Epigenetics: DNA Methylation
Epigenome biomarkers
a. DNA methylation
In the broad sense, epigenetics can be seen as a bridge between the genotype and phenotype, where the final outcomes of a locus or a chromosome can be changed without altering the underlying DNA sequence (Goldberg et al. 2007), while epigenomics aims to study the location and nature of the gemonic sequences that are epigenetically modified (Fazzari and Greally 2004). Usually, three mechanisms have been attributed for epigenetics – DNA methylation, histone modification and noncoding RNA.
The key problem in molecular psychiatry is the difficulty of procuring brain tissue and one way to circumvent this issue by studying the epigenetic signatures measured in more accessible tissues such as blood as a …show more content…
This has potentiated the importance of peripheral immune cells in miRNA research in schizophrenia. In a recent study, it was observed that early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) and miR-30a-5p were remarkably downregulated and neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (NEUROD1) was significantly upregulated in PBMNCs in individuals with acute psychosis. Also, with the initiation of antipsychotic medications, reversal of the phenomenon was observed, indicating the possible use of them as biomarkers. Similarly, Serum miR-21 found to decrease significantly with antipsychotic medications and this change was negatively correlated with improvement of positive, general psychopathology, and aggressiveness symptoms. This study showed the possible role of miRNAs in treatment response in individuals with schizophrenia. In another study, it was found that miR-94 from peripheral immune cells distinguished individuals who progressed and not progressed from high risk state to acute psychosis and suggesting the use of immune cell based miRNAs for assessing high risk states. In a study, global plasma miRNAs were profiled in a test cohort of 164 schizophrenia patients and 187 control subjects. The screening revealed the up-regulation of miR-130b and miR-193a-3p in individuals with schizophrenia but not in control subjects. Another similar study identified miR-132 as a potential and superior biomarker in peripheral blood that will allow discrimination of individuals with schizophrenia from normal
a. DNA methylation
In the broad sense, epigenetics can be seen as a bridge between the genotype and phenotype, where the final outcomes of a locus or a chromosome can be changed without altering the underlying DNA sequence (Goldberg et al. 2007), while epigenomics aims to study the location and nature of the gemonic sequences that are epigenetically modified (Fazzari and Greally 2004). Usually, three mechanisms have been attributed for epigenetics – DNA methylation, histone modification and noncoding RNA.
The key problem in molecular psychiatry is the difficulty of procuring brain tissue and one way to circumvent this issue by studying the epigenetic signatures measured in more accessible tissues such as blood as a …show more content…
This has potentiated the importance of peripheral immune cells in miRNA research in schizophrenia. In a recent study, it was observed that early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) and miR-30a-5p were remarkably downregulated and neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (NEUROD1) was significantly upregulated in PBMNCs in individuals with acute psychosis. Also, with the initiation of antipsychotic medications, reversal of the phenomenon was observed, indicating the possible use of them as biomarkers. Similarly, Serum miR-21 found to decrease significantly with antipsychotic medications and this change was negatively correlated with improvement of positive, general psychopathology, and aggressiveness symptoms. This study showed the possible role of miRNAs in treatment response in individuals with schizophrenia. In another study, it was found that miR-94 from peripheral immune cells distinguished individuals who progressed and not progressed from high risk state to acute psychosis and suggesting the use of immune cell based miRNAs for assessing high risk states. In a study, global plasma miRNAs were profiled in a test cohort of 164 schizophrenia patients and 187 control subjects. The screening revealed the up-regulation of miR-130b and miR-193a-3p in individuals with schizophrenia but not in control subjects. Another similar study identified miR-132 as a potential and superior biomarker in peripheral blood that will allow discrimination of individuals with schizophrenia from normal