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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and DNA Methylation

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Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Abstract

An epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation (DNAm) is intrinsically linked to gene expression in response to environmental exposures, such as trauma. There is a growing body of literature indicating the role of DNAm in the disease process of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and in vulnerability and resilience to PTSD. Epigenetic changes in key hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis genes, genes involved in neurotransmission and immune function, and changes in global DNAm have been reported. In this chapter we discuss the mechanisms of DNAm and review the literature of DNAm patterns in HPA axis, neurotransmitter, and immune response genes, as well as in repetitive elements, associated with PTSD. We also discuss early life exposures to stress, how DNAm may mediate sex differences in risk for PTSD, how stress may effect transgenerational epigenetic alterations, and methodological issues to consider when studying DNAm patterns in PTSD. Since DNAm is involved in response and adaption to environmental stimuli, the study of DNAm is highly relevant to PTSD, given the vital role of the environment in the etiology of the disease. Understanding the epigenetic basis of PTSD has considerable public health impact, in that it will advance our knowledge of potential treatment modalities for patients, since epigenetic alterations may be reversible.

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Abbreviations

5-mC:

5-Methylcytosine

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropin

AVP:

Arginine vasopressin

CpG:

Cytosine-phosphate-guanine, site in DNA where a cytosine nucleotide occurs next to a guanine nucleotide

Crh:

Corticotropin-releasing hormone

DNAm:

Deoxyribonucleic acid methylation

DNHS:

Detroit neighborhood health study

DNMT:

DNA methyltransferase

ER:

Estrogen receptor

GC:

Glucocorticoid

GR:

Glucocorticoid receptor

HPA:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal

LINE:

Long interspersed nucleotide element

miRNA:

MicroRNA

mRNA:

Messenger ribonucleic acid

OEF:

Operation enduring freedom

OIF:

Operation Iraqi freedom

PTS:

Post-traumatic stress

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

PVN:

Paraventricular nucleus

SNP:

Single nucleotide polymorphism

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The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of Defense.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Jennifer A. Rusiecki & Melannie S. Alexander

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 603 East Daniel St., Champaign, IL, 61820, USA

    Monica Uddin

  3. Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA

    Lee E. Moore

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  1. Jennifer A. Rusiecki
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  2. Monica Uddin
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  3. Melannie S. Alexander
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  4. Lee E. Moore
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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Rusiecki .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

  2. Kings College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Rusiecki, J.A., Uddin, M., Alexander, M.S., Moore, L.E. (2015). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and DNA Methylation. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_98-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_98-1

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