The association of FKBP5 gene methylation, adolescents' sex, and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents: a nested case-control study

Epigenetic changes caused by early life stress in the pathogenesis of depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe psychiatric disorder with a complex and poorly understood pathogenesis. Epigenetics, a rapidly advancing field of biology, has been implicated in various psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, anxiety, substance addiction, and autism. Furthermore, substantial research indicates that epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in the etiology of depression. Early life stress (ELS) refers to adverse experiences occurring during prenatal development (e.g., maternal physical and mental health complications during pregnancy) and/or postnatal life (e.g., abuse, neglect, poverty, parental loss, family conflict, violence, and malnutrition). These early-life adversities can lead to epigenetic modifications, which, in turn, influence key biological processes and contribute to the pathogenesis of MDD. This review provides an overview of the regulatory mechanisms and functions of various epigenetic modifications, including non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. We then examine ELS-induced epigenetic alterations and their biological consequences, such as dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neurogenesis, and neuroplasticity. Finally, we explore their potential implications for both the pathogenesis and treatment of MDD. We hypothesize that ELS-induced epigenetic changes may serve as biomarkers for MDD diagnosis and offer novel therapeutic targets for its treatment.

Epigenetics in persons living with HIV: trauma, coping, and FKBP5 and SLC6A4 methylation

AIM

People living with HIV (PLWH) have an increased risk for lifetime trauma and mental health difficulties. However, no studies have evaluated stress-related genes in relation to early-life adversity, lifetime trauma, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in PLWH.

METHODS

Using bisulfite pyrosequencing, we evaluated DNA methylation (DNAm) in intron 7 of FKBP5, a glucocorticoid feedback regulator, and in the promoter of SLC6A4, the serotonin transporter gene, in whole blood of a random sample of 70 PLWH recruited from an HIV program, and 51 individuals 2 years later (n = 48 at both time points). Exploratory regression analyses were conducted with DNAm in relation to trauma exposure, mental health symptoms, and coping strategies.

RESULTS

Higher DNAm at one site of SLC6A4 was associated with lower levels of anxiety (B = -0.62 (SE = 0.23), p = 0.0109), depression (B = -0.06 (SE = 0.03), p = 0.0435), and PTSD symptoms at baseline (B = -0.03 (SE = 0.01), p = 0.0374). DNAm at FKBP5 was negatively associated with measures of anxiety (B = -0.30 (SE = 0.07), p = 0.0001) and depression symptoms (B = -0.2 (SE = 0.10), p = 0.0103). Various coping strategies were also associated with sites in both genes across time points, e.g. self-blame and substance use.

CONCLUSION

Our findings generate intriguing hypotheses linking mental health symptoms and DNA methylation, to be replicated with larger samples.

LAMP-MS for Locus-Specific Visual Quantification of DNA 5 mC and RNA m6A Using Ultra-Low Input

Enhancing the effectiveness of utilizing circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for disease screening remains a challenge, necessitating improved sensitivity, specificity, cost-efficiency, and patient adherence. We present here LAMP-MS, an innovative technology that integrates linear amplification with single-base quantitative nucleic acid mass spectrometry on silicon chips. This approach overcomes several limitations in utilizing cfDNA 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) status for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. LAMP-MS enables unbiased amplification of as little as 1 ng of cfDNA, site-specifically quantify methylation levels of multiple 5 mC sites, thereby facilitating cost-effective, high-resolution quantitative detection of cfDNA methylation markers. We have validated the accuracy of DNA methylation determination using DNA probes and cfDNA from patient plasma samples, confirmed by mass spectrometric peak areas. Additionally, we have further shown this Mass Array technology could be expanded to also quantify RNA m6A modification sites. Combining the ability to work with ultra-low input materials and a visually interpretable output, LAMP-MS stands out as a promising method for real-world applications in clinics and laboratories for nucleic acid methylation detection and quantification.

Effects of improved on-farm crop storage on DNA methylation of mothers and their infants: evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Kenya

BACKGROUND

Stress during pregnancy can lead to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes through epigenetic changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Among farmers in low-income countries, one important stressor is food insecurity, which can be reduced using hermetic storage bags. This study aimed to determine, for the first time, whether a hermetic storage bag intervention during pregnancy positively affects maternal and infant DNA methylation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-related genes FKBP5 and NR3C1. We further analyzed whether anthropometrics, stress, and mental health were associated with DNA methylation.

METHODS

This study was part of a larger matched-pair randomized controlled trial focusing on the impact of improved on-farm storage on food security, poverty, and net income of smallholder farming households. A total of N = 149 mothers were recruited by telephone and invited to attend a study appointment at health facilities in Kakamega County, Western Kenya, with their infants in April or May 2021. During the appointment, anthropometric measurements were taken, questionnaires on stress and mental health were administered, and saliva samples were collected. Logistic and multiple linear regression were used to examine the effect of the intervention and related measures on DNA methylation.

RESULTS

Mothers in the intervention group showed higher mean NR3C1 methylation levels than those in the control group, corrected for multiple testing. Maternal postpartum body mass index was positively associated with infant NR3C1 CpG3 DNA methylation. The more stressful life events a mother had experienced in the previous 12 months (including during pregnancy), the lower her FKBP5 CpG3 methylation levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Food insecurity and stressful life events during pregnancy seem to exert significant effects on maternal DNA methylation. While these stressors did not appear to impact infant DNA methylation in the present study, maternal postpartum body mass index was significantly related to infant methylation. These findings suggest that while infants may be protected from excessive maternal glucocorticoids by placental barrier activity, maternal metabolic status is still reflected in their epigenetic make-up. Trial registration This study was part of a larger matched-pair randomized controlled trial on the impact of improved on-farm crop storage on welfare, nutrition, and human health. Registration can be found in the American Economic Association (AEA) RCT Registry, RCT ID: AEARCTR-0005845.

Research trend of epigenetics and depression: adolescents' research needs to strengthen

Objective

With its high prevalence, depression's pathogenesis remains unclear. Recent attention has turned to the interplay between depression and epigenetic modifications. However, quantitative bibliometric analyses are lacking. This study aims to visually analyze depression epigenetics trends, utilizing bibliometric tools, while comprehensively reviewing its epigenetic mechanisms.

Methods

Utilizing the Web of Science core dataset, we collected depression and epigenetics-related studies. Employing VOSViewer software, we visualized data on authors, countries, journals, and keywords. A ranking table highlighted field leaders.

Results

Analysis encompassed 3,469 depression epigenetics studies published from January 2002 to June 2023. Key findings include: (1) Gradual publication growth, peaking in 2021; (2) The United States and its research institutions leading contributions; (3) Need for enhanced collaborations, spanning international and interdisciplinary efforts; (4) Keyword clustering revealed five main themes-early-life stress, microRNA, genetics, DNA methylation, and histone acetylation-highlighting research hotspots; (5) Limited focus on adolescent depression epigenetics, warranting increased attention.

Conclusion

Taken together, this study revealed trends and hotspots in depression epigenetics research, underscoring global collaboration, interdisciplinary fusion, and multi-omics data's importance. It discussed in detail the potential of epigenetic mechanisms in depression diagnosis and treatment, advocating increased focus on adolescent research in this field. Insights aid researchers in shaping their investigative paths toward understanding depression's epigenetic mechanisms and antidepressant interventions.