Early life adversity and 5HTT mRNA expression and DNA methylation in patients with major depressive disorder

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09808
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Iga Jun-ichi 愛媛大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (70363140)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: うつ病 / アルツハイマー型認知症 / レビー小体型認知症 / 統合失調症 / 生物学的マーカー / 血液 / セロトニントランスポーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

5HTT expression using real-time PCR and Taqman probes was increased in unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder compared with controls and then decreased 8 weeks after antidepressant treatment. The 5HTTLPR genotype was significantly associated with mean methylation levels in patients only. The mean methylation level was significantly increased in patients compared with controls. Increased depressive symptoms were related to decreased levels of methylation. The association between these biological markers and early life adversity should be examined in future studies. Interestingly, 5HTT expression was also increased in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared with controls and its increment was associated with apathy. Furthermore, I examined blood biomarkers for discriminating Alzheimer’s disease from geriatric depression and reported significant changes in gene expression and DNA methylation of TREM2, SNCA, INPP5D, TOMM40, APOE, PINK1, ABCA7, MEF2C and DRD2.

Free Research Field

biological psychiatry