Background: Alteration of DNA methylation or chromatin configuration were found at regulatory regions of genes involved in neurotransmission and could have a key role in the genesis and/or progression of psychiatric diseases and could also be important biomarkers. In particular, REELIN, COMT, DRD2 and SOX10, demonstrated significant disease-related DNA methylation changes in post-mortem brain from schizophrenic patients. We have recently found that the BDNF gene is hypermethylated in Wernicke's area of suicide subjects compared to controls. Methods: High resolution methylation quantitative analysis by MALDI-TOF e Pyrosequencing. Real Time PCR mRNA quantitative analysis Results: Gene-specific DNA methylation analysis of BDNF, DDO and dopamine receptor I genes in post-mortem brain samples of schizophreinic and suicide subjects demonstrated that differential DNA methylation is present in specific brain areas. qRT-PCR analysis showed that an high methylation state corresponded to low mRNA expression. Conclusions: Our data further demonstrate that epigenetic mechanisms may underlie psichiatric conditions. These findings could have both therapeutic and diagnostic implication. We are currently investigating possible relationship between disease-related DNA methylation state in blood cells and in brain tissues in order to transfer our data to a clinical level in order to find innovative biomarkers for follow-up of the mental disease and evaluation of suicide risk.
DNA Methylation and Psychiatric Disorders / Keller, Simona; S., Sacchetti; Angrisano, Tiziana; S., Nardone; A., Venturelli; Pero, Raffaela; Lembo, Francesca; Chiariotti, Lorenzo. - In: THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY. - ISSN 0002-9440. - STAMPA. - 177:(2010), pp. S21-S21.
DNA Methylation and Psychiatric Disorders
KELLER, SIMONA;ANGRISANO, TIZIANA;PERO, RAFFAELA;LEMBO, FRANCESCA;CHIARIOTTI, LORENZO
2010
Abstract
Background: Alteration of DNA methylation or chromatin configuration were found at regulatory regions of genes involved in neurotransmission and could have a key role in the genesis and/or progression of psychiatric diseases and could also be important biomarkers. In particular, REELIN, COMT, DRD2 and SOX10, demonstrated significant disease-related DNA methylation changes in post-mortem brain from schizophrenic patients. We have recently found that the BDNF gene is hypermethylated in Wernicke's area of suicide subjects compared to controls. Methods: High resolution methylation quantitative analysis by MALDI-TOF e Pyrosequencing. Real Time PCR mRNA quantitative analysis Results: Gene-specific DNA methylation analysis of BDNF, DDO and dopamine receptor I genes in post-mortem brain samples of schizophreinic and suicide subjects demonstrated that differential DNA methylation is present in specific brain areas. qRT-PCR analysis showed that an high methylation state corresponded to low mRNA expression. Conclusions: Our data further demonstrate that epigenetic mechanisms may underlie psichiatric conditions. These findings could have both therapeutic and diagnostic implication. We are currently investigating possible relationship between disease-related DNA methylation state in blood cells and in brain tissues in order to transfer our data to a clinical level in order to find innovative biomarkers for follow-up of the mental disease and evaluation of suicide risk.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
