Association of SLC6A4 methylation with early adversity, characteristics and outcomes in depression

Childhood adversities have been associated with onset and worse clinical presentations of depression. Epigenetic changes may reflect childhood adversities, while their effects on clinical characteristics of depression are unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether epigenetic changes were assoc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry 2013-07, Vol.44, p.23-28
Main Authors: Kang, Hee-Ju, Kim, Jae-Min, Stewart, Robert, Kim, Seon-Young, Bae, Kyung-Yeol, Kim, Sung-Wan, Shin, Il-Seon, Shin, Myung-Geun, Yoon, Jin-Sang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Aged
Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Childhood adversity
Depression
Depression - drug therapy
Depression - genetics
Depression - psychology
DNA methylation
DNA Methylation - genetics
Epigenetics
Female
Genetic Association Studies
Humans
Life Change Events
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mood disorders
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics
SLC6A4
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Childhood adversities have been associated with onset and worse clinical presentations of depression. Epigenetic changes may reflect childhood adversities, while their effects on clinical characteristics of depression are unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether epigenetic changes were associated with childhood adversities, pretreatment characteristics, and treatment outcomes in depressive patients. In 108 patients with major depressive disorders, the methylation status in the promoter of gene encoding serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) was measured. Childhood adversities, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including assessment scales for depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HAMD), anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, HAMA), functioning (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, SOFAS), disability (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-12, WHODAS-12), and quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life-Abbreviated form, WHOQOL-BREF) were evaluated at baseline. After a 12-week treatment with antidepressants, the assessment scales were reevaluated. To avoid type I error by multiple comparisons, Bonferroni corrections were applied. Higher SLC6A4 promoter methylation status was significantly associated with childhood adversities, worse clinical presentation (family history of depression, higher perceived stress, and more severe psychopathology assessed by SOFAS, WHODAS-12, and WHOQOL-BREF), but was not associated with treatment outcomes after considering multiple comparisons. SLC6A4 methylation status could be a proxy marker for childhood adversities and a clinical biomarker for certain presentations of depression. ► SLC6A4 methylation was associated with childhood adversity in depressive patients. ► SLC6A4 methylation was associated with more severe depression at presentation. ► Associations of SLC6A4 methylation with treatment outcomes are yet to be determined. ► SLC6A4 methylation could be a biomarker for certain presentations of depression.
ISSN:0278-5846
1878-4216
DOI:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.01.006