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Cho Y, Lin K, Lee SH, Yu C, Valle DS, Avery D, Lv J, Jung K, Li L, Smith GD, China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group, Sun D, Chen Z, Millwood IY, Hemani G, Walters RG. Genetic influences on alcohol flushing in East Asian populations. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:638. [PMID: 37875790 PMCID: PMC10594868 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09721-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although it is known that variation in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene family influences the East Asian alcohol flushing response, knowledge about other genetic variants that affect flushing symptoms is limited. METHODS We performed a genome-wide association study meta-analysis and heritability analysis of alcohol flushing in 15,105 males of East Asian ancestry (Koreans and Chinese) to identify genetic associations with alcohol flushing. We also evaluated whether self-reported flushing can be used as an instrumental variable for alcohol intake. RESULTS We identified variants in the region of ALDH2 strongly associated with alcohol flushing, replicating previous studies conducted in East Asian populations. Additionally, we identified variants in the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) gene region associated with alcohol flushing. Several novel variants were identified after adjustment for the lead variants (ALDH2-rs671 and ADH1B-rs1229984), which need to be confirmed in larger studies. The estimated SNP-heritability on the liability scale was 13% (S.E. = 4%) for flushing, but the heritability estimate decreased to 6% (S.E. = 4%) when the effects of the lead variants were controlled for. Genetic instrumentation of higher alcohol intake using these variants recapitulated known associations of alcohol intake with hypertension. Using self-reported alcohol flushing as an instrument gave a similar association pattern of higher alcohol intake and cardiovascular disease-related traits (e.g. stroke). CONCLUSION This study confirms that ALDH2-rs671 and ADH1B-rs1229984 are associated with alcohol flushing in East Asian populations. Our findings also suggest that self-reported alcohol flushing can be used as an instrumental variable in future studies of alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonsu Cho
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Barley House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, UK
| | - Kuang Lin
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Su-Hyun Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Canqing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dan Schmidt Valle
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel Avery
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jun Lv
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Keumji Jung
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Liming Li
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - George Davey Smith
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Barley House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Dianjianyi Sun
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhengming Chen
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Iona Y Millwood
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- MRC Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Gibran Hemani
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Barley House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, UK.
| | - Robin G Walters
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- MRC Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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2
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Dragic D, Chang SL, Ennour-Idrissi K, Durocher F, Severi G, Diorio C. Association between alcohol consumption and DNA methylation in blood: a systematic review of observational studies. Epigenomics 2022; 14:793-810. [PMID: 35762294 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: We systematically reviewed and evaluated current literature on alcohol consumption and DNA methylation (DNAm) at the genome-wide and probe-wise level in blood of adults. Materials & methods: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycInfo) were searched until 20 December 2020. Studies assessing the effect of alcohol dependence on DNAm were not eligible. Results: 11 cross-sectional studies were included with 88 to 9643 participants. Overall, all studies had a risk of bias criteria unclear or unmet. Epigenome-wide association studies identified between 0 and 5458 differentially methylated positions, and 15 were observed in at least four studies. Conclusion: Potential methylation markers for alcohol consumption have been identified, but further validation in large cohorts is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dzevka Dragic
- Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.,Cancer Research Center, CHU de Québec Research Center, Oncology division, Quebec, QC, G1R 3S3, Canada.,Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP U1018, "Exposome & Heredity" team, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, 94807, France
| | - Sue-Ling Chang
- Cancer Research Center, CHU de Québec Research Center, Oncology division, Quebec, QC, G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Kaoutar Ennour-Idrissi
- Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.,Cancer Research Center, CHU de Québec Research Center, Oncology division, Quebec, QC, G1R 3S3, Canada.,Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Francine Durocher
- Cancer Research Center, CHU de Québec Research Center, Oncology division, Quebec, QC, G1R 3S3, Canada.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Gianluca Severi
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP U1018, "Exposome & Heredity" team, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, 94807, France.,Department of Statistics, Computer Science & Applications "G. Parenti" (DISIA), University of Florence, Florence, 50134, Italy
| | - Caroline Diorio
- Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.,Cancer Research Center, CHU de Québec Research Center, Oncology division, Quebec, QC, G1R 3S3, Canada.,Deschênes-Fabia Center for Breast Diseases, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, Quebec, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada
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3
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Aranda S, Jiménez E, Martorell L, Muntané G, Vieta E, Vilella E. A systematic review on genome-wide association studies exploring comorbidity in bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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4
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Park HL. Epigenetic Biomarkers for Environmental Exposures and Personalized Breast Cancer Prevention. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E1181. [PMID: 32069786 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Environmental and lifestyle factors are believed to account for >80% of breast cancers; however, it is not well understood how and when these factors affect risk and which exposed individuals will actually develop the disease. While alcohol consumption, obesity, and hormone therapy are some known risk factors for breast cancer, other exposures associated with breast cancer risk have not yet been identified or well characterized. In this paper, it is proposed that the identification of blood epigenetic markers for personal, in utero, and ancestral environmental exposures can help researchers better understand known and potential relationships between exposures and breast cancer risk and may enable personalized prevention strategies.
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5
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Zhang SQ, Fleischer J, Al-Kateb H, Mito Y, Amarillo I, Shinawi M. Intragenic CNTN4 copy number variants associated with a spectrum of neurobehavioral phenotypes. Eur J Med Genet 2019; 63:103736. [PMID: 31422286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2019.103736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Deletions and duplications involving the CNTN4 gene, which encodes for the contactin 4 protein, have been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes. In this study, we performed clinical and genetic characterization of three individuals from unrelated families with copy number variants (CNV) (one deletion and two duplications) within CNTN4. The patients exhibited cognitive delay (3/3), growth restriction (3/3), motor delay (2/3), and febrile seizure/epilepsy (2/3). In contrast to previous reports, all probands presented with speech apraxia or delay with no diagnosis of ASD. Parental studies for the proband with the deletion and one of the 2 probands with the duplication revealed paternal origin of the CNTN4 CNV. Interestingly, previously documented CNV involving this gene were mostly inherited from unaffected fathers, raising questions regarding reduced penetrance and potential parent-of-origin effect. Our findings are compared with previously reported patients and patients in the DECIPHER database. The speech impairment in the three probands suggests a role for CNTN4 in language development. We discuss potential factors contributing to phenotypic heterogeneity and reduced penetrance and attempt to find possible genotype-phenotype correlation. Larger cohorts are needed for comprehensive and unbiased phenotyping and molecular characterization that may lead to better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of reduced penetrance, variable expressivity, and potential parent-of-origin effect of copy number variants encompassing CNTN4.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Fleischer
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Hussam Al-Kateb
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yoshiko Mito
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ina Amarillo
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marwan Shinawi
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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6
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Deak JD, Miller AP, Gizer IR. Genetics of alcohol use disorder: a review. Curr Opin Psychol 2018; 27:56-61. [PMID: 30170251 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a significant and ongoing public health concern with 12-month prevalence estimates of ∼5.6%. Quantitative genetic studies suggest a heritability of approximately 50% for AUD, and as a result, significant efforts have been made to identify specific variation within the genome related to the etiology of AUD. Given the limited number of replicable findings that have emerged from genome-wide linkage and candidate gene association studies, more recent efforts have focused on the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These studies have suggested that hundreds of variants across the genome, most of small effect (R2 < 0.002), contribute to the genetic etiology of AUD. The present review describes the initial, though limited, successes of GWAS to identify loci related to risk for AUD as well as other etiologically relevant traits (e.g. alcohol consumption). In addition, 'Post-GWAS' approaches that rely on GWAS data to estimate the heritability and co-heritability of traits, test causal relations between traits, and aid in gene discovery are described. Together, the described research findings illustrate the importance of molecular genetic research on AUD as we seek to better understand the mechanisms through which genetic variation leads to increased risk for AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Deak
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Alex P Miller
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Ian R Gizer
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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7
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Liu C, Marioni RE, Hedman ÅK, Pfeiffer L, Tsai PC, Reynolds LM, Just AC, Duan Q, Boer CG, Tanaka T, Elks CE, Aslibekyan S, Brody JA, Kühnel B, Herder C, Almli LM, Zhi D, Wang Y, Huan T, Yao C, Mendelson MM, Joehanes R, Liang L, Love SA, Guan W, Shah S, McRae AF, Kretschmer A, Prokisch H, Strauch K, Peters A, Visscher PM, Wray NR, Guo X, Wiggins KL, Smith AK, Binder EB, Ressler KJ, Irvin MR, Absher DM, Hernandez D, Ferrucci L, Bandinelli S, Lohman K, Ding J, Trevisi L, Gustafsson S, Sandling JH, Stolk L, Uitterlinden AG, Yet I, Castillo-Fernandez JE, Spector TD, Schwartz JD, Vokonas P, Lind L, Li Y, Fornage M, Arnett DK, Wareham NJ, Sotoodehnia N, Ong KK, van Meurs JBJ, Conneely KN, Baccarelli AA, Deary IJ, Bell JT, North KE, Liu Y, Waldenberger M, London SJ, Ingelsson E, Levy D. A DNA methylation biomarker of alcohol consumption. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:422-33. [PMID: 27843151 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The lack of reliable measures of alcohol intake is a major obstacle to the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related diseases. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may provide novel biomarkers of alcohol use. To examine this possibility, we performed an epigenome-wide association study of methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites in relation to alcohol intake in 13 population-based cohorts (ntotal=13 317; 54% women; mean age across cohorts 42-76 years) using whole blood (9643 European and 2423 African ancestries) or monocyte-derived DNA (588 European, 263 African and 400 Hispanic ancestry) samples. We performed meta-analysis and variable selection in whole-blood samples of people of European ancestry (n=6926) and identified 144 CpGs that provided substantial discrimination (area under the curve=0.90-0.99) for current heavy alcohol intake (⩾42 g per day in men and ⩾28 g per day in women) in four replication cohorts. The ancestry-stratified meta-analysis in whole blood identified 328 (9643 European ancestry samples) and 165 (2423 African ancestry samples) alcohol-related CpGs at Bonferroni-adjusted P<1 × 10-7. Analysis of the monocyte-derived DNA (n=1251) identified 62 alcohol-related CpGs at P<1 × 10-7. In whole-blood samples of people of European ancestry, we detected differential methylation in two neurotransmitter receptor genes, the γ-Aminobutyric acid-A receptor delta and γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor subunit 1; their differential methylation was associated with expression levels of a number of genes involved in immune function. In conclusion, we have identified a robust alcohol-related DNA methylation signature and shown the potential utility of DNA methylation as a clinically useful diagnostic test to detect current heavy alcohol consumption.
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8
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Belzeaux R, Lalanne L, Kieffer BL, Lutz PE. Focusing on the Opioid System for Addiction Biomarker Discovery. Trends Mol Med 2018; 24:206-220. [PMID: 29396147 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUD) and behavioral addictions are devastating conditions that impose a severe burden on all societies, and represent difficult challenges for clinicians. Therefore, biomarkers are urgently needed to help predict vulnerability, clinical course, and response to treatment. Here, we elaborate on the potential for addiction biomarker discovery of the opioid system, particularly within the emerging framework aiming to probe opioid function in peripheral tissues. Mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors all critically regulate neurobiological and behavioral processes that define addiction, and are also targeted by major pharmacotherapies used in the management of patients with SUD. We propose that opioid biomarkers may have the potential to improve and guide diagnosis and therapeutic decisions in the addiction field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul Belzeaux
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Pôle de Psychiatrie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France; INT-UMR7289,CNRS Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; These authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Laurence Lalanne
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg and Medical School of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University Hospital of Strasbourg and Medical School of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; These authors contributed equally to this article
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre-Eric Lutz
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Current address: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France.
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Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing brain disease that currently afflicts over 15 million adults in the United States. Despite its prevalence, there are only three FDA-approved medications for AUD treatment, all of which show limited efficacy. Because of their ability to alter expression of a large number of genes, often with great cell-type and brain-region specificity, transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers serve as promising new targets for the development of AUD treatments aimed at the neural circuitry that underlies chronic alcohol abuse. In this chapter, we will discuss transcriptional regulators that can be targeted pharmacologically and have shown some efficacy in attenuating alcohol consumption when targeted. Specifically, the transcription factors cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), as well as the epigenetic enzymes, the DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy W. Lasek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago,Corresponding author: 1601 West Taylor Street, MC 912, Chicago, IL 60612, Tel: (312) 355-1593,
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10
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Warden AS, Mayfield RD. Gene expression profiling in the human alcoholic brain. Neuropharmacology 2017; 122:161-174. [PMID: 28254370 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Long-term alcohol use causes widespread changes in gene expression in the human brain. Aberrant gene expression changes likely contribute to the progression from occasional alcohol use to alcohol use disorder (including alcohol dependence). Transcriptome studies have identified individual gene candidates that are linked to alcohol-dependence phenotypes. The use of bioinformatics techniques to examine expression datasets has provided novel systems-level approaches to transcriptome profiling in human postmortem brain. These analytical advances, along with recent developments in next-generation sequencing technology, have been instrumental in detecting both known and novel coding and non-coding RNAs, alternative splicing events, and cell-type specific changes that may contribute to alcohol-related pathologies. This review offers an integrated perspective on alcohol-responsive transcriptional changes in the human brain underlying the regulatory gene networks that contribute to alcohol dependence. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Alcoholism".
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Warden
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C7000, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 2500 Speedway, A4800, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - R Dayne Mayfield
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 2500 Speedway, A4800, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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11
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Oguro-Ando A, Zuko A, Kleijer KTE, Burbach JPH. A current view on contactin-4, -5, and -6: Implications in neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017; 81:72-83. [PMID: 28064060 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Contactins (Cntns) are a six-member subgroup of the immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecule superfamily (IgCAMs) with pronounced brain expression and function. Recent genetic studies of neuropsychiatric disorders have pinpointed contactin-4 (CNTN4), contactin-5 (CNTN5) and contactin-6 (CNTN6) as candidate genes in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but also in intellectual disability, schizophrenia (SCZ), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder (BD), alcohol use disorder (AUD) and anorexia nervosa (AN). This suggests that they have important functions during neurodevelopment. This suggestion is supported by data showing that neurite outgrowth, cell survival and neural circuit formation can be affected by disruption of these genes. Here, we review the current genetic data about their involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders and explore studies on how null mutations affect mouse behavior. Finally, we highlight to role of protein-protein interactions in the potential mechanism of action of Cntn4, -5 and -6 and emphasize that complexes with other membrane proteins may play a role in neuronal developmental functions.
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12
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Dobrowolski SF, Lyons-Weiler J, Spridik K, Vockley J, Skvorak K, Biery A. DNA methylation in the pathophysiology of hyperphenylalaninemia in the PAH(enu2) mouse model of phenylketonuria. Mol Genet Metab 2016; 119:1-7. [PMID: 26822703 PMCID: PMC8958364 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Phenylalanine hydroxylase deficient phenylketonuria (PKU) is the paradigm for a treatable inborn error of metabolism where maintaining plasma phenylalanine (Phe) in the therapeutic range relates to improved clinical outcomes. While Phe is the presumed intoxicating analyte causal in neurologic damage, the mechanism(s) of Phe toxicity has remained elusive. Altered DNA methylation is a recognized response associated with exposure to numerous small molecule toxic agents. Paralleling this effect, we hypothesized that chronic Phe over-exposure in the brain would lead to aberrant DNA methylation with secondary influence upon gene regulation that would ultimately contribute to PKU neuropathology. The PAH(enu2) mouse models human PKU with intrinsic hyperphenylalaninemia, abnormal response to Phe challenge, and neurologic deficit. To examine this hypothesis, we assessed DNA methylation patterns in brain tissues using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and paired end sequencing in adult PAH(enu2) animals maintained under either continuous dietary Phe restriction or chronic hyperphenylalaninemia. Heterozygous PAH(enu2/WT) litter mates served as controls for normal Phe exposure. Extensive repatterning of DNA methylation was observed in brain tissue of hyperphenylalaninemic animals while Phe restricted animals displayed an attenuated pattern of aberrant DNA methylation. Affected gene coding regions displayed aberrant hypermethylation and hypomethylation. Gene body methylation of noncoding RNA genes was observed and among these microRNA genes were prominent. Of particular note, observed only in hyperphenylalaninemic animals, was hypomethylation of miRNA genes within the imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 locus on chromosome 12. Aberrant methylation of microRNA genes influenced their expression which has secondary effects upon the expression of targeted protein coding genes. Differential hypermethylation of gene promoters was exclusive to hyperphenylalaninemic PAH(enu2) animals. Genes with synaptic involvement were targets of promoter hypermethylation that resulted in down-regulation of their expression. Gene dysregulation secondary to abnormal DNA methylation may be contributing to PKU neuropathology. These results suggest drugs that prevent or correct aberrant DNA methylation may offer a novel therapeutic option to management of neurological symptoms in PKU patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Dobrowolski
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States.
| | - J Lyons-Weiler
- Genomics and Proteomics Core Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, 3343 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
| | - K Spridik
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States
| | - J Vockley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States; Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States
| | - K Skvorak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States; Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States
| | - A Biery
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States
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Brückmann C, Di Santo A, Karle KN, Batra A, Nieratschker V. Validation of differential GDAP1 DNA methylation in alcohol dependence and its potential function as a biomarker for disease severity and therapy outcome. Epigenetics 2016; 11:456-63. [PMID: 27128683 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2016.1179411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is a severe disorder contributing substantially to the global burden of disease. Despite the detrimental consequences of chronic alcohol abuse and dependence, effective prevention strategies as well as treatment options are largely missing to date. Accumulating evidence suggests that gene-environment interactions, including epigenetic mechanisms, play a role in the etiology of alcohol dependence. A recent epigenome-wide study reported widespread alterations of DNA methylation patterns in alcohol dependent patients compared to control individuals. In the present study, we validate and replicate one of the top findings from this previous investigation in an independent cohort: the hypomethylation of GDAP1 in patients. To our knowledge, this is the first independent replication of an epigenome-wide finding in alcohol dependence. Furthermore, the AUDIT as well as the GSI score were negatively associated with GDAP1 methylation and we found a trend toward a negative association between GDAP1 methylation and the years of alcohol dependency, pointing toward a potential role of GDAP1 hypomethylation as biomarker for disease severity. In addition, we show that the hypomethylation of GDAP1 in patients reverses during a short-term alcohol treatment program, suggesting that GDAP1 DNA methylation could also serve as a potential biomarker for treatment outcome. Our data add to the growing body of knowledge on epigenetic effects in alcohol dependence and support GDAP1 as a novel candidate gene implicated in this disorder. As the role of GDAP1 in alcohol dependence is unknown, this novel candidate gene should be followed up in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Brückmann
- a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University Hospital of Tuebingen , Tuebingen , Germany
| | - Adriana Di Santo
- a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University Hospital of Tuebingen , Tuebingen , Germany
| | - Kathrin Nora Karle
- a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University Hospital of Tuebingen , Tuebingen , Germany
| | - Anil Batra
- b Section for Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen , Tuebingen , Germany
| | - Vanessa Nieratschker
- a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University Hospital of Tuebingen , Tuebingen , Germany
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Barr CL, Misener VL. Decoding the non-coding genome: elucidating genetic risk outside the coding genome. Genes Brain Behav 2016; 15:187-204. [PMID: 26515765 PMCID: PMC4833497 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Current evidence emerging from genome-wide association studies indicates that the genetic underpinnings of complex traits are likely attributable to genetic variation that changes gene expression, rather than (or in combination with) variation that changes protein-coding sequences. This is particularly compelling with respect to psychiatric disorders, as genetic changes in regulatory regions may result in differential transcriptional responses to developmental cues and environmental/psychosocial stressors. Until recently, however, the link between transcriptional regulation and psychiatric genetic risk has been understudied. Multiple obstacles have contributed to the paucity of research in this area, including challenges in identifying the positions of remote (distal from the promoter) regulatory elements (e.g. enhancers) and their target genes and the underrepresentation of neural cell types and brain tissues in epigenome projects - the availability of high-quality brain tissues for epigenetic and transcriptome profiling, particularly for the adolescent and developing brain, has been limited. Further challenges have arisen in the prediction and testing of the functional impact of DNA variation with respect to multiple aspects of transcriptional control, including regulatory-element interaction (e.g. between enhancers and promoters), transcription factor binding and DNA methylation. Further, the brain has uncommon DNA-methylation marks with unique genomic distributions not found in other tissues - current evidence suggests the involvement of non-CG methylation and 5-hydroxymethylation in neurodevelopmental processes but much remains unknown. We review here knowledge gaps as well as both technological and resource obstacles that will need to be overcome in order to elucidate the involvement of brain-relevant gene-regulatory variants in genetic risk for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. L. Barr
- Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - V. L. Misener
- Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Andersen AM, Dogan MV, Beach SR, Philibert RA. Current and Future Prospects for Epigenetic Biomarkers of Substance Use Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2015; 6:991-1022. [PMID: 26473933 DOI: 10.3390/genes6040991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Substance abuse has an enormous impact on economic and quality of life measures throughout the world. In more developed countries, overutilization of the most common forms of substances of abuse, alcohol and tobacco, is addressed primarily through prevention of substance use initiation and secondarily through the treatment of those with substance abuse or dependence. In general, these therapeutic approaches to substance abuse are deemed effective. However, there is a broad consensus that the development of additional tools to aid diagnosis, prioritize treatment selection and monitor treatment response could have substantial impact on the effectiveness of both substance use prevention and treatment. The recent demonstrations by a number of groups that substance use exposure is associated with robust changes in DNA methylation signatures of peripheral blood cells suggests the possibility that methylation assessments of blood or saliva could find broad clinical applications. In this article, we review recent progress in epigenetic approaches to substance use assessment with a particular emphasis on smoking (and alcohol) related applications. In addition, we highlight areas, such as the epigenetics of psychostimulant, opioid and cannabis abuse, which are markedly understudied and could benefit from intensified collaborative efforts to define epigenetic biomarkers of abuse and dependence.
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