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Martinez B, Peplow PV. MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of schizophrenia and influence of antipsychotic treatment. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1523-1531. [PMID: 38051895 PMCID: PMC10883514 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.387966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Characterized by positive symptoms (such as changes in behavior or thoughts, including delusions and hallucinations), negative symptoms (such as apathy, anhedonia, and social withdrawal), and cognitive impairments, schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental disorder with late adolescence or early adulthood onset. Antipsychotics are the most commonly used drugs to treat schizophrenia, but those currently in use do not fully reverse all three types of symptoms characterizing this condition. Schizophrenia is frequently misdiagnosed, resulting in a delay of or inappropriate treatment. Abnormal expression of microRNAs is connected to brain development and disease and could provide novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of schizophrenia. The recent studies reviewed included microRNA profiling in blood- and urine-based materials and nervous tissue materials. From the studies that had validated the preliminary findings, potential candidate biomarkers for schizophrenia in adults could be miR-22-3p, -30e-5p, -92a-3p, -148b-5p, -181a-3p, -181a-5p, -181b-5p, -199b-5p, -137 in whole blood, and miR-130b, -193a-3p in blood plasma. Antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia patients was found to modulate the expression of certain microRNAs including miR-130b, -193a-3p, -132, -195, -30e, -432 in blood plasma. Further studies are warranted with adolescents and young adults having schizophrenia and consideration should be given to using animal models of the disorder to investigate the effect of suppressing or overexpressing specific microRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Philip V Peplow
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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2
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Dulka K, Lajkó N, Nacsa K, Gulya K. Opposite and Differently Altered Postmortem Changes in H3 and H3K9me3 Patterns in the Rat Frontal Cortex and Hippocampus. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:11. [PMID: 38534795 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Temporal and spatial epigenetic modifications in the brain occur during ontogenetic development, pathophysiological disorders, and aging. When epigenetic marks, such as histone methylations, in brain autopsies or biopsy samples are studied, it is critical to understand their postmortem/surgical stability. For this study, the frontal cortex and hippocampus of adult rats were removed immediately (controls) or after a postmortem delay of 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, or 150 min. The patterns of unmodified H3 and its trimethylated form H3K9me3 were analyzed in frozen samples for Western blot analysis and in formalin-fixed tissues embedded in paraffin for confocal microscopy. We found that both the unmodified H3 and H3K9me3 showed time-dependent but opposite changes and were altered differently in the frontal cortex and hippocampus with respect to postmortem delay. In the frontal cortex, the H3K9me3 marks increased approximately 450% with a slow parallel 20% decrease in the unmodified H3 histones after 150 min. In the hippocampus, the change was opposite, since H3K9me3 marks decreased steadily by approximately 65% after 150 min with a concomitant rapid increase of 20-25% in H3 histones at the same time. Confocal microscopy located H3K9me3 marks in the heterochromatic regions of the nuclei of all major cell types in the control brains: oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, neurons, and microglia. Therefore, epigenetic marks could be affected differently by postmortem delay in different parts of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Dulka
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Noémi Lajkó
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Kálmán Nacsa
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Karoly Gulya
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
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3
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Pearson M, R Egglestone S, Winship G. The biological paradigm of psychosis in crisis: A Kuhnian analysis. Nurs Philos 2023; 24:e12418. [PMID: 36779230 DOI: 10.1111/nup.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
The philosophy of Thomas Kuhn proposes that scientific progress involves periods of crisis and revolution in which previous paradigms are discarded and replaced. Revolutions in how mental health problems are conceptualised have had a substantial impact on the work of mental health nurses. However, despite numerous revolutions within the field of mental health, the biological paradigm has remained largely dominant within western healthcare, especially in orientating the understanding and treatment of psychosis. This paper utilises concepts drawn from the philosophy of Thomas Kuhn to explore the impact of what Kuhn terms 'anomalies' within the dominant biological paradigm: the anomaly of the meaningful utterance, the anomaly of complex aetiology and taxonomy and the anomaly of pharmacological inefficacy in recovery. The paper argues that the biological paradigm for understanding psychosis is in crisis and explores the implications for mental health nursing.
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Grezenko H, Ekhator C, Nwabugwu NU, Ganga H, Affaf M, Abdelaziz AM, Rehman A, Shehryar A, Abbasi FA, Bellegarde SB, Khaliq AS. Epigenetics in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: A Comprehensive Review of Current Understanding and Future Perspectives. Cureus 2023; 15:e43960. [PMID: 37622055 PMCID: PMC10446850 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The burgeoning field of epigenetics offers transformative insights into the complex landscape of neurological and psychiatric disorders. By unraveling the intricate interplay between genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, this comprehensive review highlights the multifaceted nature of mental health. The exploration reveals the potential of epigenetic modifications to revolutionize our understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these disorders. Emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary collaborations, large-scale studies, technological advancements, and ethical considerations, the review asserts the promise of epigenetics as a vital tool for personalized medicine, early intervention, and public health strategies. While acknowledging the challenges in a still-emerging field, the review paints an optimistic picture of epigenetics as a groundbreaking approach that can reshape mental healthcare, offering hope for those affected by neurological and psychiatric conditions. The future trajectory of the field relies on interdisciplinary efforts, ethical diligence, innovative technologies, and translating scientific insights into real-world applications, thereby unlocking the vast potential of epigenetics in mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Grezenko
- Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, USA
| | - Chukwuyem Ekhator
- Neuro-Oncology, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, USA
| | - Nkechi U Nwabugwu
- Public Health, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA
| | | | - Maryam Affaf
- Internal Medicine, Women Medical College, Abbottabad, PAK
| | - Ali M Abdelaziz
- Internal Medicine, Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, EGY
| | | | | | - Fatima A Abbasi
- Cardiology, Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Sophia B Bellegarde
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Antigua, St. John's, ATG
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5
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Stevenson AJ, McCartney DL, Gadd DA, Shireby G, Hillary RF, King D, Tzioras M, Wrobel N, McCafferty S, Murphy L, McColl BW, Redmond P, Taylor AM, Harris SE, Russ TC, McIntosh AM, Mill J, Smith C, Deary IJ, Cox SR, Marioni RE, Spires‐Jones TL. A comparison of blood and brain-derived ageing and inflammation-related DNA methylation signatures and their association with microglial burdens. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5637-5649. [PMID: 35362642 PMCID: PMC9525452 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation and ageing-related DNA methylation patterns in the blood have been linked to a variety of morbidities, including cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. However, it is unclear how these blood-based patterns relate to patterns within the brain and how each associates with central cellular profiles. In this study, we profiled DNA methylation in both the blood and in five post mortem brain regions (BA17, BA20/21, BA24, BA46 and hippocampus) in 14 individuals from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Microglial burdens were additionally quantified in the same brain regions. DNA methylation signatures of five epigenetic ageing biomarkers ('epigenetic clocks'), and two inflammatory biomarkers (methylation proxies for C-reactive protein and interleukin-6) were compared across tissues and regions. Divergent associations between the inflammation and ageing signatures in the blood and brain were identified, depending on region assessed. Four out of the five assessed epigenetic age acceleration measures were found to be highest in the hippocampus (β range = 0.83-1.14, p ≤ 0.02). The inflammation-related DNA methylation signatures showed no clear variation across brain regions. Reactive microglial burdens were found to be highest in the hippocampus (β = 1.32, p = 5 × 10-4 ); however, the only association identified between the blood- and brain-based methylation signatures and microglia was a significant positive association with acceleration of one epigenetic clock (termed DNAm PhenoAge) averaged over all five brain regions (β = 0.40, p = 0.002). This work highlights a potential vulnerability of the hippocampus to epigenetic ageing and provides preliminary evidence of a relationship between DNA methylation signatures in the brain and differences in microglial burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Stevenson
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Daniel L. McCartney
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Danni A. Gadd
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Gemma Shireby
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Robert F. Hillary
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Declan King
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Makis Tzioras
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Nicola Wrobel
- Edinburgh Clinical Research FacilityWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - Sarah McCafferty
- Edinburgh Clinical Research FacilityWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - Lee Murphy
- Edinburgh Clinical Research FacilityWestern General HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - Barry W. McColl
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Paul Redmond
- Lothian Birth CohortsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | - Sarah E. Harris
- Lothian Birth CohortsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tom C. Russ
- Lothian Birth CohortsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, 7 George SquareUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Division of PsychiatryUniversity of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - Andrew M. McIntosh
- Division of PsychiatryUniversity of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh HospitalEdinburghUK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Ian J. Deary
- Lothian Birth CohortsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Simon R. Cox
- Lothian Birth CohortsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Riccardo E. Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Lothian Birth CohortsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tara L. Spires‐Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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6
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Farrelly LA, Zheng S, Schrode N, Topol A, Bhanu NV, Bastle RM, Ramakrishnan A, Chan JC, Cetin B, Flaherty E, Shen L, Gleason K, Tamminga CA, Garcia BA, Li H, Brennand KJ, Maze I. Chromatin profiling in human neurons reveals aberrant roles for histone acetylation and BET family proteins in schizophrenia. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2195. [PMID: 35459277 PMCID: PMC9033776 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29922-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with complex genetic risk dictated by interactions between hundreds of risk variants. Epigenetic factors, such as histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs), have been shown to play critical roles in many neurodevelopmental processes, and when perturbed may also contribute to the precipitation of disease. Here, we apply an unbiased proteomics approach to evaluate combinatorial histone PTMs in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived forebrain neurons from individuals with SZ. We observe hyperacetylation of H2A.Z and H4 in neurons derived from SZ cases, results that were confirmed in postmortem human brain. We demonstrate that the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein, BRD4, is a bona fide 'reader' of H2A.Z acetylation, and further provide evidence that BET family protein inhibition ameliorates transcriptional abnormalities in patient-derived neurons. Thus, treatments aimed at alleviating BET protein interactions with hyperacetylated histones may aid in the prevention or treatment of SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna A Farrelly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Shuangping Zheng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Nadine Schrode
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aaron Topol
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Natarajan V Bhanu
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ryan M Bastle
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aarthi Ramakrishnan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jennifer C Chan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bulent Cetin
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Erin Flaherty
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kelly Gleason
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Carol A Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Haitao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
| | - Kristen J Brennand
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Departments of Psychiatry and Genetics, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 065109, USA.
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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7
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Magwai T, Shangase KB, Oginga FO, Chiliza B, Mpofana T, Xulu KR. DNA Methylation and Schizophrenia: Current Literature and Future Perspective. Cells 2021; 10:2890. [PMID: 34831111 PMCID: PMC8616184 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by dissociation of thoughts, idea, identity, and emotions. It has no central pathophysiological mechanism and precise diagnostic markers. Despite its high heritability, there are also environmental factors implicated in the development of schizophrenia. Epigenetic factors are thought to mediate the effects of environmental factors in the development of the disorder. Epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation are a risk factor for schizophrenia. Targeted gene approach studies attempted to find candidate gene methylation, but the results are contradictory. Genome-wide methylation studies are insufficient in literature and the available data do not cover different populations like the African populations. The current genome-wide studies have limitations related to the sample and methods used. Studies are required to control for these limitations. Integration of DNA methylation, gene expression, and their effects are important in the understanding of the development of schizophrenia and search for biomarkers. There are currently no precise and functional biomarkers for the disorder. Several epigenetic markers have been reported to be common in functional and peripheral tissue. This makes the peripheral tissue epigenetic changes a surrogate of functional tissue, suggesting common epigenetic alteration can be used as biomarkers of schizophrenia in peripheral tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabo Magwai
- Department of Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (K.B.S.); (F.O.O.); (T.M.)
- National Health Laboratory Service, Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4085, South Africa
| | - Khanyiso Bright Shangase
- Department of Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (K.B.S.); (F.O.O.); (T.M.)
| | - Fredrick Otieno Oginga
- Department of Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (K.B.S.); (F.O.O.); (T.M.)
| | - Bonginkosi Chiliza
- Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa;
| | - Thabisile Mpofana
- Department of Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (K.B.S.); (F.O.O.); (T.M.)
| | - Khethelo Richman Xulu
- Department of Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (K.B.S.); (F.O.O.); (T.M.)
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8
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Taylor RM, Smith R, Collins CE, Mossman D, Wong-Brown MW, Chan EC, Evans TJ, Attia JR, Buckley N, Drysdale K, Smith T, Butler T, Hure AJ. Global DNA methylation and cognitive and behavioral outcomes at 4 years of age: A cross-sectional study. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01579. [PMID: 32109009 PMCID: PMC7177573 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that breastfeeding exclusivity and duration are positively associated with child cognition. This study investigated whether DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism modified by nutrient intake, may contribute to the link between breastfeeding and child cognition. The aim was to quantify the relationship between global DNA methylation and cognition and behavior at 4 years of age. METHODS Child behavior and cognition were measured at age 4 years using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, third version (WPPSI-III), and Child Behavior Checklist (CBC). Global DNA methylation (%5-methylcytosines (%5mC)) was measured in buccal cells at age 4 years, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial kit. Linear regression models were used to quantify the statistical relationships. RESULTS Data were collected from 73 children recruited from the Women and Their Children's Health (WATCH) study. No statistically significant associations were found between global DNA methylation levels and child cognition or behavior (p > .05), though the estimates of effect were consistently negative. Global DNA methylation levels in males were significantly higher than in females (median %5mC: 1.82 vs. 1.03, males and females, respectively, (p < .05)). CONCLUSION No association was found between global DNA methylation and child cognition and behavior; however given the small sample, this study should be pooled with other cohorts in future meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M Taylor
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger Smith
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare E Collins
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - David Mossman
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Department of Molecular Medicine, NSW Health Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle W Wong-Brown
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Eng-Cheng Chan
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Tiffany-Jane Evans
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Clinical Research Design IT and Statistical Support (CReDITSS) Unit, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - John R Attia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Clinical Research Design IT and Statistical Support (CReDITSS) Unit, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Nick Buckley
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Karen Drysdale
- Faculty of Science, School Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Tenele Smith
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Trent Butler
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexis J Hure
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Generational, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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9
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Wille-Bille A, Bellia F, Jiménez García AM, Miranda-Morales RS, D'Addario C, Pautassi RM. Early exposure to environmental enrichment modulates the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure upon opioid gene expression and adolescent ethanol intake. Neuropharmacology 2019; 165:107917. [PMID: 31926456 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) promotes ethanol consumption in the adolescent offspring accompanied by the transcriptional regulation of kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system genes. This study analysed if environmental enrichment (EE, from gestational day 20 to postnatal day 26) exerts protective effects upon PEE-modulation of gene expression, ethanol intake and anxiety responses. Pregnant rats were exposed to PEE (0.0 or 2.0 g/kg ethanol, gestational days 17-20) and subsequently the dam and offspring were reared under EE or standard conditions. PEE upregulated KOR mRNA levels in amygdala (AMY) and prodynorphin (PDYN) mRNA levels in ventral tegmental area (VTA) with the latter effect associated with lower DNA methylation at the gene promoter. These effects were normalized by exposure to EE. PEE modulated BDNF mRNA levels in VTA and Nucleus accumbens (AcbN), and EE mitigated the changes in AcbN. EE induced a protective effect on ethanol intake and preference, an effect more noticeable in males than in females, and in prenatal vehicle-treated (PV) than in PEE rats. The male offspring drank significantly less ethanol than the female offspring. The latter result suggests that the protective effect of EE on ethanol drinking may only emerge at lower levels of drinking. In the dams, PEE induced an upregulation of PDYN and KOR in AcbN. PDYN gene expression was normalized by exposure to EE. These results suggest that EE is a promising treatment to inhibit the effects of PEE. The results confirm that PEE effects are mediated by alterations in the transcriptional regulation of KOR system genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aranza Wille-Bille
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba, C.P. 5000, Argentina
| | - Fabio Bellia
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, C.P. 64100, Italy
| | - Ana María Jiménez García
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Farmacología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, C.P. 18071, Spain
| | - Roberto Sebastián Miranda-Morales
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba, C.P. 5000, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, C.P. 5000, Argentina
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, C.P. 64100, Italy.
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba, C.P. 5000, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, C.P. 5000, Argentina.
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10
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Quigley H, MacCabe JH. The relationship between nicotine and psychosis. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 2019; 9:2045125319859969. [PMID: 31308936 PMCID: PMC6604123 DOI: 10.1177/2045125319859969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is strongly associated with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. For several decades it was assumed that the relationship could be explained by reverse causation; that smoking was secondary to the illness itself, either through self-medication or a process of institutionalization, or was entirely explained by confounding by cannabis use or social factors. However, studies have exposed that such hypotheses cannot fully explain the association, and more recently a bidirectional relationship has been proposed wherein cigarette smoking may be causally related to risk of psychosis, possibly via a shared genetic liability to smoking and psychosis. We review the evidence for these candidate explanations, using findings from the latest epidemiological, neuroimaging, genetic and preclinical work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Quigley
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of
Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, SE5 8AF,
Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - James H. MacCabe
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of
Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London,
UK
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11
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Kouter K, Zupanc T, Videtič Paska A. Genome-wide DNA methylation in suicide victims revealing impact on gene expression. J Affect Disord 2019; 253:419-425. [PMID: 31103807 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicidal behavior is a multifactorial, polygenic state that affects millions worldwide. It is a result of interplay between hereditary and environmental factors, tied together by epigenetics. Despite vast knowledge on suicidality complete mechanism and factors leading to suicide are unknown. However there is an indication between changes in DNA methylation patterns and suicidal behavior. METHODS To identify differential methylation we formed a homogenous group of male suicide victims who died by hanging and control group. Altogether our study included 18 subjects in which two brain regions, Brodmann area 9 (9 suicide victims and 9 controls)) and hippocampus (6 suicide victims and 6 controls) were investigated using next-generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS Our results have shown several differences in methylation level between suicide victims and controls in both brain regions (>25% difference in methylation and q-value < 0.01), with gene ontology pointing towards cell structural integrity and nervous system regulation. Additional gene expression analysis identified changes in two genes, ZNF714 (p-value = 0.002) and NRIP3 (p-value = 0.046). LIMITATIONS Major limitation is small sample size. Our analysis was conducted on brain tissue including different cell types so the results are a representation of a methylation pattern for the whole brain tissue sample. CONCLUSIONS We performed a preliminary methylation study with single base pair resolution using NGS on one of the world populations with a very high suicide risk. Obtained results offer novel insights into altered methylation patterns in suicide victims, which could provide a starting point for further studies on clinical samples with highly expressed suicide risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Kouter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Zupanc
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova ulica 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alja Videtič Paska
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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12
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Roberts S, Suderman M, Zammit S, Watkins SH, Hannon E, Mill J, Relton C, Arseneault L, Wong CCY, Fisher HL. Longitudinal investigation of DNA methylation changes preceding adolescent psychotic experiences. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:69. [PMID: 30718501 PMCID: PMC6361958 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0407-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood psychotic experiences (PEs), such as seeing or hearing things that others do not, or extreme paranoia, are relatively common with around 1 in 20 children reporting them at age 12. Childhood PEs are often distressing and can be predictive of schizophrenia, other psychiatric disorders, and suicide attempts in adulthood, particularly if they persist during adolescence. Previous research has demonstrated that methylomic signatures in blood could be potential biomarkers of psychotic phenomena. This study explores the association between DNA methylation (DNAm) and the emergence, persistence, and remission of PEs in childhood and adolescence. DNAm profiles were obtained from the ALSPAC cohort at birth, age 7, and age 15/17 (n = 901). PEs were assessed through interviews with participants at ages 12 and 18. We identified PE-associated probes (p < 5 × 10-5) and regions (corrected p < 0.05) at ages 12 and 18. Several of the differentially methylated probes were also associated with the continuity of PEs across adolescence. One probe (cg16459265), detected consistently at multiple timepoints in the study sample, was replicated in an independent sample of twins (n = 1658). Six regions, including those spanning the HLA-DBP2 and GDF7 genes, were consistently differentially methylated at ages 7 and 15-17. Findings from this large, population-based study suggest that DNAm at multiple stages of development may be associated with PEs in late childhood and adolescence, though further replication is required. Research uncovering biomarkers associated with pre-clinical PEs is important as it has the potential to facilitate early identification of individuals at increased risk who could benefit from preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Roberts
- King’s College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Matthew Suderman
- 0000 0004 1936 7603grid.5337.2University of Bristol, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stanley Zammit
- University of Bristol, School of Medicine, Centre for Academic Mental Health, Bristol, UK ,Cardiff University School of Medicine, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sarah H. Watkins
- University of Bristol, School of Medicine, Centre for Academic Mental Health, Bristol, UK
| | - Eilis Hannon
- 0000 0004 1936 8024grid.8391.3University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- 0000 0004 1936 8024grid.8391.3University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Caroline Relton
- 0000 0004 1936 7603grid.5337.2University of Bristol, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- King’s College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Chloe C. Y. Wong
- King’s College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Helen L. Fisher
- King’s College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
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13
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Braun PR, Han S, Hing B, Nagahama Y, Gaul LN, Heinzman JT, Grossbach AJ, Close L, Dlouhy BJ, Howard MA, Kawasaki H, Potash JB, Shinozaki G. Genome-wide DNA methylation comparison between live human brain and peripheral tissues within individuals. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:47. [PMID: 30705257 PMCID: PMC6355837 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0376-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential DNA methylation in the brain is associated with many psychiatric diseases, but access to brain tissues is essentially limited to postmortem samples. The use of surrogate tissues has become common in identifying methylation changes associated with psychiatric disease. In this study, we determined the extent to which peripheral tissues can be used as surrogates for DNA methylation in the brain. Blood, saliva, buccal, and live brain tissue samples from 27 patients with medically intractable epilepsy undergoing brain resection were collected (age range 5-61 years). Genome-wide methylation was assessed with the Infinium HumanMethylation450 (n = 12) and HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip arrays (n = 21). For the EPIC methylation data averaged for each CpG across subjects, the saliva-brain correlation (r = 0.90) was higher than that for blood-brain (r = 0.86) and buccal-brain (r = 0.85) comparisons. However, within individual CpGs, blood had the highest proportion of CpGs correlated to brain at nominally significant levels (20.8%), as compared to buccal tissue (17.4%) and saliva (15.1%). For each CpG and each gene, levels of brain-peripheral tissue correlation varied widely. This indicates that to determine the most useful surrogate tissue for representing brain DNA methylation, the patterns specific to the genomic region of interest must be considered. To assist in that objective, we have developed a website, IMAGE-CpG, that allows researchers to interrogate DNA methylation levels and degree of cross-tissue correlation in user-defined locations across the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Braun
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Shizhong Han
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Benjamin Hing
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Yasunori Nagahama
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Lindsey N Gaul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Jonathan T Heinzman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Andrew J Grossbach
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43203, USA
| | - Liesl Close
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Brian J Dlouhy
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Matthew A Howard
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Hiroto Kawasaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - James B Potash
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Gen Shinozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA.
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Neuroscience, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA.
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14
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Study Design and Rationale for the Mood and Methylation Study: A Platform for Multi-Omics Investigation of Depression in Twins. Twin Res Hum Genet 2018; 21:507-513. [DOI: 10.1017/thg.2018.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Major depression is a complex disorder with no single, direct causal mechanism. Morbidity has been linked to genetic processes, developmental history, and unique environmental exposures. Epigenetic mechanisms, especially DNA methylation, are also likely important factors in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). A community-based twin sample has many advantages for epigenetic studies, given the shared genetic and developmental histories of same-sex twin pairs. This article describes the rationale and study design for the Mood and Methylation Study in which 133 twin pairs (101 monozygotic and 32 dizygotic), both discordant and concordant for lifetime history of MDD, were evaluated on a large number of variables related to MDD. The twins also provided blood samples for an epigenome-wide association study of differentially methylated regions (DMR) relevant to MDD. Although MDD is typically considered a disorder of the central nervous system, it is unfeasible to obtain a large sample of brain tissues. However, epigenetic variation is not limited to the affected tissue but can also be detected in peripheral blood leukocytes. Thus, this study focused on monocytes for the major analyses. Additional plans for the study include gene expression analysis from the same set of twins using RNA-seq and validation of significant DMRs in postmortem brain tissues from a separate sample. Moreover, sufficient samples have been collected to perform future ‘multi-omic’ analyses, including metabolome, microbiome, and transcriptome. Our long-term goal is to understand how epigenomic and other ‘omic’ factors can be manipulated for diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic purposes for MDD and its related conditions.
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15
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Stevens AJ, Rucklidge JJ, Darling KA, Eggleston MJ, Pearson JF, Kennedy MA. Methylomic changes in response to micronutrient supplementation and MTHFR genotype. Epigenomics 2018; 10:1201-1214. [PMID: 30182732 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure times and dosage required for dietary components to modify DNA methylation patterns are largely unknown. AIM This exploratory research represents the first genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation changes during a randomized-controlled-trial (RCT) for dietary supplementation with broad spectrum vitamins, minerals and amino acids in humans. METHODS Genome-wide changes in methylation from paired, peripheral blood samples were assessed using the Infinium Methylation EPIC 850 K array. RESULTS Methylation increased at 84% of the most significant differentially methylated CpGs; however, none showed significance after adjustment for genome-wide testing. CONCLUSION Micronutrient supplementation is unlikely to have a substantial biological effect on DNA methylation over 10 weeks; however, the trend toward hypermethylation that we observed is likely to become more marked with longer exposure periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Stevens
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Julia J Rucklidge
- Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Kathryn A Darling
- Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Matthew Jf Eggleston
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - John F Pearson
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Martin A Kennedy
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
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16
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Wille-Bille A, Miranda-Morales RS, Pucci M, Bellia F, D'Addario C, Pautassi RM. Prenatal ethanol induces an anxiety phenotype and alters expression of dynorphin & nociceptin/orphanin FQ genes. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 85:77-88. [PMID: 29678771 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Animal models have suggested that prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) alters the κ opioid receptor system. The present study investigated the brain expression of dynorphin and nociceptin/orphanin FQ related genes and assessed anxiety-like behavior in the light-dark box (LDB), shelter-seeking and risk-taking behaviors in the concentric square field (CSF) test, and ethanol-induced locomotion in the open field (OF), in infant or adolescent Wistar rats that were exposed to PEE (0.0 or 2.0 g/kg, intragastrically, gestational days 17-20). We measured brain mRNA levels of prodynorphin (PDYN), κ opioid receptors (KOR), the nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide precursor prepronociceptin (ppN/OFQ) and nociceptine/orphanin FQ receptors (NOR). Prenatal ethanol exposure upregulated PDYN and KOR mRNA levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in infant and adolescent rats and KOR mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex in infant rats. The changes in gene expression in the VTA were accompanied by a reduction of DNA methylation at the PDYN gene promoter, and by a reduction of DNA methylation at the KOR gene promoter. The PEE-induced upregulation of PDYN/KOR in the VTA was accompanied by lower NOR gene expression in the VTA, and lower PDYN gene expression in the nucleus accumbens. PEE rats exhibited hypolocomotion in the OF, greater avoidance of the white and brightly lit areas in the LDB and CSF, and greater preference for the sheltered area in the CSF test. These results suggest that PEE upregulates the dynorphin system, resulting in an anxiety-prone phenotype and triggering compensatory responses in the nociceptin/orphanin FQ system. These findings may help elucidate the mechanisms that underlie the effects of PEE and suggest that the dynorphin and nociceptin/orphanin FQ systems may be possible targets for the prevention and treatment of PEE-induced alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aranza Wille-Bille
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba C.P. 5000, Argentina
| | - Roberto Sebastián Miranda-Morales
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba C.P. 5000, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | | | - Claudio D'Addario
- Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba C.P. 5000, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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17
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Sugawara H, Murata Y, Ikegame T, Sawamura R, Shimanaga S, Takeoka Y, Saito T, Ikeda M, Yoshikawa A, Nishimura F, Kawamura Y, Kakiuchi C, Sasaki T, Iwata N, Hashimoto M, Kasai K, Kato T, Bundo M, Iwamoto K. DNA methylation analyses of the candidate genes identified by a methylome-wide association study revealed common epigenetic alterations in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018; 72:245-254. [PMID: 29430824 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) have been known to share genetic and environmental risk factors, and complex gene-environmental interactions may contribute to their pathophysiology. In contrast to high genetic overlap between SZ and BD, as revealed by genome-wide association studies, the extent of epigenetic overlap remains largely unknown. In the present study, we explored whether SZ and BD share epigenetic risk factors in the same manner as they share genetic components. METHODS We performed DNA methylation analyses of the CpG sites in the top five candidate regions (FAM63B, ARHGAP26, CTAGE11P, TBC1D22A, and intergenic region [IR] on chromosome 16) reported in a previous methylome-wide association study (MWAS) of SZ, using whole blood samples from subjects with BD and controls. RESULTS Among the five candidate regions, the CpG sites in FAM63B and IR on chromosome 16 were significantly hypomethylated in the samples from subjects with BD as well as those from subjects with SZ. On the other hand, the CpG sites in TBC1D22A were hypermethylated in the samples from subjects with BD, in contrast to hypomethylation in the samples from subjects with SZ. CONCLUSION Hypomethylation of FAM63B and IR on chromosome 16 could be common epigenetic risk factors for SZ and BD. Further comprehensive epigenetic studies for BD, such as MWAS, will uncover the extent of similarity and uniqueness of epigenetic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Sugawara
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Support Center for Women Health Care Professionals and Researchers, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yui Murata
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tempei Ikegame
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rie Sawamura
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shota Shimanaga
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yusuke Takeoka
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takeo Saito
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masashi Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akane Yoshikawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yoshiya Kawamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kamakura, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kakiuchi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sasaki
- Laboratory of Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mamoru Hashimoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Miki Bundo
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuya Iwamoto
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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18
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D’Addario C, Palazzo MC, Benatti B, Grancini B, Pucci M, Di Francesco A, Camuri G, Galimberti D, Fenoglio C, Scarpini E, Altamura AC, Maccarrone M, Dell’Osso B. Regulation of gene transcription in bipolar disorders: Role of DNA methylation in the relationship between prodynorphin and brain derived neurotrophic factor. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 82:314-321. [PMID: 28830794 PMCID: PMC5859566 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a prevalent and disabling condition, determined by gene-environment interactions, possibly mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. The present study aimed at investigating the transcriptional regulation of BD selected target genes by DNA methylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of type I (BD-I) and type II (BD-II) Bipolar Disorders (n=99), as well as of healthy controls (CT, n=42). The analysis of gene expression revealed prodynorphin (PDYN) mRNA levels significantly reduced in subjects with BD-II but not in those with BD-I, when compared to CT. Other target genes (i.e. catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), serotonin transporter (SERT) mRNA levels remained unaltered. Consistently, an increase in DNA methylation at PDYN gene promoter was observed in BD-II patients vs CT. After stratifying data on the basis of pharmacotherapy, patients on mood-stabilizers (i.e., lithium and anticonvulsants) were found to have lower DNA methylation at PDYN gene promoter. A significantly positive correlation in promoter DNA methylation was observed in all subjects between PDYN and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whose methylation status had been previously found altered in BD. Moreover, among key genes relevant for DNA methylation establishment here analysed, an up-regulation of DNA Methyl Transferases 3b (DNMT3b) and of the methyl binding protein MeCP2 (methyl CpG binding protein 2) mRNA levels was also observed again just in BD-II subjects. A clear selective role of DNA methylation involvement in BD-II is shown here, further supporting a role for BDNF and its possible interaction with PDYN. These data might be relevant in the pathophysiology of BD, both in relation to BDNF and for the improvement of available treatments and development of novel ones that modulate epigenetic signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D’Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Italy,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden,Correspondence to: Claudio D’Addario, Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy,
| | - Maria Carlotta Palazzo
- Centro Sant’Ambrogio Ordine Ospedaliero San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Benatti
- Department of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Benedetta Grancini
- Department of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Mariangela Pucci
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Francesco
- Experimental Gerontology Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Giulia Camuri
- Department of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Department of Neurology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Fenoglio
- Department of Neurology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Elio Scarpini
- Department of Neurology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - A. Carlo Altamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy,European Center for Brain Research, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell’Osso
- Department of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRRCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford University, CA, USA,Correspondence to: Bernardo Dell’Osso, Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy,
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DNA methylation and clinical response to antidepressant medication in major depressive disorder: A review and recommendations. Neurosci Lett 2018; 669:14-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.12.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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20
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Viana J, Hannon E, Dempster E, Pidsley R, Macdonald R, Knox O, Spiers H, Troakes C, Al-Saraj S, Turecki G, Schalkwyk LC, Mill J. Schizophrenia-associated methylomic variation: molecular signatures of disease and polygenic risk burden across multiple brain regions. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:210-225. [PMID: 28011714 PMCID: PMC5351932 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic association studies provide evidence for a substantial polygenic component to schizophrenia, although the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the disorder remain largely undefined. Building on recent studies supporting a role for developmentally regulated epigenetic variation in the molecular aetiology of schizophrenia, this study aimed to identify epigenetic variation associated with both a diagnosis of schizophrenia and elevated polygenic risk burden for the disease across multiple brain regions. Genome-wide DNA methylation was quantified in 262 post-mortem brain samples, representing tissue from four brain regions (prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum) from 41 schizophrenia patients and 47 controls. We identified multiple disease-associated and polygenic risk score-associated differentially methylated positions and regions, which are not enriched in genomic regions identified in genetic studies of schizophrenia and do not reflect direct genetic effects on DNA methylation. Our study represents the first analysis of epigenetic variation associated with schizophrenia across multiple brain regions and highlights the utility of polygenic risk scores for identifying molecular pathways associated with aetiological variation in complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Viana
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Eilis Hannon
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Emma Dempster
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Ruth Pidsley
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ruby Macdonald
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Olivia Knox
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Helen Spiers
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Safa Al-Saraj
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- Douglas Mental Health Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada and
| | | | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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21
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Hamza M, Halayem S, Mrad R, Bourgou S, Charfi F, Belhadj A. Implication de l’épigénétique dans les troubles du spectre autistique : revue de la littérature. Encephale 2017; 43:374-381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2016.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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22
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Stevens AJ, Rucklidge JJ, Kennedy MA. Epigenetics, nutrition and mental health. Is there a relationship? Nutr Neurosci 2017; 21:602-613. [PMID: 28553986 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2017.1331524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many aspects of human development and disease are influenced by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Understanding how our genes respond to the environment is central to managing health and disease, and is one of the major contemporary challenges in human genetics. Various epigenetic processes affect chromosome structure and accessibility of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to the enzymatic machinery that leads to expression of genes. One important epigenetic mechanism that appears to underlie the interaction between environmental factors, including diet, and our genome, is chemical modification of the DNA. The best understood of these modifications is methylation of cytosine residues in DNA. It is now recognized that the pattern of methylated cytosines throughout our genomes (the 'methylome') can change during development and in response to environmental cues, often with profound effects on gene expression. Many dietary constituents may indirectly influence genomic pathways that methylate DNA, and there is evidence for biochemical links between nutritional quality and mental health. Deficiency of both macro- and micronutrients has been associated with increased behavioural problems, and nutritional supplementation has proven efficacious in treatment of certain neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review we examine evidence from the fields of nutrition, developmental biology, and mental health that supports dietary impacts on epigenetic processes, particularly DNA methylation. We then consider whether such processes could underlie the demonstrated efficacy of dietary supplementation in treatment of mental disorders, and whether targeted manipulation of DNA methylation patterns using controlled dietary supplementation may be of wider clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Stevens
- a Department of Pathology , University of Otago , P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch , New Zealand
| | - Julia J Rucklidge
- b Department of Psychology , University of Canterbury , Christchurch , New Zealand
| | - Martin A Kennedy
- a Department of Pathology , University of Otago , P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch , New Zealand
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23
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Effect of Clozapine on DNA Methylation in Peripheral Leukocytes from Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18030632. [PMID: 28335437 PMCID: PMC5372645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic, that is established as the treatment of choice for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (SCZ). To date, no study investigating comprehensive DNA methylation changes in SCZ patients treated with chronic clozapine has been reported. The purpose of the present study is to reveal the effects of clozapine on DNA methylation in treatment-resistant SCZ. We conducted a genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in peripheral leukocytes (485,764 CpG dinucleotides) from treatment-resistant SCZ patients treated with clozapine (n = 21) in a longitudinal study. Significant changes in DNA methylation were observed at 29,134 sites after one year of treatment with clozapine, and these genes were enriched for “cell substrate adhesion” and “cell matrix adhesion” gene ontology (GO) terms. Furthermore, DNA methylation changes in the CREBBP (CREB binding protein) gene were significantly correlated with the clinical improvements. Our findings provide insights into the action of clozapine in treatment-resistant SCZ.
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24
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Fisher HL, Murphy TM, Arseneault L, Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Viana J, Hannon E, Pidsley R, Burrage J, Dempster EL, Wong CCY, Pariante CM, Mill J. Methylomic analysis of monozygotic twins discordant for childhood psychotic symptoms. Epigenetics 2016; 10:1014-23. [PMID: 26479702 PMCID: PMC4867769 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1099797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood psychotic symptoms are associated with increased rates of schizophrenia, other psychiatric disorders, and suicide attempts in adulthood; thus, elucidating early risk indicators is crucial to target prevention efforts. There is considerable discordance for psychotic symptoms between monozygotic twins, indicating that child-specific non-genetic factors must be involved. Epigenetic processes may constitute one of these factors and have not yet been investigated in relation to childhood psychotic symptoms. Therefore, this study explored whether differences in DNA methylation at age 10 were associated with monozygotic twin discordance for psychotic symptoms at age 12. The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study cohort of 2,232 children (1,116 twin pairs) was assessed for age-12 psychotic symptoms and 24 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for symptoms were identified for methylomic comparison. Children provided buccal samples at ages 5 and 10. DNA was bisulfite modified and DNA methylation was quantified using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 array. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with psychotic symptoms were subsequently tested in post-mortem prefrontal cortex tissue from adult schizophrenia patients and age-matched controls. Site-specific DNA methylation differences were observed at age 10 between monozygotic twins discordant for age-12 psychotic symptoms. Similar DMPs were not found at age 5. The top-ranked psychosis-associated DMP (cg23933044), located in the promoter of the C5ORF42 gene, was also hypomethylated in post-mortem prefrontal cortex brain tissue from schizophrenia patients compared to unaffected controls. These data tentatively suggest that epigenetic variation in peripheral tissue is associated with childhood psychotic symptoms and may indicate susceptibility to schizophrenia and other mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen L Fisher
- a MRC Social , Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Center; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK
| | - Therese M Murphy
- b University of Exeter Medical School; University of Exeter ; Exeter , Devon , UK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- a MRC Social , Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Center; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK
| | - Avshalom Caspi
- a MRC Social , Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Center; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK.,c Department of Psychology and Neuroscience ; Duke University ; Durham , NC , USA.,d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences ; Duke University Medical School ; Durham , NC , USA
| | - Terrie E Moffitt
- a MRC Social , Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Center; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK.,c Department of Psychology and Neuroscience ; Duke University ; Durham , NC , USA.,d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences ; Duke University Medical School ; Durham , NC , USA
| | - Joana Viana
- b University of Exeter Medical School; University of Exeter ; Exeter , Devon , UK
| | - Eilis Hannon
- b University of Exeter Medical School; University of Exeter ; Exeter , Devon , UK
| | - Ruth Pidsley
- e Garvan Institute of Medical Research ; Darlinghurst , NSW , Australia
| | - Joe Burrage
- b University of Exeter Medical School; University of Exeter ; Exeter , Devon , UK
| | - Emma L Dempster
- b University of Exeter Medical School; University of Exeter ; Exeter , Devon , UK
| | - Chloe C Y Wong
- a MRC Social , Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Center; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- f Department of Psychological Medicine ; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- a MRC Social , Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Center; Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience; King's College London ; London , UK.,b University of Exeter Medical School; University of Exeter ; Exeter , Devon , UK
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25
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Bakulski KM, Halladay A, Hu VW, Mill J, Fallin MD. Epigenetic Research in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: the "Tissue Issue". Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2016; 3:264-274. [PMID: 28093577 DOI: 10.1007/s40473-016-0083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Evidence has linked neuropsychiatric disorders with epigenetic marks as either a biomarker of disease, biomarker of exposure, or mechanism of disease processes. Neuropsychiatric epidemiologic studies using either target brain tissue or surrogate blood tissue each have methodological challenges and distinct advantages. RECENT FINDINGS Brain tissue studies are challenged by small sample sizes of cases and controls, incomplete phenotyping, post-mortem timing, and cellular heterogeneity, but the use of a primary disease relevant tissue is critical. Blood-based studies have access to much larger sample sizes and more replication opportunities, as well as the potential for longitudinal measurements, both prior to onset and during the course of treatments. Yet, blood studies also are challenged by cell-type heterogeneity, and many question the validity of using peripheral tissues as a brain biomarker. Emerging evidence suggests that these limitations to blood-based epigenetic studies are surmountable, but confirmation in target tissue remains important. SUMMARY Epigenetic mechanisms have the potential to help elucidate biology connecting experiential risk factors with neuropsychiatric disease manifestation. Cross-tissue studies as well as advanced epidemiologic methods should be employed to more effectively conduct neuropsychiatric epigenetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alycia Halladay
- Autism Science Foundation, New York City, New York, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Institute for Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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26
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Starnawska A, Demontis D, McQuillin A, O’Brien NL, Staunstrup NH, Mors O, Nielsen AL, Børglum AD, Nyegaard M. Hypomethylation of FAM63B in bipolar disorder patients. Clin Epigenetics 2016; 8:52. [PMID: 27175219 PMCID: PMC4865008 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-016-0221-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are known to share common genetic and psychosocial risk factors. A recent epigenome-wide association study performed on blood samples from SZ patients found significant hypomethylation of FAM63B in exon 9. Here, we used iPLEX-based methylation analysis to investigate two CpG sites in FAM63B in blood samples from 459 BD cases and 268 controls. Both sites were significantly hypomethylated in BD cases (lowest p value = 3.94 × 10(-8)). The methylation levels at the two sites were correlated, and no strong correlation was found with nearby single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), suggesting that methylation differences at these sites are not readably picked up by genome-wide association studies. Overall, FAM63B hypomethylation was found in BD patients, thus replicating the initial finding in SZ patients. This study suggests that FAM63B is a shared epigenetic risk gene for the two disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Starnawska
- />Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Alle 4, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ditte Demontis
- />Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Alle 4, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrew McQuillin
- />Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Division of Psychiatry, Rockefeller Building, University College London, London, UK
| | - Niamh L. O’Brien
- />Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Division of Psychiatry, Rockefeller Building, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicklas H. Staunstrup
- />Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Alle 4, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Ole Mors
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Anders L. Nielsen
- />Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Alle 4, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders D. Børglum
- />Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Alle 4, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mette Nyegaard
- />Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Alle 4, DK- 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- />The Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
- />Center for Integrative Sequencing, iSEQ, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Walton E, Hass J, Liu J, Roffman JL, Bernardoni F, Roessner V, Kirsch M, Schackert G, Calhoun V, Ehrlich S. Correspondence of DNA Methylation Between Blood and Brain Tissue and Its Application to Schizophrenia Research. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:406-14. [PMID: 26056378 PMCID: PMC4753587 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Given the difficulty of procuring human brain tissue, a key question in molecular psychiatry concerns the extent to which epigenetic signatures measured in more accessible tissues such as blood can serve as a surrogate marker for the brain. Here, we aimed (1) to investigate the blood-brain correspondence of DNA methylation using a within-subject design and (2) to identify changes in DNA methylation of brain-related biological pathways in schizophrenia.We obtained paired blood and temporal lobe biopsy samples simultaneously from 12 epilepsy patients during neurosurgical treatment. Using the Infinium 450K methylation array we calculated similarity of blood and brain DNA methylation for each individual separately. We applied our findings by performing gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) of peripheral blood DNA methylation data (Infinium 27K) of 111 schizophrenia patients and 122 healthy controls and included only Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) sites that were significantly correlated across tissues.Only 7.9% of CpG sites showed a statistically significant, large correlation between blood and brain tissue, a proportion that although small was significantly greater than predicted by chance. GSEA analysis of schizophrenia data revealed altered methylation profiles in pathways related to precursor metabolites and signaling peptides.Our findings indicate that most DNA methylation markers in peripheral blood do not reliably predict brain DNA methylation status. However, a subset of peripheral data may proxy methylation status of brain tissue. Restricting the analysis to these markers can identify meaningful epigenetic differences in schizophrenia and potentially other brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Walton
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Johanna Hass
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;,Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jingyu Liu
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Joshua L. Roffman
- MGH/MIT/HMS Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA;,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Fabio Bernardoni
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Matthias Kirsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), DFG Research Center and Cluster of Excellence at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gabriele Schackert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vince Calhoun
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM;,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany; MGH/MIT/HMS Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA;
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28
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Teroganova N, Girshkin L, Suter CM, Green MJ. DNA methylation in peripheral tissue of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a systematic review. BMC Genet 2016; 17:27. [PMID: 26809779 PMCID: PMC4727379 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-016-0332-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of epigenetic processes in the development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and recent reviews have focused on findings in post-mortem brain tissue. A systematic review was conducted to synthesise and evaluate the quality of available evidence for epigenetic modifications (specifically DNA methylation) in peripheral blood and saliva samples of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients in comparison to healthy controls. METHODS Original research articles using humans were identified using electronic databases. There were 33 included studies for which data were extracted and graded in duplicate on 22 items of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement, to assess methodological precision and quality of reporting. RESULTS There were 15 genome-wide and 18 exclusive candidate gene loci investigations for DNA methylation studies. A number of common genes were identified as differentially methylated in schizophrenia/bipolar disorder, which were related to reelin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine (including the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene), serotonin and glutamate, despite inconsistent findings of hyper-, hypo-, or lack of methylation at these and other loci. The mean STROBE score of 59% suggested moderate quality of available evidence; however, wide methodological variability contributed to a lack of consistency in the way methylation levels were quantified, such that meta-analysis of the results was not possible. CONCLUSIONS Moderate quality of available evidence shows some convergence of differential methylation at some common genetic loci in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, despite wide variation in methodology and reporting across studies. Improvement in the clarity of reporting clinical and other potential confounds would be useful in future studies of epigenetic processes in the context of exposure to environmental and other risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Teroganova
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
| | - Leah Girshkin
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
| | - Catherine M Suter
- Molecular Structural and Computational Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
| | - Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia.
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29
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Pal M, Ebrahimi S, Oh G, Khare T, Zhang A, Kaminsky ZA, Wang SC, Petronis A. High Precision DNA Modification Analysis of HCG9 in Major Psychosis. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:170-7. [PMID: 26078387 PMCID: PMC4681545 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
New epigenetic technologies may uncover etiopathogenic mechanisms of major psychosis. In this study, we applied padlock probe-based ultra-deep bisulfite sequencing for fine mapping of modified cytosines of the HLA complex group 9 (nonprotein coding) gene in the postmortem brains of individuals affected with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and unaffected controls. Significant differences between patients and controls were detected in both CpG and CpH modifications. In addition, we identified epigenetic age effects, DNA modification differences between sense and anti-sense strands, and demonstrated how DNA modification data can be used in clustering of patient populations. Our findings revealed new epigenetic complexities but also highlighted the potential of DNA modification approaches in the search of heterogeneous causes of major psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinal Pal
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Sasha Ebrahimi
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Gabriel Oh
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Tarang Khare
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Aiping Zhang
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Zachary A. Kaminsky
- The Mood Disorders Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287
| | - Sun-Chong Wang
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada;,Institute of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, National Central University, Chungli City 32001, Taiwan
| | - Arturas Petronis
- Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada;
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30
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Kang HJ, Kim JM, Kim SY, Kim SW, Shin IS, Kim HR, Park MH, Shin MG, Yoon JH, Yoon JS. A Longitudinal Study of BDNF Promoter Methylation and Depression in Breast Cancer. Psychiatry Investig 2015; 12:523-31. [PMID: 26508964 PMCID: PMC4620310 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2015.12.4.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is investigated in depression related to medical disorders and its secretion is influenced by epigenetic factors. We investigated the association between BDNF promoter methylation and depression following mastectomy for breast cancer. METHODS In total, 309 patients with breast cancer were evaluated 1 week after mastectomy, and 244 (79%) were followed up 1 year later. Depression was diagnosed (major or minor depressive disorder) according to DSM-IV criteria and depression severity was estimated by Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). We assessed BDNF promoter methylation using leukocyte DNA. The effects of BDNF methylation on depression diagnosis and severity were investigated using multivariate logistic and linear regression models, respectively. The two-way interaction between BDNF methylation and the val66met polymorphism on depression was also evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS Higher BDNF methylation was independently associated with depression diagnosis and with more severe symptoms at both 1 week and 1 year after mastectomy. No significant methylation-genotype interactions were found. CONCLUSION A role for BDNF in depression related to breast cancer was supported. Indeed, the association between depression and BDNF methylation may be useful for identifying patients who are at high risk for depression and for suggesting directions for promising drug research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Ju Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Min Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Young Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Seon Shin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Ran Kim
- Brain Korea 21 Project, Center for Biomedical Human Resources, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Ho Park
- Breast and Endocrine Tumor Clinic, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Geun Shin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Han Yoon
- Breast and Endocrine Tumor Clinic, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Sang Yoon
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Kim JM, Kang HJ, Kim SY, Kim SW, Shin IS, Kim HR, Park MH, Shin MG, Yoon JH, Yoon JS. BDNF promoter methylation associated with suicidal ideation in patients with breast cancer. Int J Psychiatry Med 2015; 49:75-94. [PMID: 25838322 DOI: 10.1177/0091217415574439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been considered a risk factor for suicidality. BDNF secretion is influenced by epigenetic (DNA methylation) and genetic (val66met polymorphism) profiles. We aimed to investigate the independent effects of BDNF promoter methylation status on suicidal ideation as well as the effects of its interaction with the val66met polymorphism in patients with breast cancer. METHODS A total of279 patients with breast cancer were evaluated 1 week after breast surgery, and 244 (87%) were followed up 1 year later. Suicidal ideation was identified using the item addressing suicidal thoughts on the Beck Depression Inventory. The independent effects of BDNF methylation status on suicidal ideation at two points was investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. The two-way interactive effects of BDNF methylation status and the val66met polymorphism on suicidal ideation were also estimated using the same models. RESULTS Increased BDNF methylation was significantly associated with suicidal ideation and depression 1 year after breast surgery, and this association was independent of potential covariates, including previous depression, current depressive symptoms, and BDNF genotype. No significant methylation-genotype interactions were found. CONCLUSIONS The BDNF hypothesis and the epigenetic origin of suicidality in patients with breast cancer were supported. BDNF gene methylation status may be a biological marker for suicidality in patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Min Kim
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Hee-Ju Kang
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Seon-Young Kim
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Sung-Wan Kim
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Il-Seon Shin
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Hye-Ran Kim
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Min-Ho Park
- Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea
| | | | - Jung-Han Yoon
- Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea
| | - Jin-Sang Yoon
- Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
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Berretta S, Heckers S, Benes FM. Searching human brain for mechanisms of psychiatric disorders. Implications for studies on schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2015; 167:91-7. [PMID: 25458567 PMCID: PMC4427537 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the past 25years, research on the human brain has been providing a clear path toward understanding the pathophysiology of psychiatric illnesses. The successes that have been accrued are matched by significant difficulties identifying and controlling a large number of potential confounding variables. By systematically and effectively accounting for unwanted variance in data from imaging and postmortem human brain studies, meaningful and reliable information regarding the pathophysiology of human brain disorders can be obtained. This perspective paper focuses on postmortem investigations to discuss some of the most challenging sources of variance, including diagnosis, comorbidity, substance abuse and pharmacological treatment, which confound investigations of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Berretta
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Stephan Heckers
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University. 161 21st Ave S. #T1217 Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Francine M. Benes
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Program in Structural and Molecular Neuroscience, 115 Mill St. Belmont MA, 02478, USA
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Lardenoije R, Iatrou A, Kenis G, Kompotis K, Steinbusch HWM, Mastroeni D, Coleman P, Lemere CA, Hof PR, van den Hove DLA, Rutten BPF. The epigenetics of aging and neurodegeneration. Prog Neurobiol 2015; 131:21-64. [PMID: 26072273 PMCID: PMC6477921 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is a quickly growing field encompassing mechanisms regulating gene expression that do not involve changes in the genotype. Epigenetics is of increasing relevance to neuroscience, with epigenetic mechanisms being implicated in brain development and neuronal differentiation, as well as in more dynamic processes related to cognition. Epigenetic regulation covers multiple levels of gene expression; from direct modifications of the DNA and histone tails, regulating the level of transcription, to interactions with messenger RNAs, regulating the level of translation. Importantly, epigenetic dysregulation currently garners much attention as a pivotal player in aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, where it may mediate interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, or directly interact with disease-specific pathological factors. We review current knowledge about the major epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and DNA demethylation, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs, as well as the involvement of these mechanisms in normal aging and in the pathophysiology of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we examine the current state of epigenetics-based therapeutic strategies for these diseases, which either aim to restore the epigenetic homeostasis or skew it to a favorable direction to counter disease pathology. Finally, methodological challenges of epigenetic investigations and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lardenoije
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Artemis Iatrou
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Gunter Kenis
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Kompotis
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Genopode Building, 1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, Switzerland
| | - Harry W M Steinbusch
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Diego Mastroeni
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; L.J. Roberts Alzheimer's Disease Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
| | - Paul Coleman
- L.J. Roberts Alzheimer's Disease Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
| | - Cynthia A Lemere
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Daniel L A van den Hove
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Fuechsleinstrasse 15, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Bart P F Rutten
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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The genetic and epigenetic landscape for CNS drug discovery targeting cross-diagnostic behavioral domains. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 753:135-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.07.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Kang HJ, Kim JM, Bae KY, Kim SW, Shin IS, Kim HR, Shin MG, Yoon JS. Longitudinal associations between BDNF promoter methylation and late-life depression. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:1764.e1-1764.e7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Revised: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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36
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Genome-wide methylome analyses reveal novel epigenetic regulation patterns in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:201587. [PMID: 25734057 PMCID: PMC4334857 DOI: 10.1155/2015/201587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) are complex genetic disorders. Their appearance is also likely informed by as yet only partially described epigenetic contributions. Using a sequencing-based method for genome-wide analysis, we quantitatively compared the blood DNA methylation landscapes in SZ and BP subjects to control, both in an understudied population, Hispanics along the US-Mexico border. Remarkably, we identified thousands of differentially methylated regions for SZ and BP preferentially located in promoters 3′-UTRs and 5′-UTRs of genes. Distinct patterns of aberrant methylation of promoter sequences were located surrounding transcription start sites. In these instances, aberrant methylation occurred in CpG islands (CGIs) as well as in flanking regions as well as in CGI sparse promoters. Pathway analysis of genes displaying these distinct aberrant promoter methylation patterns showed enhancement of epigenetic changes in numerous genes previously related to psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopment. Integration of gene expression data further suggests that in SZ aberrant promoter methylation is significantly associated with altered gene transcription. In particular, we found significant associations between (1) promoter CGIs hypermethylation with gene repression and (2) CGI 3′-shore hypomethylation with increased gene expression. Finally, we constructed a specific methylation analysis platform that facilitates viewing and comparing aberrant genome methylation in human neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Zong X, Hu M, Li Z, Cao H, Chen X, Tang J. DNA methylation in schizophrenia: progress and challenges. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-014-0690-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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38
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Zhao Z, Li Y, Chen H, Lu J, Thompson PM, Chen J, Wang Z, Xu J, Xu C, Li X. PD_NGSAtlas: a reference database combining next-generation sequencing epigenomic and transcriptomic data for psychiatric disorders. BMC Med Genomics 2014; 7:71. [PMID: 25551368 PMCID: PMC4308070 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-014-0071-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) are projected to lead the global disease burden within the next decade. Several lines of evidence suggest that epigenetic- or genetic-mediated dysfunction is frequently present in these disorders. To date, the inheritance patterns have been complicated by the problem of integrating epigenomic and transcriptomic factors that have yet to be elucidated. Therefore, there is a need to build a comprehensive database for storing epigenomic and transcriptomic data relating to psychiatric disorders. Description We have developed the PD_NGSAtlas, which focuses on the efficient storage of epigenomic and transcriptomic data based on next-generation sequencing and on the quantitative analyses of epigenetic and transcriptional alterations involved in psychiatric disorders. The current release of the PD_NGSAtlas contains 43 DNA methylation profiles and 37 transcription profiles detected by MeDIP-Seq and RNA-Seq, respectively, in two distinct brain regions and peripheral blood of SZ, BP and non-psychiatric controls. In addition to these data that were generated in-house, we have included, and will continue to include, published DNA methylation and gene expression data from other research groups, with a focus on psychiatric disorders. A flexible query engine has been developed for the acquisition of methylation profiles and transcription profiles for special genes or genomic regions of interest of the selected samples. Furthermore, the PD_NGSAtlas offers online tools for identifying aberrantly methylated and expressed events involved in psychiatric disorders. A genome browser has been developed to provide integrative and detailed views of multidimensional data in a given genomic context, which can help researchers understand molecular mechanisms from epigenetic and transcriptional perspectives. Moreover, users can download the methylation and transcription data for further analyses. Conclusions The PD_NGSAtlas aims to provide storage of epigenomic and transcriptomic data as well as quantitative analyses of epigenetic and transcriptional alterations involved in psychiatric disorders. The PD_NGSAtlas will be a valuable data resource and will enable researchers to investigate the pathophysiology and aetiology of disease in detail. The database is available at http://bioinfo.hrbmu.edu.cn/pd_ngsatlas/. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12920-014-0071-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhao
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Yongsheng Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Jianping Lu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Peter M Thompson
- Southwest Brain Bank, Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Juan Chen
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Zishan Wang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Juan Xu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Chun Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
| | - Xia Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Chen C, Zhang C, Cheng L, Reilly JL, Bishop JR, Sweeney JA, Chen HY, Gershon ES, Liu C. Correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression in the brains of patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Bipolar Disord 2014; 16:790-9. [PMID: 25243493 PMCID: PMC4302408 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Aberrant DNA methylation and gene expression have been reported in postmortem brain tissues of psychotic patients, but until now there has been no systematic evaluation of synergistic changes in methylation and expression on a genome-wide scale in brain tissue. METHODS In this study, genome-wide methylation and expression analyses were performed on cerebellum samples from 39 patients with schizophrenia, 36 patients with bipolar disorder, and 43 unaffected controls, to screen for a correlation between gene expression and CpG methylation. RESULTS Out of 71,753 CpG gene pairs (CGPs) tested across the genome, 204 were found to significantly correlate with gene expression after correction for multiple testing [p < 0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) q < 0.05]. The correlated CGPs were tested for disease-associated expression and methylation by comparing psychotic patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia to healthy controls. Four of the identified CGPs were found to significantly correlate with the differential expression and methylation of genes encoding phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), butyrophilin, subfamily 3, member A3 (BTN3A3), nescient helix-loop-helix 1 (NHLH1), and solute carrier family 16, member 7 (SLC16A7) in psychotic patients (p < 0.05, FDR q < 0.2). Additional expression and methylation datasets were used to validate the relationship between DNA methylation, gene expression, and neuropsychiatric diseases. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the identified differentially expressed genes with an aberrant methylation pattern may represent novel candidate factors in the etiology and pathology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chunling Zhang
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Lijun Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - James L Reilly
- Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Jeffrey R Bishop
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,Institute of Human Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - Hua-yun Chen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Elliot S Gershon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,Institute of Human Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Family-based association study of common variants, rare mutation study and epistatic interaction detection in HDAC genes in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2014; 160:97-103. [PMID: 25445625 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are key enzymes of histone acetylation, and abnormalities in histone modifications and in the level of HDAC proteins have been reported in schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to systematically test the HDAC genes for its association with schizophrenia. METHODS A family-based genetic association study (951 Caucasian subjects in 313 nuclear families) using 601 tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms in HDAC genes was conducted followed by a replication study of top-ranked markers in a sample of 1427 Caucasian subjects from 241 multiplex families and 176 trios. Epistasis interaction was tested by using the pedigree-based generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR). Furthermore, we analyzed exome sequencing data of 1134 subjects for detection of rare mutations in HDAC genomic regions. RESULTS In the exploratory study, ten markers were in significant association with schizophrenia (P<0.01). One maker rs14251 (HDAC3) was replicated (P=0.04) and remained significant in the whole sample (P=0.004). GMDR identified that a significant three-locus interaction model was detected involving rs17265596 (HDAC9), rs7290710 (HDAC10) and rs7634112 (HDAC11) with a good testing accuracy (0.58). No rare mutations were found associated with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION This first exploratory systematic study of the HDAC genes provides consistent support for the involvement of the HDAC3 gene in the etiology of schizophrenia. A statistical epistatic interaction between HDAC9, HDAC10, and HDAC11 was detected and seems biologically plausible.
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Strober M, Peris T, Steiger H. The plasticity of development: how knowledge of epigenetics may advance understanding of eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:696-704. [PMID: 24976293 DOI: 10.1002/eat.22322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To depict the processes through which animals and human beings engage their environment in continuously evolving states of conflict and cooperation. METHOD Descriptive literature review. RESULTS Life history outcomes are more relative than they are absolute. Genetic variations play a crucial role, but heavily influencing behavioral outcomes, psychopathology included, are external cues that epigenetically remodel DNA along experience-dependent signaling pathways. The result is phenotypes that either optimize adjustment, or constrain it. DISCUSSION Knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms may help shed new light on the origin of maturational phenotypes underlying eating disorders and why adjusting treatments to these realities warrants our attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Strober
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; Stewart & Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
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Brain derived neurotrophic factor: Epigenetic regulation in psychiatric disorders. Brain Res 2014; 1586:162-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Prenatal maternal immune activation causes epigenetic differences in adolescent mouse brain. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e434. [PMID: 25180573 PMCID: PMC4203009 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Revised: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism. Epigenetic changes can be induced by environmental exposures such as inflammation. Here we tested the hypothesis that prenatal inflammation, a recognized risk factor for schizophrenia and related neurodevelopmental conditions, alters DNA methylation in key brain regions linked to schizophrenia, namely the dopamine rich striatum and endocrine regulatory centre, the hypothalamus. DNA methylation across highly repetitive elements (long interspersed element 1 (LINE1) and intracisternal A-particles (IAPs)) were used to proxy global DNA methylation. We also investigated the Mecp2 gene because it regulates transcription of LINE1 and has a known association with neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain tissue was harvested from 6 week old offspring of mice exposed to the viral analog PolyI:C or saline on gestation day 9. We used Sequenom EpiTYPER assay to quantitatively analyze differences in DNA methylation at IAPs, LINE1 elements and the promoter region of Mecp2. In the hypothalamus, prenatal exposure to PolyI:C caused significant global DNA hypomethylation (t=2.44, P=0.019, PolyI:C mean 69.67%, saline mean 70.19%), especially in females, and significant hypomethylation of the promoter region of Mecp2, (t=3.32, P=0.002; PolyI:C mean 26.57%, saline mean 34.63%). IAP methylation was unaltered. DNA methylation in the striatum was not significantly altered. This study provides the first experimental evidence that exposure to inflammation during prenatal life is associated with epigenetic changes, including Mecp2 promoter hypomethylation. This suggests that environmental and genetic risk factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders may act upon similar pathways. This is important because epigenetic changes are potentially modifiable and their investigation may open new avenues for treatment.
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Rivollier F, Lotersztajn L, Chaumette B, Krebs MO, Kebir O. [Epigenetics of schizophrenia: a review]. Encephale 2014; 40:380-6. [PMID: 25127897 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a frequent and disabling disease associated with heterogeneous psychiatric phenotypes. It emerges during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood and has dramatic consequences for the affected individuals, causing considerable familial and social burden, as well as increasing health expenses. Although some progress has been made in the understanding of their physiopathology, many questions remain unsolved, and the disease is still poorly understood. The prevailing hypothesis regarding psychotic disorders proposes that a combination of genetic and/or environmental factors, during critical periods of brain development increases the risk for these illnesses. Epigenetic regulations, such as DNA methylation, can mediate gene x environment interactions at the level of the genome and may provide a potential substrate to explain the variability in symptom severity and family heritability. Initially, epigenetics was used to design mitotic and meiotic changes in gene transcription that could not be attributed to genetic mutations. It referred later to changes in the epigenome not transmitted through the germline. Thus, epigenetics refers to a wide range of molecular mechanisms including DNA methylation of cytosine residues in CpG dinucleotides and post-translational histone modifications. These mechanisms alter the way the transcriptional factors bind the DNA, modulating its expression. Prenatal and postnatal environmental factors may affect these epigenetics factors, having responsability in long-term DNA transcription, and influencing the development of psychiatric disorders. OBJECT The object of this review is to present the state of knowledge in epigenetics of schizophrenia, outlining the most recent findings in the matter. METHODS We did so using Pubmed, researching words such as 'epigenetics', 'epigenetic', 'schizophrenia', 'psychosis', 'psychiatric'. This review summarizes evidences mostly for two epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation and post-translational histone modifications. RESULTS First, in terms of epidemiology and transmission, the theoretical model of epigenetics applies to schizophrenia. Then, most environmental factors that have proved a link with this disease, may generate epigenetic mechanisms. Next, mutations have been found in regions implied in epigenetic mechanism among populations with schizophrenia. Some epigenetic alterations in DNA regions have been previously linked with neurodevelopmental abnormalities. In psychosis, some authors have found methylation differences in COMT gene, in reelin gene and in some genes implicated in dopaminergic, serotoninergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic pathways. Histone modifications have been described, in particular the H3L4 histone methylation. Finally, we tried to underline the difficulties in epigenetic research, notably in psychiatry, and the limits in this matter. CONCLUSION The epigenetic field may explain a lot of questions around the physiopathology of the complex psychiatric disease that is schizophrenia. It may be a substratum to the prevailing hypothesis of gene x environment interaction. The research in the matter is definitely expanding. It justifies easily the need to improve the effort in the domain to overpass some limits inherent to the matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rivollier
- Service hospitalo-universiaire, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Inserm U894, laboratoire « physiopathologie des maladies psychiatriques », université Paris Descartes, 2ter, rue d'Alésia, 75014 Paris, France
| | - L Lotersztajn
- Service hospitalo-universiaire, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Inserm U894, laboratoire « physiopathologie des maladies psychiatriques », université Paris Descartes, 2ter, rue d'Alésia, 75014 Paris, France
| | - B Chaumette
- Service hospitalo-universiaire, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Inserm U894, laboratoire « physiopathologie des maladies psychiatriques », université Paris Descartes, 2ter, rue d'Alésia, 75014 Paris, France
| | - M-O Krebs
- Service hospitalo-universiaire, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Inserm U894, laboratoire « physiopathologie des maladies psychiatriques », université Paris Descartes, 2ter, rue d'Alésia, 75014 Paris, France
| | - O Kebir
- Service hospitalo-universiaire, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Inserm U894, laboratoire « physiopathologie des maladies psychiatriques », université Paris Descartes, 2ter, rue d'Alésia, 75014 Paris, France.
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Santoro ML, Ota VK, Stilhano RS, Silva PN, Santos CM, Diana MC, Gadelha A, Bressan RA, Melaragno MI, Han SW, Abílio VC, Belangero SI. Effect of antipsychotic drugs on gene expression in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Schizophr Res 2014; 157:163-8. [PMID: 24893910 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are the standard treatment for schizophrenia. The therapeutic effect of these drugs is dependent upon the dopaminergic D2 blockade, but they also modulate other neurotransmitter pathways. The exact mechanisms underlying the clinical response to APDs are not fully understood. In this study, we compared three groups of animals for the expression of 84 neurotransmitter genes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Each group was treated with a different APD (risperidone, clozapine or haloperidol), and with a non-treated group of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), which is an animal model for schizophrenia. This study also explored whether or not differential expression was regulated by DNA methylation in the promoter region (PR). In the clozapine group, we found that Chrng was downregulated in the NAcc and six genes were downregulated in the PFC. In the haloperidol group, Brs3 and Glra1 were downregulated, as was Drd2 in the clozapine group and Drd3, Galr3 and Gabrr1 in the clozapine and haloperidol groups. We also encountered four hypermethylated CG sites in the Glra1 PR, as well as three in the risperidone group and another in the haloperidol group, when compared to non-treated rats. Following the APD treatment, the gene expression results revealed the involvement of genes that had not previously been described, in addition to the activity of established genes. The investigation of the involvement of these novel genes can lead to better understanding about the specific mechanisms of action of the individual APDs studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Leite Santoro
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu, 740, Edifício Leitao da Cunha, 1° andar, CEP 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Kiyomi Ota
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu, 740, Edifício Leitao da Cunha, 1° andar, CEP 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roberta Sessa Stilhano
- Department of Biophysics and Investigation Center for Gene Therapy, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Mirassol 207, CEP:04044-010, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Natália Silva
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu, 740, Edifício Leitao da Cunha, 1° andar, CEP 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Maurício Santos
- LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, 5th floor, CEP: 04039032, Brazil
| | - Mariana Cepollaro Diana
- LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, 5th floor, CEP: 04039032, Brazil
| | - Ary Gadelha
- LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan
- LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel Melaragno
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu, 740, Edifício Leitao da Cunha, 1° andar, CEP 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sang Won Han
- Department of Biophysics and Investigation Center for Gene Therapy, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Mirassol 207, CEP:04044-010, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Costhek Abílio
- LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, 5th floor, CEP: 04039032, Brazil
| | - Sintia Iole Belangero
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu, 740, Edifício Leitao da Cunha, 1° andar, CEP 04023-900 São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Interdisciplinary Lab of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 3° floor, CEP 05039-032 São Paulo, Brazil.
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Peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a laboratory to study dementia in the elderly. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:169203. [PMID: 24877062 PMCID: PMC4022117 DOI: 10.1155/2014/169203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The steady and dramatic increase in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the lack of effective treatments have stimulated the search for strategies to prevent or delay its onset and/or progression. Since the diagnosis of dementia requires a number of established features that are present when the disease is fully developed, but not always in the early stages, the need for a biological marker has proven to be urgent, in terms of both diagnosis and monitoring of AD. AD has been shown to affect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that are a critical component of the immune system which provide defence against infection. Although studies are continuously supplying additional data that emphasize the central role of inflammation in AD, PBMCs have not been sufficiently investigated in this context. Delineating biochemical alterations in AD blood constituents may prove valuable in identifying accessible footprints that reflect degenerative processes within the Central Nervous System (CNS). In this review, we address the role of biomarkers in AD with a focus on the notion that PBMCs may serve as a peripheral laboratory to find molecular signatures that could aid in differential diagnosis with other forms of dementia and in monitoring of disease progression.
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Decreased global methylation in patients with bipolar disorder who respond to lithium. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 17:561-9. [PMID: 24345589 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145713001569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and alterations in DNA methylation, are all associated with the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). We therefore studied the relationship between oxidative stress and DNA methylation in patients with BD with an excellent response to lithium treatment, their affected and unaffected relatives and healthy controls. Transformed lymphoblasts were cultured in the presence or absence of lithium chloride (0.75 mM). DNA and proteins were extracted from the cells to determine levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 5-methylcytosine (5-mc), mitochondrial complex I and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Methylation was decreased in BD subjects and their relatives compared to controls and remained so after lithium treatment in BD subjects but not in their relatives. 8-OHdG levels and complex I activity did not differ between groups before and after lithium treatment. Finally, relatives of patients showed increased GPx activity before and after lithium treatment, which negatively correlated with 5-mc levels. Changes in global methylation may be specific for BD and lithium may be involved in glutathione regulation. The present study supports the importance of DNA methylation to the pathophysiology of BD and the therapeutic potential of antioxidants in this illness.
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Condliffe D, Wong A, Troakes C, Proitsi P, Patel Y, Chouliaras L, Fernandes C, Cooper J, Lovestone S, Schalkwyk L, Mill J, Lunnon K. Cross-region reduction in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in Alzheimer's disease brain. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 35:1850-4. [PMID: 24679604 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic processes play a key role in the central nervous system and altered levels of 5-methylcytosine have been associated with a number of neurologic phenotypes, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, 3 additional cytosine modifications have been identified (5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxylcytosine), which are thought to be intermediate steps in the demethylation of 5-methylcytosine to unmodified cytosine. Little is known about the frequency of these modifications in the human brain during health or disease. In this study, we used immunofluorescence to confirm the presence of each modification in human brain and investigate their cross-tissue abundance in AD patients and elderly control samples. We identify a significant AD-associated decrease in global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in entorhinal cortex and cerebellum, and differences in 5-formylcytosine levels between brain regions. Our study further implicates a role for epigenetic alterations in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Wong
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Yogen Patel
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Leonidas Chouliaras
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Jonathan Mill
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK; Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Katie Lunnon
- Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Devon, UK.
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Harlaar N, Hutchison KE. Alcohol and the methylome: design and analysis considerations for research using human samples. Drug Alcohol Depend 2013; 133:305-16. [PMID: 23968814 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of studies in human samples have sought to determine whether chronic alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) may be associated with epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation. We review the extant literature in light of some of the challenges that currently affect the design and interpretation of epigenetic research in human samples. METHOD A literature search was used to identify studies that have examined DNA methylation in relation to alcohol use or AUDs in human samples (through July 2013). A total of 22 studies were identified. RESULTS Associations with quantitative or diagnostic phenotypes of alcohol use or AUDs have been reported for several genes. However, all studies to date have relied on relatively small samples and cross-sectional study designs. Additionally, attempts to replicate results have been rare. More generally, research progress is hampered by several issues, including limitations of the technologies used to assess DNA methylation, tissue- and cell-specificity of methylation patterns, the difficulties of relating observed methylation differences at a given locus to a functional effect, and limited knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of alcohol on DNA methylation. CONCLUSIONS Although we share the optimism that epigenetics may lead to new insights into the etiology and pathophysiology of AUDs, the methodological and scientific challenges associated with conducting methylomic research in human samples need to be carefully considered when designing and evaluating such studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Harlaar
- University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0345, USA.
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Lunnon K, Mill J. Epigenetic studies in Alzheimer's disease: current findings, caveats, and considerations for future studies. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2013; 162B:789-99. [PMID: 24038819 PMCID: PMC3947441 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a sporadic, chronic neurodegenerative disease, usually occurring late in life. The last decade has witnessed tremendous advances in our understanding about the genetic basis of AD, but a large amount of the variance in disease risk remains to be explained. Epigenetic mechanisms, which developmentally regulate gene expression via modifications to DNA, histone proteins, and chromatin, have been hypothesized to play a role in other complex neurobiological diseases, and studies to identify genome-wide epigenetic changes in AD are currently under way. However, the simple brute-force approach that has been successfully employed in genome-wide association studies is unlikely to be successful in epigenome-wide association studies of neurodegeneration. A more academic approach to understanding the role of epigenetic variation in AD is required, with careful consideration of study design, methodological approaches, tissue-specificity, and causal inference. In this article, we review the empirical literature supporting a role for epigenetic processes in AD, and discuss important considerations and future directions for this new and emerging field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Lunnon
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Devon, UK,Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
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