment Hospital, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Metin Caliskan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Seda Orenay-Boyacioglu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
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13
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Jin L, Yu J, Chen Y, Pang H, Sheng J, Huang H. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Risk of Five Common Psychiatric Disorders Among European Women: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Front Genet 2021; 12:689897. [PMID: 34211505 PMCID: PMC8239353 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.689897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Observational studies have implied an association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and psychiatric disorders. Here we examined whether PCOS might contribute causally to such disorders, focusing on anxiety disorder (AD), bipolar disorder (BIP), major depression disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia (SCZ). Methods: Causality was explored using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) with genetic variants as instrumental variables. The genetic variants were from summary data of genome-wide association studies in European populations. First, potential causal effects of PCOS on each psychiatric disorder were evaluated, and then potential reverse causality was also assessed once PCOS was found to be causally associated with any psychiatric disorder. Causal effects were explored using inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger analysis, simulation extrapolation, and weighted median analysis. Results: Genetically predicted PCOS was positively associated with OCD based on inverse variance weighting (OR 1.339, 95% CI 1.083–1.657, p = 0.007), simulation extrapolation (OR 1.382, 95% CI 1.149–1.662, p = 0.009) and weighted median analysis (OR 1.493, 95% CI 1.145–1.946, p = 0.003). However, genetically predicted OCD was not associated with PCOS. Genetically predicted PCOS did not exert causal effects on AD, BIP, MDD, or SCZ. Conclusions: In European populations, PCOS may be a causal factor in OCD, but not AD, BIP, MDD, or SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyang Jin
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia'en Yu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuxiao Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Pang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianzhong Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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14
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Bellia F, Vismara M, Annunzi E, Cifani C, Benatti B, Dell'Osso B, D'Addario C. Genetic and epigenetic architecture of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: In search of possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 137:554-571. [PMID: 33213890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and severe clinical condition whose hallmarks are excessive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The onset of symptoms generally occurs during pre-adult life and typically affects subjects in different aspects of their life's, compromising social and professional relationships. Although robust evidence suggests a genetic component in the etiopathogenesis of OCD, the causes of the disorder are still not completely understood. It is thus of relevance to take into account how genes interact with environmental risk factors, thought to be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. We here provide an overview of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of OCD, focusing on the modulation of key central nervous system genes, in the attempt to suggest possible disease biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Bellia
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Matteo Vismara
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Eugenia Annunzi
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Gabriele D'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Beatrice Benatti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Milano, Italy; CRC "Aldo Ravelli", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Milano, Italy; CRC "Aldo Ravelli", University of Milan, Milano, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA, USA.
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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15
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Schiele MA, Thiel C, Weidner M, Endres D, Zaudig M, Berberich G, Domschke K. Serotonin transporter gene promoter hypomethylation in obsessive-compulsive disorder - Predictor of impaired response to exposure treatment? J Psychiatr Res 2021; 132:18-22. [PMID: 33035761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Treatment resistance is common in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and associated with a significant burden for the individual patient. Accordingly, the identification of biomarkers as early predictors of the clinical response has become a central goal in the search for more efficacious and personalized treatments. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) have been suggested to predict therapy outcome in mental disorders closely related to OCD, but have not yet been investigated as such in OCD. The present therapy-epigenetic study therefore sought to address the potential role of SLC6A4 promoter methylation in the prediction of treatment response for the first time in OCD. Overall, 112 patients with primary OCD were investigated over the course of 8-10-week OCD-specific, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) comprising exposure and response prevention/management (phase I) and in vivo exposure exercises ('flooding', phase II). OCD symptoms were measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) at baseline as well as before and after the in vivo exposure phase. SLC6A4 promoter methylation at baseline was analyzed via pyrosequencing of sodium bisulfite-treated DNA extracted from blood cells. Lower baseline SLC6A4 promoter methylation predicted impaired treatment response (defined as reduction in Y-BOCS scores) in phase II (but not phase I) of CBT (β = -0.359, p = .002). SLC6A4 methylation may thus constitute a potential early biomarker predicting biologically mediated clinical changes elicited specifically by exposure treatment. These results carry promise for clinical application and in the future could aid in early treatment modification and personalized treatment efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Thiel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Weidner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominique Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
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16
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Saraiva LC, Cappi C, Simpson HB, Stein DJ, Viswanath B, van den Heuvel OA, Reddy YCJ, Miguel EC, Shavitt RG. Cutting-edge genetics in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fac Rev 2020; 9:30. [PMID: 33659962 PMCID: PMC7886082 DOI: 10.12703/r/9-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This article reviews recent advances in the genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We cover work on the following: genome-wide association studies, whole-exome sequencing studies, copy number variation studies, gene expression, polygenic risk scores, gene–environment interaction, experimental animal systems, human cell models, imaging genetics, pharmacogenetics, and studies of endophenotypes. Findings from this work underscore the notion that the genetic architecture of OCD is highly complex and shared with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Also, the latest evidence points to the participation of gene networks involved in synaptic transmission, neurodevelopment, and the immune and inflammatory systems in this disorder. We conclude by highlighting that further study of the genetic architecture of OCD, a great part of which remains to be elucidated, could benefit the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on the biological basis of the disorder. Studies to date revealed that OCD is not a simple homogeneous entity, but rather that the underlying biological pathways are variable and heterogenous. We can expect that translation from bench to bedside, through continuous effort and collaborative work, will ultimately transform our understanding of what causes OCD and thus how best to treat it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Cardoso Saraiva
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina Cappi
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Helen Blair Simpson
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Dan J Stein
- SA MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Biju Viswanath
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS); Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells (ADBS) Laboratory, NIMHANS, Bangalore, India
| | - Odile A van den Heuvel
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - YC Janardhan Reddy
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore, India
| | - Euripedes C Miguel
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Roseli G Shavitt
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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18
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Achenbach J, Rhein M, Gombert S, Meyer-Bockenkamp F, Buhck M, Eberhardt M, Leffler A, Frieling H, Karst M. Childhood traumatization is associated with differences in TRPA1 promoter methylation in female patients with multisomatoform disorder with pain as the leading bodily symptom. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:126. [PMID: 31455424 PMCID: PMC6712620 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0731-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The construct of multisomatoform disorder (MSD) is a common point of reference for patients in different somatic and psychosomatic specialties and therefore useful in studying large well-characterized cohorts of a prototype of a somatoform disorder and in parallel as a functional somatic syndrome (FSS). This disorder is characterized by distressing and functionally disabling somatic symptoms with chronic pain as the most frequent and clinically relevant complaint. Pain is perceived by nociceptive nerve fibers and transferred through the generation of action potentials by different receptor molecules known to determine pain sensitivity in pathophysiological processes. Previous studies have shown that for the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), receptor methylation of a particular CpG dinucleotide in the promoter region is inversely associated with both heat pain and pressure pain thresholds. In this study, we hypothesized that TRPA1 promoter methylation regulates pain sensitivity of patients with multisomatoform disorder (MSD). A cohort of 151 patients with MSD and 149 matched healthy volunteers were evaluated using quantitative sensory testing, clinical and psychometric assessment, and methylation analysis using DNA isolated from whole blood. Results We found CpG -628 to be correlated with mechanical pain threshold and CpG -411 to be correlated with mechanical pain threshold in female volunteers, i.e., higher methylation levels lead to higher pain thresholds. A novel finding is that methylation levels were significantly different between patients with no and severe levels of childhood trauma. CpG methylation also correlated with psychometric assessment of pain and pain levels rated on a visual analog scale. Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that epigenetic regulation of TRPA1 plays a role in mechanical pain sensitivities in healthy volunteers. They further provide evidence for the possible influence of childhood traumatic experiences on the epigenetic regulation of TRPA1 in patients with MSD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-019-0731-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Achenbach
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Mathias Rhein
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sara Gombert
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Fiona Meyer-Bockenkamp
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Miro Buhck
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mirjam Eberhardt
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Leffler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Matthias Karst
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
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19
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Kular L, Kular S. Epigenetics applied to psychiatry: Clinical opportunities and future challenges. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018; 72:195-211. [PMID: 29292553 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are clinically heterogeneous and debilitating chronic diseases resulting from a complex interplay between gene variants and environmental factors. Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications, instruct the cell/tissue to correctly interpret external signals and adjust its functions accordingly. Given that epigenetic modifications are sensitive to environment, stable, and reversible, epigenetic studies in psychiatry could represent a promising approach to better understanding and treating disease. In the present review, we aim to discuss the clinical opportunities and challenges arising from the epigenetic research in psychiatry. Using selected examples, we first recapitulate key findings supporting the role of adverse life events, alone or in combination with genetic risk, in epigenetic programming of neuropsychiatric systems. Epigenetic studies further report encouraging findings about the use of methylation changes as diagnostic markers of disease phenotype and predictive tools of progression and response to treatment. Then we discuss the potential of using targeted epigenetic pharmacotherapy, combined with psychosocial interventions, for future personalized medicine for patients. Finally, we review the methodological limitations that could hinder interpretation of epigenetic data in psychiatry. They mainly arise from heterogeneity at the individual and tissue level and require future strategies in order to reinforce the biological relevance of epigenetic data and its translational use in psychiatry. Overall, we suggest that epigenetics could provide new insights into a more comprehensive interpretation of mental illness and might eventually improve the nosology, treatment, and prevention of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Kular
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Kular
- Adult Psychiatry Unit of Laval Secteur Est, Laval, France
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Grünblatt E, Marinova Z, Roth A, Gardini E, Ball J, Geissler J, Wojdacz TK, Romanos M, Walitza S. Combining genetic and epigenetic parameters of the serotonin transporter gene in obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 96:209-217. [PMID: 29102815 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
While genetic variants have been reported to be associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the small effect sizes suggest that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation may also be relevant. The serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) gene has been extensively investigated in relation to OCD, since serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the pharmacological treatment of choice for the disorder. The current study set three questions: Firstly, whether the high expressing loci of the SLC6A4 polymorphisms, 5-HTTLPR + rs25531, rs25532 and rs16965628 are associated with family-based (n = 164 trios) and case-control OCD (n = 186, 152, respectively). This was also examined by a meta-analysis. Secondly, whether DNA methylation and RNA levels of the SLC6A4 differ in saliva and blood of a subset of samples from pediatric and adult OCD patients and matched controls. And lastly, whether morning awakening cortisol levels correlate with the above. A meta-analysis confirmed the association of the LA-allele with OCD (OR = 1.21, p = 0.00018), maintaining significance in the early-onset OCD subgroup (OR = 1.21, p = 0.022). There was no association between rs25532 or rs16965628 and OCD. Our preliminary data showed that SLC6A4 DNA methylation levels in an amplicon located at the beginning of the first intron were significantly higher in the saliva of pediatric OCD patients compared to controls and adult patients with OCD, but no alterations in RNA levels or in polymorphism interactions were observed. Morning awakening salivary cortisol levels positively correlated with methylation levels, and negatively correlated with RNA levels. This study further supports the involvement of the SLC6A4 gene in OCD through both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. This finding needs to be explored further in an independent large sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Zoya Marinova
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Roth
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elena Gardini
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Ball
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Geissler
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tomasz K Wojdacz
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 3, Build. 1230, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Marcel Romanos
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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Vangeel EB, Pishva E, Hompes T, van den Hove D, Lambrechts D, Allegaert K, Freson K, Izzi B, Claes S. Newborn genome-wide DNA methylation in association with pregnancy anxiety reveals a potential role for GABBR1. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:107. [PMID: 29026448 PMCID: PMC5627482 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-017-0408-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence for the role of prenatal stress in shaping offspring DNA methylation and disease susceptibility. In the current study, we aimed to identify genes and pathways associated with pregnancy anxiety using a genome-wide DNA methylation approach. METHODS We selected 22 versus 23 newborns from our Prenatal Early Life Stress (PELS) cohort, exposed to the lowest or highest degree of maternal pregnancy anxiety, respectively. Cord blood genome-wide DNA methylation was assayed using the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (HM450, n = 45) and candidate gene methylation using EpiTYPER (n = 80). Cortisol levels were measured at 2, 4, and 12 months of age to test infant stress system (re)activity. RESULTS Data showed ten differentially methylated regions (DMR) when comparing newborns exposed to low versus high pregnancy anxiety scores. We validated a top DMR in the GABA-B receptor subunit 1 gene (GABBR1) revealing the association with pregnancy anxiety particularly in male newborns (most significant CpG Pearson R = 0.517, p = 0.002; average methylation Pearson R = 0.332, p = 0.039). Cord blood GABBR1 methylation was associated with infant cortisol levels in response to a routine vaccination at 4 months old. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our results show that pregnancy anxiety is associated with differential DNA methylation patterns in newborns and that our candidate gene GABBR1 is associated with infant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to a stressor. Our findings reveal a potential role for GABBR1 methylation in association with stress and provide grounds for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Beau Vangeel
- Department of Neurosciences, Genetic Research About Stress and Psychiatry (GRASP), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (CMVB), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ehsan Pishva
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Titia Hompes
- Department of Neurosciences, Genetic Research About Stress and Psychiatry (GRASP), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- University Psychiatric Center, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daniel van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Translational Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Vesalius Research Center (VRC), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karel Allegaert
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Intensive Care and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC—Sophia’s Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kathleen Freson
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (CMVB), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benedetta Izzi
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Instituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Stephan Claes
- Department of Neurosciences, Genetic Research About Stress and Psychiatry (GRASP), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- University Psychiatric Center, Leuven, Belgium
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