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Liu G, Liu W, Zheng X, Li J. The higher the household income, the lower the possibility of depression and anxiety disorder: evidence from a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1264174. [PMID: 38053539 PMCID: PMC10694246 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1264174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Observational studies have demonstrated that household income is associated with morbidity of mental disorders. However, a causal relationship between the two factors remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the causal relationship between household income status and genetic liability of mental disorders using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Methods This MR study included a large cohort of the European population from publicly available genome-wide association study datasets. A random-effects inverse-variance weighting model was used as the main standard, with MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and maximum likelihood estimations performed concurrently as supplements. Sensitivity analysis, consisting of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy tests, was performed using Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-PRESSO tests to ensure the reliability of the conclusions. Results A higher household income tended to be associated with a lower risk of genetic liability for depression (odds ratio [OR]: 0.655, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.522-0.822, p < 0.001) and anxiety disorder (OR: 0.666, 95% CI = 0.526-0.843, p < 0.001). No associations were observed for schizophrenia (OR: 0.678, 95% CI = 0.460-1.000, p = 0.05), panic disorder (OR: 0.837, 95% CI = 0.445-1.577, p = 0.583), insomnia (OR: 1.051, 95% CI = 0.556-1.986, p = 0.877), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OR: 1.421, 95% CI = 0.778-2.596, p = 0.252), and bipolar disorder (OR: 1.126, 95% CI = 0.757-1.677, p = 0.556). A reverse MR study showed no reverse causal relationship between psychiatric disorders and household income. Sensitivity analysis verified the reliability of the results. Conclusion Our results revealed that the population with a higher household income tended to have a minor risk of genetic liability in depression and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Wenlin Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xifeng Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Junyan Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
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2
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Carpentieri V, Cugno S, Lockic K, Pascale E, Adriani W. DAT1 5'-Un-Translated-Region Methylation Patterns as Bio-Markers of ADHD Psycho-Pathology: Contribution to Disease Prognosis and to Monitoring of a Successful Therapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2546. [PMID: 37760987 PMCID: PMC10526158 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, such as changes in DNA methylation, have been linked to several diseases in recent years. The purpose of our study was to search for biomarkers that (using non-invasive techniques) could assist the clinician in the prognosis of infant/adolescent psychopathology. We previously showed that changes in methylation of the 5'-UTR in the DAT1/SLC6A3 gene can be used as a biomarker for the prognosis of initial severe ADHD: treatment-resistant severe ADHD children were characterized by methylated CpG 1 in particular, while methylated CpGs 2 and 6 were then found in children who improved after the therapy. Further, we confirmed these outcomes and provided the hypothesis that symptomatology might be influenced by the children's genotype and family environment. In particular, levels of CpG 3 methylation in the heterozygous ADHD children were associated with high paternal own risk or stress. Eventually, we found that the same biomarkers are more broadly useful in the field of internalizing or externalizing symptoms (when a certain vulnerability is already present in the child). In particular, it was seen how inheriting specific 9-repeat or 10-repeat VNTR alleles from the mother or from the father could modify the pattern of methylation at the 5'-UTR of the DAT1 gene. A specific pattern of methylations (with CpG 2 following either CpGs 1 + 3 or CpG 6 at the DAT1 5'-UTR) has been associated, therefore, with the likelihood of an internalizing or externalizing developmental trajectory entailing ADHD-like psycho-pathological characteristics. Since each individual responds differently to a specific treatment, we suggest that these methylation patterns may be used as biomarkers to monitor the outcome and/or predict the success of a given therapy (personalized medicine).
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Carpentieri
- Center for Behavioral Science and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, I-00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Silvia Cugno
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, I-00186 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (K.L.)
| | - Katarina Lockic
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, I-00186 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (K.L.)
| | - Esterina Pascale
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00162 Rome, Italy;
| | - Walter Adriani
- Center for Behavioral Science and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, I-00161 Rome, Italy;
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, I-00186 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (K.L.)
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3
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Fisher DW, Tulloch J, Yu CE, Tsuang D. A Preliminary Comparison of the Methylome and Transcriptome from the Prefrontal Cortex Across Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2023; 7:279-297. [PMID: 37220618 PMCID: PMC10200238 DOI: 10.3233/adr220114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Pathological amyloid-β and α-synuclein are associated with a spectrum of related dementias, ranging from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), to Parkinson disease dementia (PDD). While these diseases share clinical and pathological features, they also have unique patterns of pathology. However, epigenetic factors that contribute to these pathological differences remain unknown. Objective: In this preliminary study, we explore differences in DNA methylation and transcription in five neuropathologically defined groups: cognitively unimpaired controls, AD, pure DLB, DLB with concomitant AD (DLBAD), and PDD. Methods: We employed an Illumina Infinium 850k array and RNA-seq to quantify these differences in DNA methylation and transcription, respectively. We then used Weighted Gene Co-Network Expression Analysis (WGCNA) to determine transcriptional modules and correlated these with DNA methylation. Results: We found that PDD was transcriptionally unique and correlated with an unexpected hypomethylation pattern compared to the other dementias and controls. Surprisingly, differences between PDD and DLB were especially notable with 197 differentially methylated regions. WGCNA yielded numerous modules associated with controls and the four dementias: one module was associated with transcriptional differences between controls and all the dementias as well as having significant overlap with differentially methylated probes. Functional enrichment demonstrated that this module was associated with responses to oxidative stress. Conclusion: Future work that extends these joint DNA methylation and transcription analyses will be critical to better understanding of differences that contribute to varying clinical presentation across dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W. Fisher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Tulloch
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veteran’s Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chang-En Yu
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veteran’s Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Debby Tsuang
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veteran’s Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Zwolińska W, Dmitrzak-Węglarz M, Słopień A. Biomarkers in Child and Adolescent Depression. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023; 54:266-281. [PMID: 34590201 PMCID: PMC9867683 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01246-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the significant prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder in the pediatric population, the pathophysiology of this condition remains unclear, and the treatment outcomes poor. Investigating tools that might aid in diagnosing and treating early-onset depression seems essential in improving the prognosis of the future disease course. Recent studies have focused on searching for biomarkers that constitute biochemical indicators of MDD susceptibility, diagnosis, or treatment outcome. In comparison to increasing evidence of possible biomarkers in adult depression, the studies investigating this subject in the youth population are lacking. This narrative review aims to summarize research on molecular and biochemical biomarkers in child and adolescent depression in order to advocate future directions in the research on this subject. More studies on depression involving the youth population seem vital to comprehend the natural course of the disease and identify features that may underlie commonly observed differences in treatment outcomes between adults and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Zwolińska
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna St. 27/33, 60-572, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Monika Dmitrzak-Węglarz
- grid.22254.330000 0001 2205 0971Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Medical Biology Center, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka St. 8, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Słopień
- grid.22254.330000 0001 2205 0971Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna St. 27/33, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
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5
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Dissecting early life stress-induced adolescent depression through epigenomic approach. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:141-153. [PMID: 36517640 PMCID: PMC9812796 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01907-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS), such as abuse and neglect during childhood, can lead to psychiatric disorders in later life. Previous studies have suggested that ELS can cause profound changes in gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, which can lead to psychiatric disorders in adulthood; however, studies on epigenetic modifications associated with ELS and psychiatric disorders in adolescents are limited. Moreover, how these epigenetic modifications can lead to psychiatric disorders in adolescents is not fully understood. Commonly, DNA methylation, histone modification, and the regulation of noncoding RNAs have been attributed to the reprogramming of epigenetic profiling associated with ELS. Although only a few studies have attempted to examine epigenetic modifications in adolescents with ELS, existing evidence suggests that there are commonalities and differences in epigenetic profiling between adolescents and adults. In addition, epigenetic modifications are sex-dependent and are influenced by the type of ELS. In this review, we have critically evaluated the current evidence on epigenetic modifications in adolescents with ELS, particularly DNA methylation and the expression of microRNAs in both preclinical models and humans. We have also clarified the impact of ELS on psychiatric disorders in adolescents to predict the development of neuropsychiatric disorders and to prevent and recover these disorders through personalized medicine.
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6
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Tran The J, Magistretti PJ, Ansermet F. The critical periods of cerebral plasticity: A key aspect in a dialog between psychoanalysis and neuroscience centered on the psychopathology of schizophrenia. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1057539. [PMID: 36590919 PMCID: PMC9795046 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1057539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Through research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms that occur during critical periods, recent experimental neurobiological data have brought to light the importance of early childhood. These have demonstrated that childhood and early environmental stimuli play a part not only in our subjective construction, but also in brain development; thus, confirming Freud's intuition regarding the central role of childhood and early experiences of the environment in our psychological development and our subjective outcomes. "Critical periods" of cerebral development represent temporal windows that mark favorable, but also circumscribed, moments in developmental cerebral plasticity. They also vary between different cortical areas. There are, therefore, strictly defined temporal periods for learning language, music, etc., after which this learning becomes more difficult, or even impossible, to acquire. Now, research into these critical periods can be seen as having a significant part to play in the interdisciplinary dialog between psychoanalysis and neurosciences with regard to the role of early experiences in the etiology of some psychopathological conditions. Research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the onset and end of these critical periods, notably controlled by the maturation of parvalbumin-expressing basket cells, have brought to light the presence of anomalies in the maturation of these neurons in patients with schizophrenia. Starting from these findings we propose revisiting the psychoanalytic theories on the etiology of psychosis from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our study works from the observation, common to both psychoanalysis and neurosciences, that experience leaves a trace; be it a "psychic" or a "synaptic" trace. Thus, we develop a hypothesis for an "absence of trace" in psychosis; reexamining psychosis through the prism of the biological theory of critical periods in plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tran The
- INSERM U1077 Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France,Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Paris, France,UFR de Psychologie, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France,Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France,Cyceron, Caen, France,Agalma Foundation Geneva, Chemin des Mines, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Jessica Tran The,
| | - Pierre J. Magistretti
- Agalma Foundation Geneva, Chemin des Mines, Switzerland,Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Francois Ansermet
- Agalma Foundation Geneva, Chemin des Mines, Switzerland,Département de Psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
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7
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Tanti A, Belliveau C, Nagy C, Maitra M, Denux F, Perlman K, Chen F, Mpai R, Canonne C, Théberge S, McFarquhar A, Davoli MA, Belzung C, Turecki G, Mechawar N. Child abuse associates with increased recruitment of perineuronal nets in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex: a possible implication of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1552-1561. [PMID: 34799691 PMCID: PMC9095471 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01372-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Child abuse (CA) is a strong predictor of psychopathologies and suicide, altering normal trajectories of brain development in areas closely linked to emotional responses such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Yet, the cellular underpinnings of these enduring effects are unclear. Childhood and adolescence are marked by the protracted formation of perineuronal nets (PNNs), which orchestrate the closure of developmental windows of cortical plasticity by regulating the functional integration of parvalbumin interneurons into neuronal circuits. Using well-characterized post-mortem brain samples, we show that a history of CA is specifically associated with increased densities and morphological complexity of WFL-labeled PNNs in the ventromedial PFC (BA11/12), possibly suggesting increased recruitment and maturation of PNNs. Through single-nucleus sequencing and fluorescent in situ hybridization, we found that the expression of canonical components of PNNs is enriched in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), and that they are upregulated in CA victims. These correlational findings suggest that early-life adversity may lead to persistent patterns of maladaptive behaviors by reducing the neuroplasticity of cortical circuits through the enhancement of developmental OPC-mediated PNN formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Tanti
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Université de Tours, Tours, France.
| | - Claudia Belliveau
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Corina Nagy
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Malosree Maitra
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Fanny Denux
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Kelly Perlman
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Frank Chen
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Refilwe Mpai
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Candice Canonne
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Stéphanie Théberge
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Ashley McFarquhar
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Maria Antonietta Davoli
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Catherine Belzung
- grid.12366.300000 0001 2182 6141UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- grid.412078.80000 0001 2353 5268McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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8
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Parel ST, Peña CJ. Genome-wide Signatures of Early-Life Stress: Influence of Sex. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:36-42. [PMID: 33602500 PMCID: PMC8791071 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Both history of early-life stress (ELS) and female sex are associated with increased risk for depression. The complexity of how ELS interacts with brain development and sex to impart risk for multifaceted neuropsychiatric disorders is also unlikely to be understood by examining changes in single genes. Here, we review an emerging literature on genome-wide transcriptional and epigenetic signatures of ELS and the potential moderating influence of sex. We discuss evidence both that there are latent sex differences revealed by ELS and that ELS itself produces latent transcriptomic changes revealed by adult stress. In instances where there are broad similarities in global signatures of ELS among females and males, genes that contribute to these patterns are largely distinct based on sex. As this area of investigation grows, an effort should be made to better understand the sex-specific impact of ELS within the human brain, specific contributions of chromosomal versus hormonal sex, how ELS alters the time course of normal transcriptional development, and the cell-type specificity of transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in the brain. A better understanding of how ELS interacts with sex to alter transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures in the brain will inform individualized therapeutic strategies to prevent or ameliorate depression and other psychiatric disorders in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sero Toriano Parel
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
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9
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Zhu Y, Wang MJ, Crawford KM, Ramírez-Tapia JC, Lussier AA, Davis KA, de Leeuw C, Takesian AE, Hensch TK, Smoller JW, Dunn EC. Sensitive period-regulating genetic pathways and exposure to adversity shape risk for depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:497-506. [PMID: 34689167 PMCID: PMC8674315 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01172-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Animal and human studies have documented the existence of developmental windows (or sensitive periods) when experience can have lasting effects on brain structure or function, behavior, and disease. Although sensitive periods for depression likely arise through a complex interplay of genes and experience, this possibility has not yet been explored in humans. We examined the effect of genetic pathways regulating sensitive periods, alone and in interaction with common childhood adversities, on depression risk. Guided by a translational approach, we: (1) performed association analyses of three gene sets (60 genes) shown in animal studies to regulate sensitive periods using summary data from a genome-wide association study of depression (n = 807,553); (2) evaluated the developmental expression patterns of these genes using data from BrainSpan (n = 31), a transcriptional atlas of postmortem brain samples; and (3) tested gene-by-development interplay (dGxE) by analyzing the combined effect of common variants in sensitive period genes and time-varying exposure to two types of childhood adversity within a population-based birth cohort (n = 6254). The gene set regulating sensitive period opening associated with increased depression risk. Notably, 6 of the 15 genes in this set showed developmentally regulated gene-level expression. We also identified a statistical interaction between caregiver physical or emotional abuse during ages 1-5 years and genetic risk for depression conferred by the opening genes. Genes involved in regulating sensitive periods are differentially expressed across the life course and may be implicated in depression vulnerability. Our findings about gene-by-development interplay motivate further research in large, more diverse samples to further unravel the complexity of depression etiology through a sensitive period lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Zhu
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Min-Jung Wang
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Alexandre A Lussier
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Brain Science, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn A Davis
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christiaan de Leeuw
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne E Takesian
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye & Ear and Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head/Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Takao K Hensch
- Center for Brain Science, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erin C Dunn
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Harvard Center on the Developing Child, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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10
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Ibrahim P, Almeida D, Nagy C, Turecki G. Molecular impacts of childhood abuse on the human brain. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100343. [PMID: 34141833 PMCID: PMC8187840 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood abuse (CA) is a prevalent global health concern, increasing the risk of negative mental health outcomes later in life. In the literature, CA is commonly defined as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. Several mental disorders have been associated with CA, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, along with an increased risk of suicide. It is thought that traumatic life events occurring during childhood and adolescence may have a significant impact on essential brain functions, which may persist throughout adulthood. The interaction between the brain and the external environment can be mediated by epigenetic alterations in gene expression, and there is a growing body of evidence to show that such changes occur as a function of CA. Disruptions in the HPA axis, myelination, plasticity, and signaling have been identified in individuals with a history of CA. Understanding the molecular impact of CA on the brain is essential for the development of treatment and prevention measures. In this review, we will summarize studies that highlight the molecular changes associated with CA in the human brain, along with supporting evidence from peripheral studies and animal models. We will also discuss some of the limitations surrounding the study of CA and propose extracellular vesicles as a promising future approach in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Ibrahim
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel Almeida
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Corina Nagy
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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11
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Shirvani-Farsani Z, Maloum Z, Bagheri-Hosseinabadi Z, Vilor-Tejedor N, Sadeghi I. DNA methylation signature as a biomarker of major neuropsychiatric disorders. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 141:34-49. [PMID: 34171761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a broadly-investigated epigenetic modification that has been considered as a heritable and reversible change. Previous findings have indicated that DNA methylation regulates gene expression in the central nervous system (CNS). Also, disturbance of DNA methylation patterns has been associated with destructive consequences that lead to human brain diseases such as neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs). In this review, we comprehensively discuss the mechanism and function of DNA methylation and its most recent associations with the pathology of NPDs-including major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SZ), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder (BD), and attention/deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We also discuss how heterogeneous findings demand further investigations. Finally, based on the recent studies we conclude that DNA methylation status may have implications in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics as a potential epigenetic biomarker of NPDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Shirvani-Farsani
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G.C., Tehran, IR, Iran.
| | - Zahra Maloum
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G.C., Tehran, IR, Iran.
| | - Zahra Bagheri-Hosseinabadi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
| | - Natalia Vilor-Tejedor
- BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Carrer Wellington 30, 08005, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Iman Sadeghi
- BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Carrer Wellington 30, 08005, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
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12
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Grasso DJ, DiVietro S, Beebe R, Clough M, Lapidus G. Quantifying Severity of Maltreatment, Adversity, and Trauma From Child Protective Services Case Record Files. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:8142-8163. [PMID: 31092088 DOI: 10.1177/0886260519847774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Children referred to child protective services (CPS) for allegations of abuse or neglect often have diverse experiences of maltreatment, adversity, and trauma. Severity of these experiences is associated with greater mental health impairment and increased risk of revictimization and other adversities. Although aspects of these experiences are often captured during CPS investigations and stored in case records as narrative documents, much of this information is underutilized in estimating risk and service planning. The current study extracted case record information from a randomly selected sample of 100 families, with 150 children referred to CPS during a 12-month period. The Yale-Vermont Adversity in Childhood Scale (Y-VACS) was applied to extracted information for quantifying severity of various forms of childhood maltreatment, adversity, and trauma. Study aims were to examine (a) the scope and severity of maltreatment, adversity, and trauma types and their associations; (b) linkages between severity and CPS allegation types and outcomes; and (c) the utility of severity in predicting new allegations of abuse or neglect within 12 months of referral. Results indicated feasibility in quantifying severity of maltreatment and other adversities from case record information and revealed associations between adversity severity and CPS allegation types and outcomes. Severity of psychological intimate partner violence and neglect were predictive of new allegations of abuse or neglect within 12 months of referral. Findings support moving beyond an incident-based CPS strategy to one that better incorporates case record information to assess risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damion J Grasso
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Susan DiVietro
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Rebecca Beebe
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Meghan Clough
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Garry Lapidus
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
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13
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Silva RC, Maffioletti E, Gennarelli M, Baune BT, Minelli A. Biological correlates of early life stressful events in major depressive disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 125:105103. [PMID: 33360031 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common psychiatric disorder and responds for important psychosocial consequences. Stressful life events, especially early life stress (ELS), contribute to an increased probability to develop MDD, leading in particular to severe and chronic manifestation and unfavorable treatment outcome. The association between ELS and MDD seems to have biological bases, consisting in dysregulations occurring at different levels. The aim of this narrative review is to propose an overview of the literature ranging from genetic, epigenetic, expression and protein to neuroimaging correlates underlying this relationship. A search on Pubmed of studies assessing biological correlates of ELS in MDD development, focusing on human studies conducted in both peripheral and brain tissues, was performed. Evidence indicated that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the serotonergic, dopaminergic, neurotrophin and oxytocin systems might play a role in the mediation between ELS and MDD. The most consistent results were found for genetic and epigenetic studies and indicated a joint involvement of the systems mentioned. Expression studies are less numerous and point to an involvement of stress-related systems. Concerning protein studies, the main mediators are markers related to the inflammatory and immune systems. Neuroimaging studies aiming at evaluating brain alterations connecting ELS and MDD in relation to biomarkers indicated the hippocampus, the amygdala and the frontal cortex as important anatomical mediators. These findings can build the bases for future research and clinical interventions; indeed, the clarification of biological mechanisms mediating the relationship between ELS and MDD can lead to new and individualized preventive and therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Carvalho Silva
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Maffioletti
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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14
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Herzog DP, Pascual Cuadrado D, Treccani G, Jene T, Opitz V, Hasch A, Lutz B, Lieb K, Sillaber I, van der Kooij MA, Tiwari VK, Müller MB. A distinct transcriptional signature of antidepressant response in hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:4. [PMID: 33414410 PMCID: PMC7791134 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01136-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is the most prevalent mental illness worldwide, still its pharmacological treatment is limited by various challenges, such as the large heterogeneity in treatment response and the lack of insight into the neurobiological pathways underlying this phenomenon. To decode the molecular mechanisms shaping antidepressant response and to distinguish those from general paroxetine effects, we used a previously established approach targeting extremes (i.e., good vs poor responder mice). We focused on the dentate gyrus (DG), a subregion of major interest in the context of antidepressant mechanisms. Transcriptome profiling on micro-dissected DG granule cells was performed to (i) reveal cell-type-specific changes in paroxetine-induced gene expression (paroxetine vs vehicle) and (ii) to identify molecular signatures of treatment response within a cohort of paroxetine-treated animals. We identified 112 differentially expressed genes associated with paroxetine treatment. The extreme group comparison (good vs poor responder) yielded 211 differentially expressed genes. General paroxetine effects could be distinguished from treatment response-associated molecular signatures, with a differential gene expression overlap of only 4.6% (15 genes). Biological pathway enrichment and cluster analyses identified candidate mechanisms associated with good treatment response, e.g., neuropeptide signaling, synaptic transmission, calcium signaling, and regulation of glucocorticoid secretion. Finally, we examined glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent regulation of selected response-associated genes to analyze a hypothesized interplay between GR signaling and good antidepressant treatment response. Among the most promising candidates, we suggest potential targets such as the developmental gene Otx2 or Htr2c for further investigations into antidepressant treatment response in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. Herzog
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Diego Pascual Cuadrado
- grid.410607.4Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Giulia Treccani
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Institute of Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Jene
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Verena Opitz
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annika Hasch
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Michael A. van der Kooij
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Vijay K. Tiwari
- grid.5802.f0000 0001 1941 7111Institute of Molecular Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.4777.30000 0004 0374 7521Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Marianne B. Müller
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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15
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Non-cell-autonomous OTX2 transcription factor regulates anxiety-related behavior in the mouse. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6469-6480. [PMID: 33963285 PMCID: PMC8760049 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01132-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The OTX2 homeoprotein transcription factor is expressed in the dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area, which projects to limbic structures controlling complex behaviors. OTX2 is also produced in choroid plexus epithelium, from which it is secreted into cerebrospinal fluid and transferred to limbic structure parvalbumin interneurons. Previously, adult male mice subjected to early-life stress were found susceptible to anxiety-like behaviors, with accompanying OTX2 expression changes in ventral tegmental area or choroid plexus. Here, we investigated the consequences of reduced OTX2 levels in Otx2 heterozygote mice, as well as in Otx2+/AA and scFvOtx2tg/0 mouse models for decreasing OTX2 transfer from choroid plexus to parvalbumin interneurons. Both male and female adult mice show anxiolysis-like phenotypes in all three models. In Otx2 heterozygote mice, we observed no changes in dopaminergic neuron numbers and morphology in ventral tegmental area, nor in their metabolic output and projections to target structures. However, we found reduced expression of parvalbumin in medial prefrontal cortex, which could be rescued in part by adult overexpression of Otx2 specifically in choroid plexus, resulting in increased anxiety-like behavior. Taken together, OTX2 synthesis by the choroid plexus followed by its secretion into the cerebrospinal fluid is an important regulator of anxiety-related phenotypes in the mouse.
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Dudek KA, Kaufmann FN, Lavoie O, Menard C. Central and peripheral stress-induced epigenetic mechanisms of resilience. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2021; 34:1-9. [PMID: 33141775 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Resilience is an adaptation process presented by an individual despite facing adversities. Epigenetic changes, such as histone acetylation/methylation and DNA methylation, have been demonstrated to mediate stress response. In this review, we summarize recent findings on epigenetic mechanisms contributing to stress resilience. RECENT FINDINGS Epigenetic modifications of genes involved in synaptic plasticity, endocrine, immune, and vascular systems are linked to resilience. For instance, increased DNA methylation of the nonneuronal growth factor Gdnf in specific brain regions promotes stress resilience. Additionally, high DNA methylation at the glucocorticoid receptor gene was associated with resilience in both rodents and humans. At the immune level, chronic stress induces increased DNA methylation at IL6 gene, a mediator of stress vulnerability. Moreover, epigenetic adaptations of the blood--brain barrier have been recently associated with stress resilience, which could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches to treat depression. SUMMARY Identification of both central and peripheral epigenetic changes promoting stress resilience represent promising novel targets in the development of preventive and personalized medicine. Nevertheless, more research is needed to establish sex specific differences and to identify novel epigenetic mechanisms, such as serotonylation and dopaminylation, that hold great promises for the field of psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Anna Dudek
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
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17
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miR-218 in Adolescence Predicts and Mediates Vulnerability to Stress. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 89:911-919. [PMID: 33384174 PMCID: PMC8052258 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, including depression. Discovering novel biomarkers to identify individuals who are at high risk is very much needed. Our previous work shows that the microRNA miR-218 mediates susceptibility to stress and depression in adulthood by targeting the netrin-1 guidance cue receptor gene Dcc in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). METHODS Here, we investigated whether miR-218 regulates Dcc expression in adolescence and could serve as an early predictor of lifetime stress vulnerability in male mice. RESULTS miR-218 expression in the mPFC increases from early adolescence to adulthood and correlates negatively with Dcc levels. In blood, postnatal miR-218 expression parallels changes occurring in the mPFC. Notably, circulating miR-218 levels in adolescence associate with vulnerability to social defeat stress in adulthood, with high levels associated with social avoidance severity. Indeed, downregulation of miR-218 in the mPFC in adolescence promotes resilience to stress in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS miR-218 expression in adolescence may serve both as a marker of risk and as a target for early interventions.
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18
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Spijker S, Koskinen MK, Riga D. Incubation of depression: ECM assembly and parvalbumin interneurons after stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:65-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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O'Dea N, Clough M, Beebe R, DiVietro S, Lapidus G, Grasso DJ. Using Child Protective Services Case Record Data to Quantify Family-Level Severity of Adversity Types, Poly-victimization, and Poly-deprivation. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 108:104688. [PMID: 32854056 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child protective services (CPS) case records contain a vast amount of narrative information that is underutilized for estimating risk, conceptualizing family needs, and planning for services. OBJECTIVE The current study applied a novel method for quantifying family-level severity of maltreatment and non-maltreatment-related adversity types to narrative information reflecting a family's full CPS history. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Cases were randomly sampled (N = 100) from two regions of Connecticut that were referred over a specified 6-month period. METHODS De-identified data were extracted through comprehensive chart review of electronic and paper case records. The Yale-Vermont Adversity in Childhood Scale (Y-VACS; Holbrook et al., 2015) was used to quantify adversity severity across a range of intrafamilial and extrafamilial experiences. RESULTS Several family-level adversity severity ratings were associated with administrative data on allegations and investigative outcomes. Poly-victimization (β = .47, p < .001) and poly-deprivation (β = .25, p = .005) significantly predicted total allegation types and total substantiation types (β = .30, p = .002; β = .26, p = .008, respectively) across the case history. Poly-victimization significantly predicted the presence of a new allegation within 12 months of the index report, OR = 1.72, SE = .25, p = .027. CONCLUSIONS Findings support the feasibility of a novel method that uses narrative case record information to quantify severity of maltreatment and non-maltreatment-related adversity types, as well as cumulative measures of threat- and deprivation-based adversities at the family level. Implications for utilizing case record data to inform CPS intervention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole O'Dea
- Department of Psychology, Clark University, United States
| | - Meghan Clough
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, United States
| | - Rebecca Beebe
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, United States
| | | | - Garry Lapidus
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, United States
| | - Damion J Grasso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, United States.
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Tubbs JD, Ding J, Baum L, Sham PC. Systemic neuro-dysregulation in depression: Evidence from genome-wide association. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 39:1-18. [PMID: 32896454 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Depression is the world's leading cause of disability. Greater understanding of the neurobiological basis of depression is necessary for developing novel treatments with improved efficacy and acceptance. Recently, major advances have been made in the search for genetic variants associated with depression which may help to elucidate etiological mechanisms. The present review has two major objectives. First, we offer a brief review of two major biological systems with strong evidence for involvement in depression pathology: neurotransmitter systems and the stress response. Secondly, we provide a synthesis of the functions of the 269 genes implicated by the most recent genome-wide meta-analysis, supporting the importance of these systems in depression and providing insights into other possible mechanisms involving neurodevelopment, neurogenesis, and neurodegeneration. Our goal is to undertake a broad, preliminary stock-taking of the most recent hypothesis-free findings and examine the weight of the evidence supporting these existing theories and highlighting novel directions. This qualitative review and accompanying gene function table provides a valuable resource and guide for basic and translational researchers, with suggestions for future mechanistic research, leveraging genetics to prioritize studies on the neurobiological processes involved in depression etiology and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Tubbs
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jiahong Ding
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Larry Baum
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre of PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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21
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Di Nardo AA, Joliot A, Prochiantz A. Homeoprotein transduction in neurodevelopment and physiopathology. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/44/eabc6374. [PMID: 33115744 PMCID: PMC7608782 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc6374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Homeoproteins were originally identified for embryonic cell-autonomous transcription activity, but they also have non-cell-autonomous activity owing to transfer between cells. This Review discusses transfer mechanisms and focuses on some established functions, such as neurodevelopmental regulation of axon guidance, and postnatal critical periods of brain plasticity that affect sensory processing and cognition. Homeoproteins are present across all eukaryotes, and intercellular transfer occurs in plants and animals. Proposed functions have evolutionary relevance, such as morphogenetic activity and sexual exchange during the mating of unicellular eukaryotes, while others have physiopathological relevance, such as regulation of mood and cognition by influencing brain compartmentalization, connectivity, and plasticity. There are more than 250 known homeoproteins with conserved transfer domains, suggesting that this is a common mode of signal transduction but with many undiscovered functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel A Di Nardo
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL University, Labex MemoLife, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Alain Joliot
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL University, Labex MemoLife, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alain Prochiantz
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL University, Labex MemoLife, 75005 Paris, France.
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22
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Gatta E, Saudagar V, Auta J, Grayson DR, Guidotti A. Epigenetic landscape of stress surfeit disorders: Key role for DNA methylation dynamics. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 156:127-183. [PMID: 33461662 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to stress throughout lifespan alters brain structure and function, inducing a maladaptive response to environmental stimuli, that can contribute to the development of a pathological phenotype. Studies have shown that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction is associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive, alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorders. Downstream actors of the HPA axis, glucocorticoids are critical mediators of the stress response and exert their function through specific receptors, i.e., the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), highly expressed in stress/reward-integrative pathways. GRs are ligand-activated transcription factors that recruit epigenetic actors to regulate gene expression via DNA methylation, altering chromatin structure and thus shaping the response to stress. The dynamic interplay between stress response and epigenetic modifiers suggest DNA methylation plays a key role in the development of stress surfeit disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Gatta
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Vikram Saudagar
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - James Auta
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Dennis R Grayson
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alessandro Guidotti
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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Redina O, Babenko V, Smagin D, Kovalenko I, Galyamina A, Efimov V, Kudryavtseva N. Gene Expression Changes in the Ventral Tegmental Area of Male Mice with Alternative Social Behavior Experience in Chronic Agonistic Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186599. [PMID: 32917038 PMCID: PMC7555283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily agonistic interactions of mice are an effective experimental approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the excitation of the brain neurons and the formation of alternative social behavior patterns. An RNA-Seq analysis was used to compare the ventral tegmental area (VTA) transcriptome profiles for three groups of male C57BL/6J mice: winners, a group of chronically winning mice, losers, a group of chronically defeated mice, and controls. The data obtained show that both winners and defeated mice experience stress, which however, has a more drastic effect on defeated animals causing more significant changes in the levels of gene transcription. Four genes (Nrgn, Ercc2, Otx2, and Six3) changed their VTA expression profiles in opposite directions in winners and defeated mice. It was first shown that Nrgn (neurogranin) expression was highly correlated with the expression of the genes involved in dopamine synthesis and transport (Th, Ddc, Slc6a3, and Drd2) in the VTA of defeated mice but not in winners. The obtained network of 31 coregulated genes, encoding proteins associated with nervous system development (including 24 genes associated with the generation of neurons), may be potentially useful for studying their role in the VTA dopaminergic neurons maturation under the influence of social stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Redina
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Vladimir Babenko
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry Smagin
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
| | - Irina Kovalenko
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
| | - Anna Galyamina
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
| | - Vadim Efimov
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Natalia Kudryavtseva
- FRC Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.B.); (D.S.); (I.K.); (A.G.); (V.E.); (N.K.)
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Kenney MC, Nashine S. Further understanding of epigenetic dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium in AMD. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2020; 15:221-231. [PMID: 33732291 DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2020.1767597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Modulation of epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to retinal development may render the eye susceptible to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Progression of AMD involves alterations of epigenome such as CpG methylation and histone modifications, and study of the epigenetic regulation of molecular/ cellular pathways associated with AMD might identify target epigenetic markers for treatment of AMD. Areas covered In this review, we provide an overview of the influence of epigenetic factors on signaling pathways/ related genes associated with AMD, mainly hypoxia, angiogenesis, inflammation, complement, and oxidative stress; and discuss the critical role of microRNAs in AMD. Expert Opinion Better understanding of epigenetic-mediated and microRNA-mediated regulation of the AMD disease-related pathways would help to assess the risk of developing AMD besides providing valuable insight on potential target candidates for AMD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Kenney
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sonali Nashine
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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25
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Grant B, O’Loughlin K, Holbrook H, Althoff R, Kearney C, Perepletchikova F, Grasso D, Hudziak J, Kaufman J. A multi-method and multi-informant approach to assessing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children. Int Rev Psychiatry 2020; 32:212-220. [PMID: 31880487 PMCID: PMC7190440 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2019.1697212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Trauma exposure is highly prevalent among children globally, and is associated with elevated rates of PTSD. The goal of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of multiple informants and multiple screening measures on the identification of specific PTSD symptoms and rates of PTSD diagnoses. Participants in this study included 350 maltreated children from two cohorts, one recruited from Connecticut (n = 130), and the other from Vermont (n = 220). Both cohorts completed the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) before a PTSD self-report measure. The KSADS psychiatric interview was also completed with the Connecticut cohort, with best-estimate ratings generated using parent and child interview, child self-report, and teacher questionnaire data. In addition to the SCARED and PTSD self-report scale, parents of the Vermont cohort completed the Child Behavioural Checklist. Significant differences emerged between parent and child report of sleep, nightmares, concentration, and irritability problems, suggesting the need for multiple informants in PTSD screening. Children also under-reported nightmares when asked in the context of a trauma-specific screening tool. As child trauma is associated with a broad range of psychiatric sequelae, comprehensive assessment using both general symptomatology and trauma-specific measures is recommended, since children often shut down when completing trauma measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- B.R. Grant
- Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - K. O’Loughlin
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
| | - H.M. Holbrook
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
| | - R.R. Althoff
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
| | - C. Kearney
- Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - F. Perepletchikova
- Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, White Plains, NY
| | - D.J. Grasso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - J.J. Hudziak
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
| | - J. Kaufman
- Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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26
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de Araújo CM, Hudziak J, Crocetti D, Wymbs NF, Montalvo-Ortiz JL, Orr C, Albaugh MD, Althoff RR, O'Loughlin K, Holbrook H, Garavan H, Yang BZ, Mostofsky S, Jackowski A, Lee RS, Gelernter J, Kaufman J. Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein (TPPP) gene methylation and corpus callosum measures in maltreated children. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2020; 298:111058. [PMID: 32120304 PMCID: PMC11079625 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2020.111058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to evaluate the impact of Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein (TPPP) methylation on structural and fractional anisotropy (FA) corpus callosum (CC) measures. TPPP is involved in the development of white matter tracts in the brain and was implicated in stress-related psychiatric disorders in an unbiased whole epigenome methylation study. The cohort included 63 participants (11.73 y/o ±1.91) from a larger study investigating risk and resilience in maltreated children. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to process the structural data, fractional anisotropy (FA) was determined using an atlas-based approach, and DNA specimens were derived from saliva in two batches using the 450 K (N = 39) and 850 K (N = 24) Illumina arrays, with the data from each batch analyzed separately. After controlling for multiple comparisons and relevant covariates (e.g., demographics, brain volume, cell composition, 3 PCs), 850 K derived TPPP methylation values, in interaction with a dimensional measure of children's trauma experiences, predicted left and right CC body volumes and genu, body and splenium FA (p < .007, all comparisons). The findings in the splenium replicated in subjects with the 450 K data. The results extend prior investigations and suggest a role for TPPP in brain changes associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Maria de Araújo
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, United States; Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - James Hudziak
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, United States
| | - Nicholas F Wymbs
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, United States
| | | | - Catherine Orr
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Matthew D Albaugh
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Robert R Althoff
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Kerry O'Loughlin
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Hannah Holbrook
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Bao-Zhu Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Stewart Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, United States; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, , United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Veterans Administration, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Joan Kaufman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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27
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Wymbs NF, Orr C, Albaugh MD, Althoff RR, O'Loughlin K, Holbrook H, Garavan H, Montalvo-Ortiz JL, Mostofsky S, Hudziak J, Kaufman J. Social supports moderate the effects of child adversity on neural correlates of threat processing. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 102:104413. [PMID: 32065988 PMCID: PMC8060780 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child abuse and other forms of adversity are associated with alterations in threat processing and emotion regulation brain circuits. OBJECTIVE The goal of the current investigation is to determine if the availability of positive social support can ameliorate the negative impact of adversity on these brain systems. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Subjects included 55 children ages 7-16 (X = 11.8, SD = 2.0). Approximately one-third of the cohort had no significant history of adversity, one-third had a history of moderate adversity, and one-third had a history of severe adversity. Brain imaging was conducted at the University of Vermont using a 3.0 T Philips scanner. METHODS The Emotional Go-NoGo task with fearful and calm facial stimuli was used to assess the neural correlates of threat processing and emotion regulation in children during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Dimensional measures of anxiety, social supports, and children's adverse experiences were also obtained. RESULTS A conjunction analysis was used to test if trauma-related brain activation in responding to fearful vs. calm targets was impacted by social support. This approach identified multiple activation foci, including a cluster extending from the left amygdala to several other key brain regions involved in emotion regulation, including the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior insula, nucleus accumbens, and frontal pole (Family Wise Error (FWE) correction, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Greater social support may reduce the effect that adversity has on neural processing of threat stimuli, consistent with the protective role of positive supports in promoting resilience and recovery demonstrated in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F Wymbs
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Catherine Orr
- Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, 3122, Australia; Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Matthew D Albaugh
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Robert R Althoff
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Kerry O'Loughlin
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Hannah Holbrook
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | | | - Stewart Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - James Hudziak
- Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, UHC Campus, Arnold 3, 1 South Prospect, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Joan Kaufman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 1741 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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28
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Hodes GE, Epperson CN. Sex Differences in Vulnerability and Resilience to Stress Across the Life Span. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:421-432. [PMID: 31221426 PMCID: PMC8630768 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Susceptibility and resilience to stress depend on 1) the timing of the exposure with respect to development, 2) the time across the life span at which effects are measured, and 3) the behavioral or biological phenotype under consideration. This translational review examines preclinical stress models that provide clues to causal mechanisms and their relationship to the more complex phenomenon of stress-related psychiatric and cognitive disorders in humans. We examine how genetic sex and epigenetic regulation of hormones contribute to the proximal and distal effects of stress at different epochs of life. Stress during the prenatal period and early postnatal life puts male offspring at risk of developing diseases involving socialization, such as autism spectrum disorder, and attention and cognition, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. While female offspring show resilience to some of the proximal effects of prenatal and early postnatal stress, there is evidence that risk associated with developmental insults is unmasked in female offspring following periods of hormonal activation and flux, including puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause. Likewise, stress exposures during puberty have stronger proximal effects on girls, including an increased risk of developing mood-related and stress-related illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Hormonal changes during menopause and andropause impact the processes of memory and emotion in women and men, though women are preferentially at risk for dementia, and childhood adversity further impacts estradiol effects on neural function. We propose that studies to determine mechanisms for stress risk and resilience across the life span must consider the nature and timing of stress exposures as well as the sex of the organism under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia E. Hodes
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - C. Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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29
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The Biology of Human Resilience: Opportunities for Enhancing Resilience Across the Life Span. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:443-453. [PMID: 31466561 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent scientific and technological advances have brought us closer to being able to apply a true biopsychosocial approach to the study of resilience in humans. Decades of research have identified a range of psychosocial protective factors in the face of stress and trauma. Progress in resilience research is now advancing our understanding of the biology underlying these protective factors at multiple phenotypic levels, including stress response systems, neural circuitry function, and immune responses, in interaction with genetic factors. It is becoming clear that resilience involves active and unique biological processes that buffer the organism against the impact of stress, not simply involve a reversal of pathological mechanisms. Here, we provide an overview of recent progress in the field, highlighting key psychosocial milestones and accompanying biological changes during development, and into adulthood and old age. Continued advances in our understanding of psychological, social, and biological determinants of resilience will contribute to the development of novel interventions and help optimize the type and timing of intervention for those most at risk, resulting in a possible new framework for enhancing resilience across the life span.
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30
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Mehta D, Pelzer ES, Bruenig D, Lawford B, McLeay S, Morris CP, Gibson JN, Young RM, Voisey J, Harvey W, Romaniuk M, Crawford D, Colquhoun D, Young RM, Dwyer M, Gibson J, O'Sullivan R, Cooksley G, Strakosch C, Thomson R, Voisey J, Lawford B. DNA methylation from germline cells in veterans with PTSD. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 116:42-50. [PMID: 31195163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study we investigated genome-wide sperm DNA methylation patterns in trauma-exposed Vietnam veterans. At the genome-wide level, we identified 3 CpG sites associated with PTSD in sperm including two intergenic and one CpG within the CCDC88C gene. Of those associated with PTSD in sperm at a nominal level, 1868 CpGs were also associated with PTSD in peripheral blood (5.6% overlap) including the RORA, CRHR1 and DOCK2 genes that have been previously implicated in PTSD. A total of 10 CpG sites were significantly associated with a reported history of a diagnosed mental health condition in children and reached genome-wide significance. CpGs associated with a history of a reported mental health condition in children were also enriched (90% of tested genes) for genes previously reported to be resistant to demethylation, making them strong candidates for transgenerational inheritance. In conclusion, our findings identify a unique sperm-specific DNA methylation pattern that is associated with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Mehta
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
| | - Elise S Pelzer
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Dagmar Bruenig
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Bruce Lawford
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - Sarah McLeay
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Charles P Morris
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
| | - John N Gibson
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Ross McD Young
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120, Australia
| | - Joanne Voisey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh Garavan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.
| | - Matt Albaugh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
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32
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Brown A, Fiori LM, Turecki G. Bridging Basic and Clinical Research in Early Life Adversity, DNA Methylation, and Major Depressive Disorder. Front Genet 2019; 10:229. [PMID: 30984237 PMCID: PMC6448008 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA)- including childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as childhood neglect- is an important predictive factor for negative psychopathology, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). ELA can epigenetically regulate key emotional and behavioral systems in ways that can stably persist into adulthood and contribute to the development of MDD and other psychopathology. DNA methylation has been one of the most investigated forms of epigenetic regulation in ELA to MDD pathway. From these studies, genes and sites associated with ELA/MDD have been identified and should be further investigated in order to identify potential avenues for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Brown
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laura M Fiori
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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33
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Bernaras E, Jaureguizar J, Garaigordobil M. Child and Adolescent Depression: A Review of Theories, Evaluation Instruments, Prevention Programs, and Treatments. Front Psychol 2019; 10:543. [PMID: 30949092 PMCID: PMC6435492 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is the principal cause of illness and disability in the world. Studies charting the prevalence of depression among children and adolescents report high percentages of youngsters in both groups with depressive symptoms. This review analyzes the construct and explanatory theories of depression and offers a succinct overview of the main evaluation instruments used to measure this disorder in children and adolescents, as well as the prevention programs developed for the school environment and the different types of clinical treatment provided. The analysis reveals that in mental classifications, the child depression construct is no different from the adult one, and that multiple explanatory theories must be taken into account in order to arrive at a full understanding of depression. Consequently, both treatment and prevention should also be multifactorial in nature. Although universal programs may be more appropriate due to their broad scope of application, the results are inconclusive and fail to demonstrate any solid long-term efficacy. In conclusion, we can state that: (1) There are biological factors (such as tryptophan-a building block for serotonin-depletion, for example) which strongly influence the appearance of depressive disorders; (2) Currently, negative interpersonal relations and relations with one's environment, coupled with social-cultural changes, may explain the increase observed in the prevalence of depression; (3) Many instruments can be used to evaluate depression, but it is necessary to continue to adapt tests for diagnosing the condition at an early age; (4) Prevention programs should be developed for and implemented at an early age; and (5) The majority of treatments are becoming increasingly rigorous and effective. Given that initial manifestations of depression may occur from a very early age, further and more in-depth research is required into the biological, psychological and social factors that, in an interrelated manner, may explain the appearance, development, and treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bernaras
- Developmental and Educational Department, University of the Basque Country, Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Joana Jaureguizar
- Developmental and Educational Psychology Department, University of the Basque Country, Lejona, Spain
| | - Maite Garaigordobil
- Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments Department, University of the Basque Country, Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain
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34
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Kaufman J, Torbey S. Child maltreatment and psychosis. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 131:104378. [PMID: 30685353 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reviews the literature on the association between experiences of child abuse and neglect and the development of psychoses. It then explores the premise that psychotic patients with a history of maltreatment may comprise a clinically and biological distinct subgroup. The review demonstrates that there is a growing consensus in the field that experiences of child maltreatment contribute to the onset of psychotic symptoms and psychotic disorders. There is also strong support for the premise that patients with psychotic disorders and histories of child maltreatment have distinct clinical characteristics and unique treatment needs, and emerging preliminary data to suggest psychotic patients with a history of maltreatment may comprise a distinct neurobiological subgroup. The mechanisms by which experiences of child maltreatment confers risk for psychotic disorders remains unknown, and the review highlights the value of incorporating translational research perspectives to advance knowledge in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Kaufman
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, 1741 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Souraya Torbey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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35
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Herzog DP, Beckmann H, Lieb K, Ryu S, Müller MB. Understanding and Predicting Antidepressant Response: Using Animal Models to Move Toward Precision Psychiatry. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:512. [PMID: 30405454 PMCID: PMC6204461 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are two important gaps of knowledge in depression treatment, namely the lack of biomarkers predicting response to antidepressants and the limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying clinical improvement. However, individually tailored treatment strategies and individualized prescription are greatly needed given the huge socio-economic burden of depression, the latency until clinical improvement can be observed and the response variability to a particular compound. Still, individual patient-level antidepressant treatment outcomes are highly unpredictable. In contrast to other therapeutic areas and despite tremendous efforts during the past years, the genomics era so far has failed to provide biological or genetic predictors of clinical utility for routine use in depression treatment. Specifically, we suggest to (1) shift the focus from the group patterns to individual outcomes, (2) use dimensional classifications such as Research Domain Criteria, and (3) envision better planning and improved connections between pre-clinical and clinical studies within translational research units. In contrast to studies in patients, animal models enable both searches for peripheral biosignatures predicting treatment response and in depth-analyses of the neurobiological pathways shaping individual antidepressant response in the brain. While there is a considerable number of animal models available aiming at mimicking disease-like conditions such as those seen in depressive disorder, only a limited number of preclinical or truly translational investigations is dedicated to the issue of heterogeneity seen in response to antidepressant treatment. In this mini-review, we provide an overview on the current state of knowledge and propose a framework for successful translational studies into antidepressant treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Herzog
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Holger Beckmann
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,German Resilience Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,German Resilience Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marianne B Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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