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Chatzittofis A, Boström ADE, Ciuculete DM, Öberg KG, Arver S, Schiöth HB, Jokinen J. HPA axis dysregulation is associated with differential methylation of CpG-sites in related genes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20134. [PMID: 34635736 PMCID: PMC8505644 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99714-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation shifts in Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis related genes is reported in psychiatric disorders including hypersexual disorder. This study, comprising 20 dexamethasone suppression test (DST) non-suppressors and 73 controls, examined the association between the HPA axis dysregulation, shifts in DNA methylation of HPA axis related genes and importantly, gene expression. Individuals with cortisol level ≥ 138 nmol/l, after the low dose (0.5 mg) dexamethasone suppression test (DST) were classified as non-suppressors. Genome-wide methylation pattern, measured in whole blood using the EPIC BeadChip, investigated CpG sites located within 2000 bp of the transcriptional start site of key HPA axis genes, i.e.: CRH, CRHBP, CRHR-1, CRHR-2, FKBP5 and NR3C1. Regression models including DNA methylation M-values and the binary outcome (DST non-suppression status) were performed. Gene transcripts with an abundance of differentially methylated CpG sites were identified with binomial tests. Pearson correlations and robust linear regressions were performed between CpG methylation and gene expression in two independent cohorts. Six of 76 CpG sites were significantly hypermethylated in DST non-suppressors (nominal P < 0.05), associated with genes CRH, CRHR1, CRHR2, FKBP5 and NR3C1. NR3C1 transcript AJ877169 showed statistically significant abundance of probes differentially methylated by DST non-suppression status and correlated with DST cortisol levels. Further, methylation levels of cg07733851 and cg27122725 were positively correlated with gene expression levels of the NR3C1 gene. Methylation levels of cg08636224 (FKBP5) correlated with baseline cortisol and gene expression. Our findings revealed that DNA methylation shifts are involved in the altered mechanism of the HPA axis suggesting that new epigenetic targets should be considered behind psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Chatzittofis
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus. .,Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Adrian Desai E Boström
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Neuropaediatric Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Katarina Görts Öberg
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Arver
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jussi Jokinen
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Rasmusson AJ, Gallwitz M, Soltanabadi B, Ciuculete DM, Mengel-From J, Christensen K, Nygaard M, Soerensen M, Boström AE, Fredriksson R, Freyhult E, Mwinyi J, Czamara D, Binder EB, Schiöth HB, Cunningham JL. Toll-like receptor 4 methylation grade is linked to depressive symptom severity. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:371. [PMID: 34226490 PMCID: PMC8257733 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01481-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores potential associations between the methylation of promoter-associated CpG sites of the toll-like receptor (TLR)-family, plasma levels of pro-inflammatory proteins and depressive symptoms in young female psychiatric patients. Ratings of depressive symptoms and blood samples were obtained from 92 young women seeking psychiatric care. Methylation of 32 promoter-associated CpG sites in TLR1 to TLR10 was analysed using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. Expression levels of 91 inflammatory proteins were determined by proximity extension assay. Statistical correlations between depressive state, TLR1-10 methylation and inflammatory proteins were investigated. Four additional cohorts were studied to evaluate the generalizability of the findings. In the discovery cohort, methylation grade of cg05429895 (TLR4) in blood was inversely correlated with depressive symptoms score in young adults. After correction for multiple testing, plasma levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β/CCL4) were associated with both TLR4 methylation and depressive symptom severity. A similar inverse association between TLR4 methylation in blood and affective symptoms score was also found in a cohort of 148 both males and females (<40 years of age) from the Danish Twin Registry. These findings were not, however, replicated in three other external cohorts; which differed from the first two cohorts by a higher age and mixed ethnicities, thus limiting the generalizability of our findings. However, TLR4 methylation inversely correlated with TLR4 mRNA expression in the Danish Twin Study indicating a functional significance of methylation at this particular CpG. Higher depression scores in young Scandinavian adults was associated with decreased methylation of TLR4 in blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annica J Rasmusson
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maike Gallwitz
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bardia Soltanabadi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Mengel-From
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mette Soerensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Adrian E Boström
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert Fredriksson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Uppsala University, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eva Freyhult
- Department of Medical Sciences, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth B Binder
- Department Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Janet L Cunningham
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Entrance 10, Floor 3B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Ciuculete DM, Voisin S, Kular L, Jonsson J, Rask-Andersen M, Mwinyi J, Schiöth HB. meQTL and ncRNA functional analyses of 102 GWAS-SNPs associated with depression implicate HACE1 and SHANK2 genes. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:99. [PMID: 32616021 PMCID: PMC7333393 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00884-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how genetics and epigenetics interplay in depression. Evidence suggests that genetic variants may change vulnerability to depression by modulating DNA methylation (DNAm) and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the genetic variation, previously identified in the largest genome-wide association study for depression, on proximal DNAm and ncRNA levels. RESULTS We performed DNAm quantitative trait locus (meQTL) analysis in two independent cohorts (total n = 435 healthy individuals), testing associations between 102 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and DNAm levels in whole blood. We identified and replicated 64 SNP-CpG pairs (padj. < 0.05) with meQTL effect. Lower DNAm at cg02098413 located in the HACE1 promoter conferred by the risk allele (C allele) at rs1933802 was associated with higher risk for depression (praw = 0.014, DNAm = 2.3%). In 1202 CD14+ cells sorted from blood, DNAm at cg02088412 positively correlated with HACE1 mRNA expression. Investigation in postmortem brain tissue of adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) indicated 1% higher DNAm at cg02098413 in neurons and lower HACE1 mRNA expression in CA1 hippocampus of MDD patients compared with healthy controls (p = 0.008 and 0.012, respectively). Expression QTL analysis in blood of 74 adolescent revealed that hsa-miR-3664-5p was associated with rs7117514 (SHANK2) (padj. = 0.015, mRNA difference = 5.2%). Gene ontology analysis of the miRNA target genes highlighted implication in neuronal processes. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings from a multi-tissue (blood and brain) and multi-layered (genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic) approach suggest that genetic factors may influence depression by modulating DNAm and miRNA levels. Alterations at HACE1 and SHANK2 loci imply potential mechanisms, such as oxidative stress in the brain, underlying depression. Our results deepened the knowledge of molecular mechanisms in depression and suggest new epigenetic targets that should be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, Husargatan 3, 753124, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, 3011, Australia
| | - Lara Kular
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jörgen Jonsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, Husargatan 3, 753124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mathias Rask-Andersen
- Department of Immunology, Genetic and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, Husargatan 3, 753124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, Husargatan 3, 753124, Uppsala, Sweden.,Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Ciuculete DM, Voisin S, Kular L, Welihinda N, Jonsson J, Jagodic M, Mwinyi J, Schiöth HB. Longitudinal DNA methylation changes at MET may alter HGF/c-MET signalling in adolescents at risk for depression. Epigenetics 2019; 15:646-663. [PMID: 31852353 PMCID: PMC7574381 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1700628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Unrecognized depression during adolescence can result in adult suicidal behaviour. The aim of this study was to identify, replicate and characterize DNA methylation (DNAm) shifts in depression aetiology, using a longitudinal, multi-tissue (blood and brain) and multi-layered (genetics, epigenetics, transcriptomics) approach. We measured genome-wide blood DNAm data at baseline and one-year follow-up, and imputed genetic variants, in 59 healthy adolescents comprising the discovery cohort. Depression and suicidal symptoms were determined using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) depression band, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self (MADRS-S) and SUicide Assessment Scale (SUAS). DNAm levels at follow-up were regressed against depression scores, adjusting for sex, age and the DNAm residuals at baseline. Higher methylation levels of 5% and 13% at cg24627299 within the MET gene were associated with higher depression scores (praw<1e-4) and susceptibility for suicidal symptoms (padj.<0.005). The nearby rs39748 was discovered to be a methylation and expression quantitative trait locus in blood cells. mRNA levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) expression, known to strongly interact with MET, were inversely associated with methylation levels at cg24627299, in an independent cohort of 1180 CD14+ samples. In an open-access dataset of brain tissue, lower methylation at cg24627299 was found in 45 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder compared with matched controls (padj.<0.05). Furthermore, lower MET expression was identified in the hippocampus of depressed individuals compared with controls in a fourth, independent cohort. Our findings reveal methylation changes at MET in the pathology of depression, possibly involved in downregulation of HGF/c-MET signalling the hippocampal region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University , Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University , Footscray, Australian
| | - Lara Kular
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nipuni Welihinda
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University , Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jörgen Jonsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University , Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maja Jagodic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University , Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University , Uppsala, Sweden.,Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University , Moscow, Russia
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Fredriksson R, Sreedharan S, Nordenankar K, Alsiö J, Lindberg FA, Hutchinson A, Eriksson A, Roshanbin S, Ciuculete DM, Klockars A, Todkar A, Hägglund MG, Hellsten SV, Hindlycke V, Västermark Å, Shevchenko G, Olivo G, K C, Kullander K, Moazzami A, Bergquist J, Olszewski PK, Schiöth HB. The polyamine transporter Slc18b1(VPAT) is important for both short and long time memory and for regulation of polyamine content in the brain. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008455. [PMID: 31800589 PMCID: PMC6927659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
SLC18B1 is a sister gene to the vesicular monoamine and acetylcholine transporters, and the only known polyamine transporter, with unknown physiological role. We reveal that Slc18b1 knock out mice has significantly reduced polyamine content in the brain providing the first evidence that Slc18b1 is functionally required for regulating polyamine levels. We found that this mouse has impaired short and long term memory in novel object recognition, radial arm maze and self-administration paradigms. We also show that Slc18b1 KO mice have altered expression of genes involved in Long Term Potentiation, plasticity, calcium signalling and synaptic functions and that expression of components of GABA and glutamate signalling are changed. We further observe a partial resistance to diazepam, manifested as significantly lowered reduction in locomotion after diazepam treatment. We suggest that removal of Slc18b1 leads to reduction of polyamine contents in neurons, resulting in reduced GABA signalling due to long-term reduction in glutamatergic signalling. A fundamental function of the nervous system is its ability to modulate and change the connections between nerve cells, and this forms the basis for memory and learning. This is most well studied for synapses that are using the neurotransmitter glutamate, and a central part of this is referred to Long Term Potentiation. This process is dependent on a specific glutamate receptor called the NMDA receptor, and the function of this receptor can be controlled by various mechanisms. Here, we show that polyamines can regulate this receptor and that lack of polyamines result in impaired learning and memory. Polyamines are small peptides made by many different cells in the body, including cells in the brain, and by removing a gene coding for a transporter important for the release of polyamines in nerve cells of mice, we show that polyamines are important for proper function of the glutamate system. We also show the deletion of this gene result in fundamentally rearranged GABA and glutamate systems, resulting in the mice having a much higher tolerance for the sedative drug benzodiazepines. Polyamines and targets for these molecules could be important points of intervention for future drugs aiming at modulating the glutamatergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Fredriksson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Smitha Sreedharan
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Nordenankar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Alsiö
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frida A. Lindberg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ashley Hutchinson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Eriksson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sahar Roshanbin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Diana M. Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anica Klockars
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Aniruddha Todkar
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria G. Hägglund
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sofie V. Hellsten
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Viktoria Hindlycke
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åke Västermark
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Gaia Olivo
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cheng K
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Klas Kullander
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ali Moazzami
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Bergquist
- Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pawel K. Olszewski
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Ciuculete DM, Boström AE, Tuunainen AK, Sohrabi F, Kular L, Jagodic M, Voisin S, Mwinyi J, Schiöth HB. Changes in methylation within the STK32B promoter are associated with an increased risk for generalized anxiety disorder in adolescents. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 102:44-51. [PMID: 29604450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is highly prevalent among adolescents. An early detection of individuals at risk may prevent later psychiatric condition. Genome-wide studies investigating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) concluded that a focus on epigenetic mechanisms, which mediate the impact of environmental factors, could more efficiently help the understanding of GAD pathogenesis. We investigated the relationship between epigenetic shifts in blood and the risk to develop GAD, evaluated by the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) score, in 221 otherwise healthy adolescents. Our analysis focused specifically on methylation sites showing high inter-individual variation but low tissue-specific variation, in order to infer a potential correlation between results obtained in blood and brain. Two statistical methods were applied, 1) a linear model with limma and 2) a likelihood test followed by Bonferroni correction. Methylation findings were validated in a cohort of 160 adults applying logistic models against the outcome variable "anxiety treatment obtained in the past" and studied in a third cohort with regards to associated expression changes measured in monocytes. One CpG site showed 1% increased methylation in adolescents at high risk of GAD (cg16333992, padj. = 0.028, estimate = 3.22), as confirmed in the second cohort (p = 0.031, estimate = 1.32). The identified and validated CpG site is located within the STK32B promoter region and its methylation level was positively associated with gene expression. Gene ontology analysis revealed that STK32B is involved in stress response and defense response. Our results provide evidence that shifts in DNA methylation are associated with a modulated risk profile for GAD in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Adrian E Boström
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna-Kaisa Tuunainen
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Farah Sohrabi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lara Kular
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maja Jagodic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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Jokinen J, Boström AE, Dadfar A, Ciuculete DM, Chatzittofis A, Åsberg M, Schiöth HB. Epigenetic Changes in the CRH Gene are Related to Severity of Suicide Attempt and a General Psychiatric Risk Score in Adolescents. EBioMedicine 2017; 27:123-133. [PMID: 29277323 PMCID: PMC5828554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study, comprising 88 suicide attempters, was to identify hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) -axis coupled CpG-sites showing methylation shifts linked to severity of the suicide attempt. Candidate methylation loci were further investigated as risk loci for a general psychiatric risk score in two cohorts of adolescents (cohort 1 and 2). The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured in whole blood using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. Subjects were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the severity of the suicidal behavior. We included CpG sites located within 2000 basepairs away from transcriptional start site of the following HPA-axis coupled genes: corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), corticotropin releasing hormone binding protein (CRHBP), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2), FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5) and the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1). The methylation state of two corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-associated CpG sites were significantly hypomethylated in the high-risk group of suicide attempters (n = 31) (cg19035496 and cg23409074) (p < 0.001). Adolescent cohort 1 and 2 consisted of 129 and 93 subjects, respectively, and were stratified by the in silico generated DAWBA measurements of a general psychiatric risk score into high-risk group (>~50% risk) or controls. In adolescent cohort 2, cg19035496 was hypermethylated in subjects with a high general psychiatric risk score. Our results show epigenetic changes in the CRH gene related to severity of suicide attempt in adults and a general psychiatric risk score in adolescents. Two CRH-associated CpG sites were significantly hypomethylated in the high-risk group of suicide attempters. In adolescent cohort, cg19035496 was hypermethylated in subjects with a high general psychiatric risk score. Epigenetic modulatory effects on the HPA axis dysregulation are associated with psychiatric illness and suicidal behavior.
In this study, comprising 88 suicide attempters, we aimed to identify epigenetic changes in stress system linked to severity of the suicide attempt. In the next step, we investigated if the same epigenetic changes could be detected in adolescents with high risk for psychiatric illness. The methylation pattern was measured in blood and subjects were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the severity of the suicidal behavior. One corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-a key regulator of stress system-associated CpG site showed less methylation in the high-risk group and was hypermethylated in adolescents with a high general psychiatric risk score. Epigenetic changes in the CRH gene were related to severity of suicide attempt in adults and a general psychiatric risk score in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Jokinen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Center for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Adrian E Boström
- Department of Neuroscience/Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ali Dadfar
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Diana M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience/Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Chatzittofis
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Center for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marie Åsberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience/Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Ciuculete DM, Schiöth HB, Mwinyi J. Response to Smit et al. Clin Genet 2017; 92:566. [PMID: 28990172 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - H B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - J Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Jokinen J, Boström AE, Chatzittofis A, Ciuculete DM, Öberg KG, Flanagan JN, Arver S, Schiöth HB. Methylation of HPA axis related genes in men with hypersexual disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 80:67-73. [PMID: 28319850 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hypersexual Disorder (HD) defined as non-paraphilic sexual desire disorder with components of compulsivity, impulsivity and behavioral addiction, and proposed as a diagnosis in the DSM 5, shares some overlapping features with substance use disorder including common neurotransmitter systems and dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. In this study, comprising 67 HD male patients and 39 male healthy volunteers, we aimed to identify HPA-axis coupled CpG-sites, in which modifications of the epigenetic profile are associated with hypersexuality. The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured in whole blood using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip, measuring the methylation state of over 850K CpG sites. Prior to analysis, the global DNA methylation pattern was pre-processed according to standard protocols and adjusted for white blood cell type heterogeneity. We included CpG sites located within 2000bp of the transcriptional start site of the following HPA-axis coupled genes: Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), corticotropin releasing hormone binding protein (CRHBP), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2), FKBP5 and the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1). We performed multiple linear regression models of methylation M-values to a categorical variable of hypersexuality, adjusting for depression, dexamethasone non-suppression status, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire total score and plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6. Of 76 tested individual CpG sites, four were nominally significant (p<0.05), associated with the genes CRH, CRHR2 and NR3C1. Cg23409074-located 48bp upstream of the transcription start site of the CRH gene - was significantly hypomethylated in hypersexual patients after corrections for multiple testing using the FDR-method. Methylation levels of cg23409074 were positively correlated with gene expression of the CRH gene in an independent cohort of 11 healthy male subjects. The methylation levels at the identified CRH site, cg23409074, were significantly correlated between blood and four different brain regions. CRH is an important integrator of neuroendocrine stress responses in the brain, with a key role in the addiction processes. Our results show epigenetic changes in the CRH gene related to hypersexual disorder in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Jokinen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | | | - Andreas Chatzittofis
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - John N Flanagan
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Arver
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Ciuculete DM, Bandstein M, Benedict C, Waeber G, Vollenweider P, Lind L, Schiöth HB, Mwinyi J. A genetic risk score is significantly associated with statin therapy response in the elderly population. Clin Genet 2016; 91:379-385. [PMID: 27943270 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The ability of statins to strongly reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) varies interindividually and is partially influenced by genetic variants. Based on a comprehensive analysis of 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to be associated with pharmacokinetics and dynamics of statins, we developed a genetic risk score to study its impact on the therapy outcome in elderly individuals under at least 5 years statin therapy. The study was performed in a population-based cohort of 1016 elderly individuals, which comprised 168 statin users investigated at age 75 and 80. Using random forest models, the major variants influencing LDL-C levels were summarized in a weighted GRS (wGRS). The wGRS was tested with lipid and glucose outcomes and validated in an independent population-based cohort including 221 statin users. Four SNPs within the APOE cluster (rs7412, rs4420638), ABCC2 (rs2002042) and CELSR/SORT1/PSRC1 (rs646776), displayed a major impact on statin efficacy. The wGRS was significantly associated with lower LDL-C at age 75 and 80. This association was replicated displaying similar results. GRS analysis is a powerful tool to evaluate the additive effects of genetic variants on statin response and to estimate the magnitude of LDL-C reduction to a considerable extent in the older population.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Ciuculete
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M Bandstein
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - C Benedict
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - G Waeber
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - P Vollenweider
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - L Lind
- Department of Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - H B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - J Mwinyi
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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