Relationship between SIRT1 gene and adolescent depressive disorder with nonsuicidal self-injury behavior: Based on gene methylation and mRNA expression

Epigenetics and suicidal behavior in adolescents: a critical review

Suicide continues to be a significant public health issue globally, claiming over 700,000 lives annually. It is, therefore, important to assess the suicide risk properly and provide intervention in a timely fashion. While the heritability of suicidal behavior is around 50%, it does not explain the factors involved in causality. Recent evidence suggests that gene x environment interaction plays a vital role in suicidal behavior. In this paper, we critically evaluate the association between adolescent suicidal behavior and epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, as well as epigenetic-based treatment options. It was noted that the prevalence of suicidal behavior in adolescents varied by age and sex and the presence of psychiatric disorders. Childhood adversity was closely associated with suicidal behavior. Studies show that alterations in epigenetic modifications may increase the risk of suicidal behavior independent of mental illnesses. Because epigenetic factors are reversible, environmental enrichment or the use of pharmacological agents that can target specific epigenetic modulation may be able to reduce suicidal behavior in this population.

SIRT1: a potential therapeutic target for coronary heart disease combined with anxiety or depression

Coronary heart disease (CHD) combined with anxiety or depression is increasingly receiving attention in the clinical field of cardiology, and exploring the comorbidity pathological mechanisms of cardiovascular disease combined with psychological disorders is a hot research topic for scholars in this field. Current research suggests that Silent Information Regulatory Factor 1 (SIRT1) may serve as a potential biomarker for the comorbidity mechanism and treatment of CHD with anxiety or depression. SIRT1 is considered a promising therapeutic target for CHD combined with anxiety or depression, with the ability to regulate inflammatory cytokine levels, alleviate oxidative stress damage, activate multiple signalling pathways, reduce platelet hyperresponsiveness, and exert neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. In this comprehensive review, we deeply studied the structure, function, and mechanism of SIRT1, and discussed its protective effects in the cardiovascular and nervous system. The latest progress in the mechanism of SIRT1's role in CHD combined with anxiety or depression was emphasised, including its specific mechanisms in regulating inflammatory response, alleviating oxidative stress, and mediating various signalling pathways. In addition, this article also summarises the therapeutic potential of SIRT1 as a potential biomarker in patients with CHD combined with anxiety or depression.

Molecular Pathways, Neural Circuits and Emerging Therapies for Self-Injurious Behaviour

Nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviour (SIB) is a debilitating manifestation of physical aggression commonly observed across neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and genetic disorders. This behaviour arises from a multifactorial aetiology involving genetic predispositions, epigenetic modifications, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and environmental stressors. Dysregulation in dopaminergic, serotonergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic systems has been implicated in the pathophysiology of SIB, alongside structural and functional abnormalities within fronto-limbic-striatal circuits. These disruptions impair key processes, such as emotional regulation, reward processing, and behavioural inhibition, contributing to the emergence and reinforcement of SIB. Advances in preclinical research using genetic, lesion-based, pharmacological, and environmental animal models have been instrumental in elucidating the molecular and neurocircuitry underpinnings of SIB. Emerging neuromodulation therapies targeting critical nodes within the fronto-limbic-striatal network, particularly deep brain stimulation, have shown promise in treating severe, refractory SIB and improving quality of life. This review integrates current evidence from clinical studies, molecular research, and preclinical models to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology of SIB and therapeutic approaches. By focusing on the molecular mechanisms and neural circuits underlying SIB, we highlight the translational potential of emerging pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapies. A deeper understanding of these pathways will pave the way for precision-based interventions, bridging the gap between molecular research and clinical applications in SIB and related conditions.

Potential mechanisms of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in major depressive disorder: a systematic review

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a frequent and prominent phenomenon in major depressive disorder (MDD). Even though its prevalence and risk factors are relatively well understood, the potential mechanisms of NSSI in MDD remain elusive.

Aims

To review present evidence related to the potential mechanisms of NSSI in MDD.

Methods

According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, articles for this systematic review were searched on Medline (through PubMed), Embase (through Elsevier), PsycINFO (through OVID) and Web of Science databases for English articles, as well as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed, Wanfang Data, and the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical (VIP) Databases for Chinese articles published from the date of inception to 2 August 2022. Two researchers (BW, HZ) independently screened studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed their quality.

Results

A total of 25 157 studies were searched. Only 25 of them were ultimately included, containing 3336 subjects (1535 patients with MDD and NSSI, 1403 patients with MDD without NSSI and 398 HCs). Included studies were divided into 6 categories: psychosocial factors (11 studies), neuroimaging (8 studies), stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (2 studies), pain perception (1 study), electroencephalogram (EEG) (2 studies) and epigenetics (1 study).

Conclusions

This systematic review indicates that patients with MDD and NSSI might have specific psychosocial factors, aberrant brain functions and neurochemical metabolisms, HPA axis dysfunctions, abnormal pain perceptions and epigenetic alterations.

Risk factors, theoretical models, and biological mechanisms of nonsuicidal self-injury: a brief review

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the direct, deliberate infliction of harm to one's body tissue without the intention to die. The prevalence of NSSI has increased significantly globally in recent years and has become an important public health problem affecting the health of people, especially adolescents. The occurrence of NSSI in adolescents is the result of the interaction of different factors. Many scholars have proposed various theoretical models to explain the mechanism of NSSI behavior based on previous research on the influencing factors of NSSI. Moreover, advances have been made in genetic and neuroimaging mechanisms related to NSSI. Understanding the genetic and neuroimaging mechanisms of NSSI is important for both describing and treating the disorder. This literature review discusses the progress made on the risk factors, theoretical models, and biological mechanisms of NSSI.

Genetics and epigenetics of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: Systematic review of the suicide literature and methodological considerations

Suicide is a multifaceted and poorly understood clinical outcome, and there is an urgent need to advance research on its phenomenology and etiology. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that suicidal behavior is heritable, suggesting that genetic and epigenetic information may serve as biomarkers for suicide risk. Here we systematically review the literature on genetic and epigenetic alterations observed in phenotypes across the full range of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB). We included 577 studies focused on genome-wide and epigenome-wide associations, candidate genes (SNP and methylation), noncoding RNAs, and histones. Convergence of specific genes is limited across units of analysis, although pathway-based analyses do indicate nervous system development and function and immunity/inflammation as potential underlying mechanisms of SITB. We provide suggestions for future work on the genetic and epigenetic correlates of SITB with a specific focus on measurement issues.

Metabolomic biomarkers related to non-suicidal self-injury in patients with bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an important symptom of bipolar disorder (BD) and other mental disorders and has attracted the attention of researchers lately. It is of great significance to study the characteristic markers of NSSI. Metabolomics is a relatively new field that can provide complementary insights into data obtained from genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to identify the metabolic pathways associated with BD with NSSI and assess important diagnostic and predictive indices of NSSI in BD.

METHOD

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry was performed to evaluate the serum metabolic profiles of patients with BD with NSSI (n = 31), patients with BD without NSSI (n = 46), and healthy controls (n = 10). Data were analyzed using an Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis and a t-test. Differential metabolites were identified (VIP > 1 and p < 0.05), and further analyzed using Metabo Analyst 3.0 to identify associated metabolic pathways.

RESULTS

Eight metabolites in the serum and two important metabolic pathways, the urea and glutamate metabolism cycles, were found to distinguish patients with BD with NSSI from healthy controls. Eight metabolites in the serum, glycine and serine metabolism pathway, and the glucose-alanine cycle were found to distinguish patients with BD without NSSI from healthy controls. Five metabolites in the serum and the purine metabolism pathway were found to distinguish patients with BD with NSSI from those with BD without NSSI.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormalities in the urea cycle, glutamate metabolism, and purine metabolism played important roles in the pathogenesis of BD with NSSI.

The chance of COVID-19 infection after vaccination

The outbreak of COVID-19 that began in Wuhan, China, has constituted a new emerging epidemic that has spread around the world. There are some reports on illustrated the patients getting reinfected after recovering from COVID-19. Here we provide an overview of the biphasic cycle of COVID-19, genetic diversity, immune response and chance of reinfection after recovering from COVID-19. The new generation of COVID-19 is highly contagious and pathogenic infection can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Whilst most patients suffer from a mild form of the disease, there is a rising concern that patients who recover from COVID-19 may be at risk of reinfection. The proportion of the infected population, is increasing worldwide; meanwhile, the rate and concern of reinfection by the recovered population are still high. Moreover, there are a few evidence on the chance of COVID-19 infection even after vaccination, which is around one per cent or less. Although the hypothesis of zero reinfections after vaccination has not been clinically proven, further studies should be performed on the recovered class in clusters to study the progression of the exposed with the re-exposed subpopulations to estimate the possibilities of reinfection and, thereby, advocate the use of these antibodies for vaccine creation.