Association of DNA methylation with child abuse, suicidal behavior, and stage of illness in major depressive disorder

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09809
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: NUMATA Shusuke 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学系), 准教授 (10403726)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: depression / DNA methylation / blood / child abuse / suicidal behavior

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main aim of the present study is to examine whether childhood abuse experiences and suicidal behaviors are involved in DNA methylation of peripheral leukocytes from major depressive disorder. Our results suggest that childhood abuse experiences are associated with methylation levels in the specific genes and suicidal behaviors are linked to altered methylation in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene.

Free Research Field

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